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Ketchikan: Elimination of Daylight Saving Time Opposed by Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce By MARY KAUFFMAN - Legislation has been introduced and passed through the Alaska State Senate that would do away with Daylight Saving Time in Alaska. According to the Executive Director of the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, Chelsea Goucher, this change would have major negative ramifications for many Southeast Alaskan businesses, particularly those associated with the cruise and tourism industries or those whom frequently do business with operators in the Puget Sound region or points farther East.

In an email Goucher stated, "Despite the fact that the legislative process thus far has resulted in changes that might lessen these negative impacts, the Ketchikan Chamber's Board of Directors feel that the status quo has been working and oppose passage of this legislation - as do both the Sitka and Juneau Chambers, Southeast Conference, and the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau."

In a recent letter written by Goucher on behalf of the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce to Representatives Bob Lynn and Wes Keller, she communicated the Chamber's opposition to this bill.

The only acceptable compromise, according to Goucher's letter, is to ensure that if Daylight Saving Time is repealed, that Alaska be moved to Pacific Standard Time. Doing this will preserve the hour of daylight that affects business and the overall quality of life for Alaskans during the most active months. Goucher stated that this compromise is complicated by the size of Alaska and the fact that, internally, population centers such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan must be able to do business with each other efficiently making multiple time zones as equally messy proposition. - More...
Thursday PM - April 09, 2015

Alaska: Alaska Nurses Endorse National Union Affiliation with AFT - After months of negotiations, the Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA) Labor Program formally announced Wednesday that it has agreed to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Nurses and Health Professionals.

This announcement comes right as the Anchorage bargaining unit is in contract negotiations with Providence Alaska Medical Center, and will add more than 1,300 Alaska nurses in three bargaining units in Anchorage, Soldotna and Ketchikan to the national membership.

The announcement was made jointly by AaNA Labor Council Chair Donna Phillips in Anchorage and AFT President Randi Weingarten in Washington, D.C. The two organizations had been in discussions for several months, culminating in a meeting of the two leaders in Anchorage in late March.

In voting over the last two weeks, registered nurses in bargaining units represented by the Labor Program overwhelmingly affirmed the earlier decision of the AaNA Labor Council board to seek affiliation with the AFT. The affiliation was also approved by the AFT executive council in a special meeting Tuesday.

“We are excited and honored that Alaska’s nurses have put their confidence in the AFT, as a voice and fighter for nurses and for quality healthcare,” Weingarten said. “Alaska’s nurses will be joining our union of professionals, 1.6 million members strong, including 113,000 members working in the healthcare industry across the nation, as we continue to fight for quality care, safe staffing levels and high professional standards—and demand that hospitals and healthcare facilities put patients before profits. We look forward to working with our new Alaska members to ensure they have the tools and conditions they need to care and advocate for the people they serve.” . - More...
Thursday PM - April 09, 2015

Alaska: 2015 Annual Cost of Care Study: At Home Care Costs Increase in Alaska - Genworth announced today, the results of its 12th annual Cost of Care Study, which shows that in Alaska, the cost to receive long term care services at home with a home health aide has increased over the past five years. On a national level, the survey shows a dramatic increase in facility based care, including assisted living and nursing home facilities, while the cost to receive care at home through a home health aide is rising at a more moderate growth rate.

"There is something very difficult about facing some of the challenges and issues that come with aging, including the high costs of long term care services," said Tom McInerney, president and chief executive officer at Genworth. "Part of our mission at Genworth with the Cost of Care study is to continue educating Americans on how to have tough conversations around long term care and the importance of planning. In fact, last year we embarked on a journey to help facilitate these discussions through our Let's Talk national initiative."

Rising Cost of Long Term Care

Nationally, the 2015 median hourly cost for services of a home health aide hired from a home care agency is $20. Home health aide services have risen, on average, one percent annually over the past five years. In Alaska, the median hourly cost of home health aide services is $26. The median hourly cost for home health aide services in Alaska have increased, on average, 0.7 percent annually over the past five years.

By comparison, the median annual cost for care in an assisted living facility is $43,200 nationally and $68,430 in Alaska. The national yearly cost of assisted living has increased, on average, 2.5 percent annually over the past five years and increased, on average, 0.7 percent over the same period of time in Alaska. The comparable cost for a private nursing home room rose, on average, four percent annually over the past five years to $91,250 nationally, and increased, on average, 6.8 percent over the past five years to $281,415 in Alaska. - More...
Thursday PM - April 09, 2015

Alaska: Lawmakers Write to Oppose Dredging of Prized Chuitna River Salmon Stream - Today, Representatives Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) called on the State to prevent the destruction of wild salmon spawning and rearing waters on the prized Chuitna River near Tyonek. The Canadian company PacRim Coal proposes to dredge and dewater an 11 mile stretch of the Middle Fork of the Chuitna River. PacRim Coal plans to sell the coal from the Chuitna River streambed to China.

“It’s the 21st century, and we shouldn’t destroy salmon streams using 19th Century mining practices,” said Rep. Gara. “Fishing streams aren't like Doritos. You can't just make more."

Rep. Gara is an avid fisherman who has written articles for Fish Alaska Magazine, Alaska Magazine and other fishing publications. Rep. Gara has co-authored a letter that has been sent to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources outlining his opposition to the proposed coal mine and calling on the Department to honor an in-stream flow application submitted by the Chuitna Citizens Coalition.

“We should have clean water for salmon, and save water for salmon,” said Chuitna Citizens Coalition member Judy Heilman from Beluga. - More...
Thursday PM - April 09, 2015

Alaska: House Fisheries Committee Passes the Bristol Bay Fisheries Act to Protect Bristol Bay Region from Large-Scale Mining - On Tuesday, the House Fisheries Committee passed House Bill 119 sponsored by Representative Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage). The bill seeks to protect the world-famous Bristol Bay fisheries from the harmful impacts of any large-scale metallic sulfide mine located within the boundaries of the existing Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve.

“In a couple of months thousands of stakeholders will be hitting the waters of Bristol Bay targeting the largest sockeye salmon run on earth,” said Rep. Josephson. “These sockeye are a national treasure that are at the heart of the economy of the Bristol Bay region. That’s important. But what’s more important is that the sockeye support a subsistence lifestyle that will be threatened if large-scale mining is allowed in the region.”

HB 119 requires the Commissioners of the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Conservation and Fish and Game to make independent determinations that permit applicant for any large-scale mine in the region have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that such a mine would not constitute a danger to the fisheries. HB 119 builds on Ballot Measure 4, which was approved by voters in November, requiring the Alaska Legislature to approve any large-scale metallic sulfide mine in the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve. - More...
Thursday PM - April 09, 2015