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alaska.bsky.social
James Brooks Cascade
@alaska.bsky.social
6.6K followers 1.1K following 2K posts
Statehouse and politics reporter for the Alaska Beacon. Juneauite. Formerly with the Anchorage Daily News, Juneau Empire, Kodiak Daily Mirror and the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
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Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
adn.com
A change to the record-keeping subcontractor for the Alaska 529 program resulted in some PFD filers unintentionally contributing to new accounts.
Some PFD filers unintentionally open new accounts after administrative change to Alaska 529
Alaska 529 sent letters in July to past contributors, but some didn’t notice until a new account opened in their name when dividends went out in October.
www.adn.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
matt.akmemo.com
Meanwhile, in Kodiak, a 31-year-old man, Maximillian Kaplan, has been arrested for pretending to be an ICE officer and harassing people at the Safeway and Walmart.

#akleg

Link: www.kodiakdailymirror.com/news/article...
ICE-imitator arrested, charged with impersonation
A Kodiak man was arrested last Wednesday after allegedly harassing Safeway and Walmart employees and customers while pretending to be an ICE agent.
www.kodiakdailymirror.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
npr.org
Update: Senate Democrats say they are unwilling to fund the Department of Homeland Security without major reforms, raising the likelihood of a partial government shutdown at the end of this week.
In the wake of Alex Pretti's death, Congress appears on track for a partial shutdown
Senate Democrats say they are unwilling to fund the Department of Homeland Security without major reforms, raising the likelihood of a partial government shutdown at the end of this week.
n.pr
January 26, 2026 at 8:17 PM
alaska.bsky.social
Rep. Andrew Gray spoke on Friday. One day later, a federal officer shot and killed another person in Minnesota. #akleg #Alaska
January 26, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
alaskawx.bsky.social
A story of Kipnuk, Alaska before and after Halong. #akwx #weather #AlaskaSky

www.propublica.org/article/kipn...

@emilyschwing.bsky.social
Documenting an Alaska Village, Before and After the Storm That Destroyed It
The story of Typhoon Halong’s destruction in Kipnuk adds an exclamation point to long-simmering fears about the future of Alaska coastal villages facing down climate change.
www.propublica.org
January 26, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
benmuse.bsky.social
Juneau came out for Minneapolis this evening. Maybe 250 people under a light snowfall.
January 26, 2026 at 2:11 AM
alaska.bsky.social
This message is circulating in Juneau:

Pop up protest!
Today (Sunday)
4:30pm
Whale Statue
Candlelight vigil

Rising up in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in cities across the nation who are experiencing the injustice of ICE agents murdering and bullying people indiscriminately!

#Alaska
January 25, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
alaskasnewssource.com
A massive oil drilling rig toppled over on the tundra of Alaska’s North Slope as it was moving Friday afternoon, authorities said.
No serious injuries after oil rig topples over on Alaska’s North Slope
A massive oil drilling rig toppled over on the tundra of Alaska’s North Slope as it was moving Friday afternoon, authorities said.
www.alaskasnewssource.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:01 AM
alaska.bsky.social
KTOO-FM has the UNMITIGATED GALL and is offering free music from its archives at its offices in downtown Juneau. #Alaska
A record entitled unmitigated gall Boxes of records laid out on a table for a giveaway
January 23, 2026 at 10:21 PM
alaska.bsky.social
The Senate President of Ireland, Mark Daly, is visiting the Alaska Capitol this week, and there's a legislative reception at the Lucky Lady bar at 5 p.m. tonight ... #akleg #Alaska
January 23, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
statesnewsroom.com
For eight weeks, our journalists at the @minnesotareformer.com have been reporting from the front lines of the federal government's immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
January 23, 2026 at 7:41 PM
alaska.bsky.social
According to my email machine, @mariancall.bsky.social is hosting a music trivia night fundraiser next week! givebutter.com/JNU-Music-Tr... #Juneau #Alaska
Music Trivia Fundraiser Extravaganza The Hangar Ballroom, 21+ Friday, Jan. 30th - doors 7pm, trivia 7:30pm $10 entry, teams of up to six Conor Lendrum and I are working together to host a swanky Friday night trivia and silent auction at the Hangar Ballroom -- all the rounds include questions relating in some way to music. Dress up if you like, we will. The prizes are exceptional, as are the silent auction items: Your outgoing voicemail greeting as recorded by the Getting Strangers An original song created for the winning team's name, live onstage, by one-man house band Jacob Pickard Gift bags for the whole team from Drip Drop Wonder Shop, Kindred Post, and other downtown vendors, worth over $50 each A free round for the table that's ahead at half time Bid in the silent auction on a private in-home meal by local gourmet local chefs, custom illustration of your favorite musician by Pat Race, prints by local artists including Rie Muñoz, earrings by Lily Hope, jewelry from Wolfsong Wellness, books and records from Hearthside and Downtown Discs, vintage Alaskan Bar merch, and much more. Folks can reserve a table for their team or just grab a single ticket and join up on arrival. Paying at the door also works, but the tickets have no fees, so it's the same. This supports the org I work for, but mostly it supports the Alaska Music Summit next Saturday, which is my entire life at the moment. Conor is working super hard on the rounds to make them as wild as possible. So I hope you'll maybe grab a ticket and come! Or tell a fellow trivia nerd if you think it sounds fun! (here's a Facebook event to share.)
January 23, 2026 at 7:25 PM
alaska.bsky.social
The first of Gov. Mike Dunleavy's fiscal plan bills will be formally introduced today, with others (including the expected sales tax) coming Monday. #akleg
January 23, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
tonytassell.bsky.social
The Taco trade has eaten itself - Long View column by @katie0martin.ft.com. Graph by @raydouglas.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/5c1a...
January 23, 2026 at 6:28 PM
alaska.bsky.social
In today's roundup of Alaska appellate court decisions, a man appeals his murder conviction on the grounds that the jury instructions failed to number the counts against him.

The appeals court didn't go for that and upheld the convictions. #akleg
January 23, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
alaskawx.bsky.social
Part of the food security equation in western Alaska:

knom.org/2026/01/22/a...

#AlaskaSky
AC rushes to refill shelves as weather, maintenance plague cargo carriers - KNOM Radio Mission
Alaska Commercial Company (AC) is revamping its shipping strategy this winter as a combination of severe weather and high seasonal demand has caused disruptions in Nome and nearby communities.  AC Pre...
knom.org
January 23, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
adn.com
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon will take aim at a contracting program that’s become a critical part of the business portfolios for many Alaska Native corporations.
Pentagon to take ‘sledgehammer’ to contracting program central to many Alaska Native corporations
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks over the weekend are latest in the Trump administration’s criticisms of the 8(a) program.
www.adn.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
alaskabeacon.com
Dunleavy to propose ‘temporary, seasonal sales tax’ in Thursday’s Alaska State of the State address, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/d...
Dunleavy to propose ‘temporary, seasonal sales tax’ in Thursday’s Alaska State of the State address | Alaska Beacon
The governor’s final annual speech to the state legislature will be highlighted by his pitch for a long-term plan to fix state finances.
alaskabeacon.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
emptywheel.bsky.social
This declaration from WaPo journalist Hannah Natanson describing what the FBI took is utterly devastating.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
4 paragraphs of a declaration. They describe that when the FBI took Natanson's devices, she was logged into Proton, Google, draft stories, and Slack. Another paragraph of the declaration, describing that she had Signal messages with 1,200 people on her phone.
January 21, 2026 at 7:44 PM
alaska.bsky.social
Looks like someone's been charged in Alaska federal court for trying to open the cabin door of an international flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo while being drugged or having dementia ... Alaska gets these cases infrequently because it's the place where planes land in emergency situations.
At approximately 4:09 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2026, I received an email containing an FAA Incident Notification regarding Delta Flight 121 from Minneapolis to Tokyo, Japan. The notification indicated that the flight crew reported an unruly passenger and declared a Level 2 Disturbance, diverting the plane to land in Anchorage. 7. At approximately 5 :23 p.m., I received a second email containing another FAA Incident Notification containing additional information. This second email indicated that a disruptive passenger was walking around the aisle of the aircraft, attempted to open a cabin door, and had become verbally abusive towards the flight crew as they attempted to help him back to his seat.
January 21, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
alaskabeacon.com
Alaska legislators convene session, with budget issues and a veto override vote awaiting, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/21/a...
Alaska legislators convene session, with budget issues and a veto override vote awaiting | Alaska Beacon
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is expected on Thursday to roll out a long-term plan to bring state expenses and revenue into balance.
alaskabeacon.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
pat.alaskarobotics.com
#akleg That bodes well.
Northern lights over the Alaska State Capitol.
January 21, 2026 at 5:02 AM
alaska.bsky.social
For folks who are interested, here's the whole White House pool email that went out about Air Force One.
Hello, An urgent update your pooler is sending on behalf of the out-of-town pool: After takeoff, the crew on AF1 identified “a minor electrical issue” and, out of an abundance of caution, we are turning around, landing at Joint Base Andrews and boarding new aircraft, per press secretary Karoline Leavitt. (Note from your pooler: the lights in the press cabin went out briefly after takeoff but no explanation was offered.) Leavitt made a joke about the Qatari jet sounding “much better” right now. This will obviously delay our arrival in Zurich. We will keep you updated as best we can. We’re expected to land at JBA at 11 PM. Thanks,
January 21, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Reposted by James Brooks Cascade
ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social
Alaska lost about a third of its U.S. Forest Service employees in the past year due to federal staffing cuts led by the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Leading this workforce in flux is Jerry Ingersoll, the U.S. Forest Service’s acting regional forester for Alaska.
‘A period of change’ at the Forest Service: A conversation with Alaska’s acting regional forester
Jerry Ingersoll talks about the impending consolidation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tongass National Forest Plan Revision.
www.ktoo.org
January 21, 2026 at 12:30 AM
alaska.bsky.social
If you're interested in disaster planning, the state of Alaska is taking its regular look at the worst-case scenario for a spill from the trans-Alaska oil pipeline system: aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublic... #akleg
Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Pipeline Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan (ODPCP) Renewal
aws.state.ak.us
January 21, 2026 at 12:09 AM