Former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, a Republican candidate for governor, picked Josh Church of Fairbanks as his running mate.

Church, who is the brother of Seth Church, a Fairbanks contractor and member of the UA Board of Regents, did not like my blog post about his reaction to his stolen sandbags. ave Bronson, a Republican candidate for governor, picks Josh Church as his running mate.

Church, who is the brother of Seth Church, a Fairbanks contractor and member of the UA Board of Regents, did not like my blog post about his reaction to his stolen sandbags.

Dermot ColeJune 23, 2026 Comments

Supreme Court rejects Pearl Creek filing, but charter advocates file new motions

The Alaska Supreme Court rejected the effort by the state and advocates of the Pearl Creek charter school Monday to overturn a lower court order and mandate opening the school in August.

But the Pearl Creek planning group filed two new motions in Superior Court Monday trying once more to get an order to open the school, so there is still some uncertainty.

Dermot ColeJune 22, 2026 Comments

Church sandbags the public

Fairbanksan Josh Church, a right-wing candidate chosen by Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Bronson as a running mate, is making wild and unsubstantiated claims about “liberals” damaging Bronson/Church campaign signs.

And it’s not just liberal boogeymen in Fairbanks who are the problem. The menacing marauders have been trained by teachers in public schools to disrespect private property, envy people with wealth and lash out at those who don’t agree with them, according to the light guv hopeful.

Dermot ColeJune 21, 2026 Comments

Legislative leader parrots oil company talking points

Anchorage Rep. Chuck Kopp, the House majority leader, could have been speaking for the oil companies Saturday when he argued for keeping the Hilcorp loophole intact and rejecting the Senate version of the gas line bill.

The Hilcorp loophole will become the Glenfarne loophole, exempting many companies from paying the graduated income tax that applies to oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips.

Dermot ColeJune 20, 2026 Comments

Senate votes to close Hilcorp loophole again, as House, Dunleavy object

By an 11-9 vote, the Alaska Senate moved to close the Hilcorp loophole as part of a gas pipeline bill on the last day of the legislative special session.

The Senate approved the bill 12-8. The House did not bring it up, however, and the special session ended. The next special session begins Saturday.

Dermot ColeJune 19, 2026 Comments

Glenfarne, AGDC seek to stiff Fairbanks on spur line tariff

Something important happened this week on the gas pipeline.

The “Build the Line!” cheerleaders in Fairbanks and elsewhere parroting Glenfarne propaganda without examining any details didn’t notice.

The sloganeers were so busy getting angry at legislators they didn’t object when Glenfarne asked for a “technical amendment” that would make the Fairbanks spur line more expensive for Alaska customers of the gas pipeline.

Dermot ColeJune 19, 2026 Comments

Unions thought they had binding deal for PLA; not so says Glenfarne

The Senate amended the gasline bill Friday to include provisions for a project labor agreement.

The amendment was needed Sen. Bill Wielechowski said, because the labor unions that had negotiated and recently celebrated the signing of a project labor agreement thought that the deal with binding.

But Glenfarne and Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced later that it was not binding, Wielechowski said.

Dermot ColeJune 19, 2026 Comments

Gas line is no laughing matter, but Mia Costello is smiling

Somebody needs to tell Rep. Mia Costello and Sen. George Rauscher that the gasline is no laughing matter.

I bring this up because it appears Mia and George have been captured laughing, perhaps about the gas pipeline.

Dermot ColeJune 18, 2026 Comments

Pearl Creek and Dunleavy seek emergency Supreme Court order to open charter school

The Dunleavy administration and advocates of the proposed Pearl Creek charter school are asking the Alaska Supreme Court for an emergency order and to overturn a Fairbanks Superior Court judge to force the school district to allow the charter school to open in August.

Dunleavy and the Pearl Creek academic policy committee, represented by Fairbanks attorney Mike Kramer, asked for a ruling by 10 a,m. Monday, so jobs could be posted next week.

Dermot ColeJune 18, 2026 Comments

Court rejects Pearl Creek school opening

Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Kirk Schwalm rejected efforts by the proposed Pearl Creek charter school for a court order requiring the school district to allow the charter to open in August.

The Pearl Creek group requested a preliminary injunction to have the school open while court proceedings continue regarding the school district challenge to the process used by the Dunleavy administration.

Dermot ColeJune 17, 2026 Comments