Look for a widespread public school ban in 2025 on the student use of “cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and gaming devices” during the school day.

A proposed policy says: “Students are prohibited from accessing devices or wearing device accessories during the school day unless explicitly authorized for classroom use. Devices and accessories must be stored in lockers, backpacks, or as directed by the school district. The district may prohibit possession of devices and accessories on school property.”

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Sen. Dan Sullivan began his confirmation hearing questions of Trump Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth with a bonehead quiz about Billy Mitchell, followed by a series of anti-Biden cheap shots framed as questions that Sullivan, Trump and Hegseth agree upon.

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The endless caterwauling about how we need to increase mining in Alaska for national security reasons is deceptive.

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In an all-too-familiar pattern with the Dunleavy administration, the contract was extended and extended again to $450,000, nine times the amount claimed on August 19 as sufficient.

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In response to a public records request I submitted, the governor’s office says that while it once had other draft reports of the study, it does not have them any longer.

As an excuse, this is a few steps shy of “The dog ate my homework.” George Costanza could do better.

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Nick Begich the Third, eager to please Donald Trump, is excited about the concept of turning Greenland into U.S. property.

Begich is the son of Nick Begich Jr., who now self-identifies as Nick Begich Sr., and the nephew of former Sen. Mark Begich and former state Sen. Tom Begich.

Now the leader of the Begich political family in Alaska, Nick the Third is a sudden convert to the Trump plan to take control of Greenland.

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Stripped of double-talk, what’s happening is far less significant than the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation claims. The real “milestone,” if there is one, is that the state has agreed to pay a major pipeline company up to $50 million to complete the next stage of pipeline planning work, the so-called front end engineering and design. That work is necessary to get updated cost estimates.

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This is no breakthrough. AGDC couldn’t reach this point without a state promise to pick up the tab for the $50 million planning phase of the gas pipeline. If the pipeline company pulls the plug, it will get all of its money back.

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Perhaps Nick Begich the Third is trying to cultivate an image as a Trump-like tough guy, when he is just a rude freshman seeking attention.

“Joe Biden is a son of a bitch,” the freshman House member announced on Elon Musk’s social media website.

I’m surprised he didn’t challenge him to a duel.

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If there is one positive element about the failure to name a sixth trustee, it is a reminder that the current structure in state law for guidance of Alaska’s most important financial institution is out of date.

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