Happy Solstice to all! It’s that wonderful time (especially in the far north) when the Earth decides to tip back into the summer direction, and the amount of darkeness gets less, and the light gets longer. It will only be a second or two a day at first, but as the weeks roll on, it [...]

Charges that Alaska’s one and only congressman took money for his legal defense fund illegally… (where have we heard THAT before in this state?) have been dropped, and Don Young has been cleared. The complaint stated that he’d taken too much money from an out-of-state bazillionaire donor with massive corporate interests in offshore drilling. In [...]

Sarah Palin says it’s not too late for folks to jump into the Republican presidential race. That’s right… “folks.” “Folks” still have time to throw their hat in the ring. “Folks” could change their minds. “Folks” aren’t sold on the current lineup of candidates. There’s just not enough fire in those bellies. “Folks” could even [...]

  Here’s one from the other day. Much nicer than the wind and rain we’ve been having, and will continue to have… at least for now.

By Elstun Lauesen Franklin C. Spinney was a staff analyst attached to the Department of Defense’s ASD/PA&E (Tactical Air Division). In 1991 he wrote an independent position paper on why the F-22 should not have been approved for engineering and development. His objections were two-fold: first, the production of the F-22 didn’t make strategic sense [...]

By Shannyn Moore “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” – Edmund Burke In 2006, the FBI raided the offices of legislators. Lawmakers were prosecuted for selling their votes to help pass Gov. Frank Murkowski’s Big Oil Bailout, the Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT). The PPT tied 85 percent of state revenue to [...]

I think most Alaskans can relate to this one…

~Shhhhh. Don’t tell him the cat is right behind him! Hello from Kinshasa- I am hoping that this is my last email update from Kinshasa, but it’s almost 4 p.m. local time and I don’t have my exit letter yet. I know that these things tend to come late in the day, but I’m nervous. [...]

Zach Roberts, our Mudflats New York Bureau Chief (journalist, photographer, and filmmaker) of whom many of you are familiar has been arrested in New York City, while covering the Occupy protest. His Twitter feed contained photos and updates. 08:16 – All is quiet in duarte park 11:26 – Blocked traffic to Holland tunnel for a [...]

Rep. Les Gara is well-known to Mudflatters, and is one of our favorite legislators. There are many reasons for that, but his ginormous heart, and desire to help kids in foster care succeed are a couple reasons. This year he is launching the second annual Laptops for Foster Youth Holiday Drive. Over the past year [...]

by Greg Palast The GOP is pushing a pipeline that could blow you to pieces Palast conducted a five-continent investigation of Big Oil for British TV’s premier current affairs program, Dispatches, and for BBC Worldwide. This report is based on the broadcast seen prime-time worldwide—but not yet in the USA. Whistleblowers have told Britain’s “Dispatches” [...]

Check out the newest episode of Moore Up North, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm on ABC, Channel 13, statewide. Shannyn’s interview was Reverend Michael Burke  of Christians for Equality, and the One Anchorage campaign. Panelists were Andrew Halcro, Jeanne Devon and Bob Poe. Topics included Senator Gary Stevens’ speech to Commonwealth North regarding oil taxes, [...]

~Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) Yesterday, Senate President Gary Stevens (R) spoke to Commonwealth North at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage about a variety of issues facing the Legislature in its upcoming Session, including HB 110 (also known as Governor Captain Zero’s oil tax plan). Below, you will find a copy of his prepared [...]

Looking for a fun and unique stocking stuffer for the progressive on your list? Here’s one to check out from the creators of Going Rouge: the Sarah Palin Coloring and Activity book, Julie Sigwart and Michael Stinson. From their website, which includes excerpts from the book: We rewrote the Lewis Carroll Victorian classic “Alice in Wonderland,” and [...]