Apologies for the late column again. I am at the tail end of my vacation before session and time got away from me yesterday. A major wind storm caused damage and power outages to many areas around Anchorage. The first session of the 34th Alaska Legislature begins in just over a week. The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) has entered into a deal with a firm – that the Landmine uncovered – that they say will build the long awaited gasline. And Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska) was spotted at Mar-a-Lago before his trip to the United Arab Emirates. 

A friendly message and reminder to all our readers. The Landmine is made possible by myself and a team of awesome Alaskans. I have been covering the legislative session in Juneau for the last six years and head back on Saturday. If you enjoy the content we provide, please consider making a one time or recurring monthly donation. You can click here to donate. We have a system that makes it super easy. We would really appreciate it. And thanks to everyone who has been supportive.

Major Wind Strom 

A major wind storm hit Anchorage this weekend, causing damage and power outages. I am out of town but I heard from several friends how bad it was. Even part of the pedestrian bridge crossing the Seward Highway in South Anchorage was destroyed. Wishing everyone who was impacted a quick recovery.

This video was sent to me:

I asked people to send photos of the damage. Here are just a few:

Another Gasline Deal 

On Monday (1/6/2025), Governor Dunleavy held a press conference on our ongoing energy problems. He was joined by Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle, AIDEA Executive Director Randy Ruaro, AEA Executive Director Curtis Thayer, AGDC President Frank Richards, and Enstar President John Sims. 

Most of the press conference was the same stuff we have all heard for years. Basically a lot of talk and no action while the energy situation worsens. But there was one interesting announcement. Frank Richards announced that AGDC has entered into some kind of deal with a company to build the large export line. This is a shift from AGDC’s announcement last year that they planned to focus on the small diameter line for in-state needs. 

Richards would not identify the company at the press conference. But in classic Landmine fashion, the next day a good source informed me who the company was. After an initial tweet, everyone came clean. The company, Glenfarne, is partnering with AGDC and Enstar. 

Since it was revealed that Glenfarne was the company AGDC is partnering with, there has been a good deal of criticism and scrutiny about them. Which is understandable. For those of us who have been here a while, we all remember the Trans-Canada debacle under former Governor Sarah Palin that former Governor Sean Parnell continued. And then former Governor Bill Walker’s attempt to do a deal with the Chinese company Sinopec. 

So, as history shows there are a lot of reasons to be apprehensive about this announcement. But I am ever so cautiously optimistic. Everyone is aware of our energy crisis. Everyone acknowledges the gasline is the key to our energy security and is leagues better than relying on imported LNG for a long-term solution (under this deal it appears imported LNG will be a short-term solution). And Governor Dunleavy, AGDC, and Enstar are aligned on this. While every aspect of this deal should be carefully scrutinized by the media and Legislature, I am hopeful that this will materialize into something real. 

Other Happenings 

Governor Dunleavy continues to covertly travel around the country and not tell Alaskans. This time his presence at Mar-a-Lago was revealed thanks to video on X. 

The idiots at the Party for Socialism and Liberation are at it again. The Trump Derangement Syndrome is real with these lunatics.  

Here is an insane situation. In March, the Landmine published an article titled, “Former Rep. Ralph Samuels sent impassioned letter to Sen. Scott Kawasaki regarding Parole Board bill.” From the article:

Ralph Samuels, who served in the House from 2003-2009, was watching the testimony when he heard a familiar name. The name was of the man that brutally murdered his brother in 1989. In the letter Samuels wrote that he and his dad “found his [brother’s] bloodied, lifeless body stuffed in a closet in his own home.”

During testimony, Sylvester Byrd Jr., a convicted murderer who was paroled three years ago, appeared with Megan Edge from the American Civil Liberties Union. Byrd implied Norton was unfairly treated because he was not paroled like Byrd was. 

There was someone else at that hearing as well. His name is Trevor Stefano. Stefano has been on parole since 2021 after being convicted of murder in 2006. He, along with the ACLU, was invited to testify by Senator Scott Kawasaki (D – Fairbanks), who chaired the committee, and Senator Löki Tobin (D – Anchorage), the sponsor of the bill. Well it turns out that Stefano is the person who was charged with attempted murder for a shooting last week in Government Hill. You can listen to his testimony at the hearing here. It start at 47 minutes. You really can’t make this shit up. 

Politicos on the Move

Micaela Fowler is leaving her role as deputy commissioner of the Department of Commerce to take a job with Holland America to be their Southeast government and community relations person. Congrats to her!

Cody Rice left his role in Speaker Cathy Tilton’s (R – Wasilla) to take a job as a commercial analyst with the Department of Natural Resources. Congrats to him!

Rick Whitbeck, who is now Representative Nick Begich’s (R – Alaska) state director, was briefly working for Speaker Tilton before he went to work for Begich. 

This Week’s Loose Unit

There were a lot of good candidates this week. From ADGC keeping the gasline deal secret – that I broke the next day – to Governor Dunleavy sneaking off to Mar-a-Lago to some Democrats inviting a guy now charged with attempted murder to testify at a legislative hearing, there were many choices. But one person stood out this week. This week’s Loose Unit is Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. 

On Friday, the Landmine published this article, “To bolster Anchorage economy and tribal sovereignty, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance advocates for casino gambling.” 

The article includes an email LaFrance sent to Assembly members supporting the proposed casino in Birchwood on Eklutna land. For more than three decades, covering multiple presidential administrations, legal precedent was that tribes in Alaska – which are already legally questionable – could not do gaming. Last year, that decision was reversed by Interior Solicitor Robert Anderson, who has ties to Alaska and Alaska Native issues. 

Aaron Leggett, the president of Native Village of Eklutna, was on LaFrance’s transition team. For people like LaFrance, Leggett and his tribe can do no wrong. Remember the Eklutna dam.

But what makes this situation loose is that if this casino were to actually get built, the road in Birchwood would need to be upgraded to deal with the traffic. There would also need to be an increased police presence. It would be one thing if they were going to pay property taxes. But the proposed site is located on a Native allotment, meaning they would not pay any city property taxes. 

For the Anchorage mayor to support this project, with no demands that they pay anything to upgrade the road and for police, is classic Loose Unit behavior. 

If you have a nomination for this week’s Loose Unit, or if you have any political news, stories or gossip (or any old pics of politicians or public officials) please email me at jeff@alaskalandmine.com.