February-Issue-1 2012

Alaska’s contractors are back in the upswing, according to the Associated General Contractors of Alaska.

Anchorage is in for some moderate construction growth next year, as predicted by ECI/Hyer Architecture and Interiors. Principal architect Brian Miessner recently addressed the 2012 forecast to BOMA Anchorage.

The Port of Anchorage may be the most important piece of infrastructure in the state of Alaska. Nearly 90 percent of merchandise goods enter the Port of Anchorage from Tacoma, Wash., serving approximately 85 percent of Alaska’s population. This includes more than 250 villages and rural towns across Alaska.

Alaska’s contractors are back in the upswing, according to the Associated General Contractors of Alaska.

Alaska has experienced a huge retail market boom in recent years as several national brands set up shop here for the first time. That growth will continue, albeit more slowly, in the next few years.

Anchorage is in for some moderate construction growth next year, as predicted by ECI/Hyer Architecture and Interiors. Principal architect Brian Miessner recently addressed the 2012 forecast to BOMA Anchorage.

The Nenana Basin west of Fairbanks could hold oil as well as natural gas, officials with the state Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey and Doyon Ltd., which is leading exploration company in the region, told a state legislative committee in Juneau on Jan. 30.

The Coast Guard Cutter Healy, an icebreaker, and the Russian tanker T/V Renda broke out of the Bering Sea icepack Jan. 29, just 10 days after leaving Nome and delivering 1.4 million gallons of fuel, a spokeswoman for Vitus Marine LLC said.

JUNEAU — Federal regulatory proceedings for the planned $5 billion-plus Watana hydro project on the Susitna River north of Anchorage are getting under way.

The state Senate’s proposal for changes to the state’s oil production tax will be introduced the week of Feb. 6 and hearings on it will begin in the Senate Resources Committee on Feb. 10, Senate President Gary Stevens and Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, co-chairs the Resources Committee, said in a briefing.

JUNEAU (AP) — Alaska Democratic lawmakers Feb. 1 proposed a move toward amending the U.S. Constitution to ban unlimited third-party spending in campaigns.

Alaskans heard Gov. Sean Parnell’s State of the State address to the 27th Alaska Legislature recently.

NEW YORK (AP) — Do not look at the calendar and think, “I don’t need to start on my small business tax return yet. I have more than three months to do it.”

Alaska Air Group has reported record earnings for the second consecutive year. At the same time, fourth quarter results dipped a bit.

As expected there will be less halibut available for fishermen to catch this year – an 18 percent drop to 33 million pounds, to be split among fisheries along the west coast, British Columbia and Alaska. That follows a 19 percent cut to the catch last year.

Alaskans heard Gov. Sean Parnell’s State of the State address to the 27th Alaska Legislature recently.

For generations of Americans, owning your home meant owning your future and building a sense of stability, pride and accomplishment. Even with the economic turmoil of the past few years, Americans remain committed to the American Dream of homeownership. And if politicians seeking to reduce the deficit by reducing or eliminating government incentives to own a home had any doubt, a recent survey of likely voters proves it.

You may have seen a lot of news lately about the rising cost of Alaska’s corrections system. We have to face the facts: Prisons are incredibly expensive — regardless of where or how they are built. It’s time for us to start focusing on why we have had to build a new prison in the first place.

The Port of Anchorage may be the most important piece of infrastructure in the state of Alaska. Nearly 90 percent of merchandise goods enter the Port of Anchorage from Tacoma, Wash., serving approximately 85 percent of Alaska’s population. This includes more than 250 villages and rural towns across Alaska.

With nearly one in 10 troops in Afghanistan hailing from Alaska-based units, I spent the recent Martin Luther King Day weekend traveling throughout the country. My mission: thank our troops for great work in incredibly tough conditions, and make sure America’s mission fighting terrorism is being achieved.

In many cases rightly so, Alaska is not bashful about touting itself as a model for sustainable fisheries management.

An independent performance review of the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be completed by April 30.

In many cases rightly so, Alaska is not bashful about touting itself as a model for sustainable fisheries management.

As expected there will be less halibut available for fishermen to catch this year – an 18 percent drop to 33 million pounds, to be split among fisheries along the west coast, British Columbia and Alaska. That follows a 19 percent cut to the catch last year.

An independent performance review of the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be completed by April 30.

NEW YORK (AP) — Wendy’s new CEO called the dour results of the past few years “self-inflicted wounds” and vowed to do better, laying out plans that included hiring top-tier workers and reclaiming market share from higher-end competitors like Five Guys and Smashburger.