The “graying of the fleet” continues in Alaska as fewer young folks obtain permits for various fisheries.
Alaska’s salmon harvest and value for 2012 came in well below last year, dropping 21 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
Republicans nationwide may be disappointed by the outcome of election night. But, if all politics is local, members of the Alaska GOP are poised to take advantage of their statewide party rally through serious oil tax reform in the next legislative session.
Seriously? Both political parties talking pre-emptive smack barely a week after the election.
The significant tightening of business credit brought by the recession has begun to lift. A recent analysis of FDIC data by the Investigative Reporting Workshop found banks have been increasing overall commercial and industrial lending for five straight quarters.
The Legislature begins its return to the Capitol soon — and although the landscape has changed many of the key players have only changed committee positions. The clear result of the election, however, is that backers of Gov. Sean Parnell’s policies are in the driver’s seat.
Equities sold off in October primarily due to mixed corporate earnings, a weak outlook for sales and some corporate layoffs. Third quarter earnings were up 4.4 percent year-over-year, but ex-financials were down 2.5 percent. Sales were flat. The S&P 500 lost 1.9 percent to end the month at 1,412, its lowest level since early September. International EAFE equities did better gaining 0.8 percent.
The results of a six-year study on Western salmon will be unveiled this month and the conclusions are not what people of the region had hoped for.
Access to critical minerals and metals is vital to America’s military strength and economic health. As we move further forward into the technology age, we need a range of non-fuel minerals - from antimony to zinc - for defense technologies that protect the homeland and project American power abroad. These same minerals and metals underpin our manufacturing sector too, and the cost of raw materials impacts everything from productivity and innovation to economic growth and job creation.
Over the last two weeks, I have met with Alaskans from all over the state. Whether it’s at a town hall meeting or the grocery store, Alaskans often come around to the same two questions: How did we as a country get into this trillion-dollar deficit mess? How do we get out of it?
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