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P E N I N S U L A
Vol. 50, Issue 37
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 • Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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‘We simply should not punish children’ As the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on DACA, Alaska’s delegates weigh in By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments Monday on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, the Obamaera program which provided legal protections for more than 700,000
In the news
3 nominees chosen for House seat JUNEA — Anchorage Republicans have sent the names of three finalists for an open state House seat to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for consideration. Jamie Donley, Melvin Gillis and Forrest McDonald are vying for the seat vacated by Republican Josh Revak. He was confirmed to the Senate seat that was held by Republican Chris Birch, who died in August. State law calls for legislative vacancies to be filled by someone from the same party as the person who previously held the seat. Traditionally, parties nominate candidates for the governor to consider and the governor’s pick is subject to confirmation, in this case, by House Republicans. Revak was Dunleavy’s second pick for the Senate seat after Senate Republicans rejected Rep. Laddie Shaw. Revak was not among the list of finalists advanced by local Republicans.
Bears kept awake by warm weather, food ANCHORAGE — Warm temperatures and an abundance of food are keeping bears out of their dens in See news, Page A2
correction An article in the Tuesday, Nov. 12 edition of the paper contains an error. The article “Trial opens in 2013 death of Homer man” incorrectly states the name of the public defender in the trial. The name of the public defender is Joy Hobart. The Clarion apologizes for the error.
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immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Alaska’s Congressional delegation have expressed varying degrees of support for the program’s goal of protecting childhood arrivals, while criticizing its implementation by the Obama administration. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave the most full-throated support for the program. In a prepared statement to the Empire, Murkowski said she stood with Dreamers, the name given to childhood arrivals.
“Today, we all should be renewing the call for a legislative solution for the Dreamers,” Murkowski said. “I strongly believe that we simply should not punish children for the actions of their parents. I for one, stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to provide a legal, certain path forward for the Dreamers.” Murkowski noted her support for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or Dream Act, which would provide
a path to citizenship for immigrant minors. The Dream Act has been stalled in Congress since 2001 and has seen several iterations, including one in 2019. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, was more critical of the Obama administration’s approach to implementing DACA but supported its goals. In response to a request for comment, Sullivan’s press secretary Mike Anderson said, “Sullivan supports finding a solution for
DACA recipients – but prefers that Congress create the solution rather than through executive action or judicial review.” In a February 2018 statement, Sullivan expressed support for the Secure and Succeed Act, which would have provided a path to citizenship for DACA recipients but also included strengthening security at the southern border. “I am committed to establishing See DACA, Page A3
Impeachment hearings set to go public By Lisa Mascaro Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The closed doors of the Trump impeachment investigation are swinging wide open. When the gavel strikes at the start of the House hearing Wednesday morning, America and the rest of the world will have the chance to see and hear for themselves for the first time about President Donald Trump’s actions toward Ukraine and consider whether they are, in fact, impeachable offenses. It’s a remarkable moment, even for a White House full of them. All on TV, committee leaders will set the stage, then comes the main feature: Two seasoned diplomats, William Taylor, the graying former infantry officer now charge d’affaires in Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary in Washington, telling the striking, if sometimes complicated story of a president allegedly using foreign policy for personal and political gain ahead of the 2020 election. So far, the narrative is splitting Americans, mostly along the same lines as Trump’s unusual presidency. The Constitution sets a dramatic, but vague, bar for impeachment, and there’s no consensus yet that Trump’s actions at the heart of the inquiry meet the threshold of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Whether Wednesday’s proceedings begin to end a presidency or help secure Trump’s position, it’s certain that his chaotic term has finally arrived at a place he cannot control and a force, the constitutional
Andrew Harnik / Associated Press
President Donald Trump speaks Tuesday at the Economic Club of New York at the New York Hilton Midtown.
system of checks and balances, that he cannot ignore. The country has been here just three times before, and never against the backdrop of social media and realtime commentary, including from the president himself. “These hearings will address subjects of profound consequence for the Nation and the functioning of our government under the Constitution,” said Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of
California, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee leading the inquiry, in a memo to lawmakers. Schiff called it a “solemn undertaking,” and counseled colleagues to “approach these proceedings with the seriousness of purpose and love of country that they demand.” “Total impeachment scam,” tweeted the president, as he does virtually every day. Impeachments are rare, historians
say, because they amount to nothing short of the nullification of an election. Starting down this road poses risks for both Democrats and Republicans as proceedings push into the 2020 campaign. Unlike the Watergate hearings and Richard Nixon, there is not yet a “cancer on the presidency” moment galvanizing public opinion. Nor is See hearing, Page A15
Time for ‘movers and shakers’ to make things happen Startup Week provides local businesses and entrepreneurs the tools for success. By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Beginning Sunday, the cities of Kenai and Soldotna will participate in Techstars Alaska Startup Week, a weeklong series of events aimed at promoting small businesses and entrepreneurship. Pamela Parker, owner of Everything Bagels in Soldotna, is one of the co-chairs for Alaska Startup Week and said that the series of events are great
for providing entrepreneurs the tools they need to turn their dreams into a reality. Plus, Parker said, some of the events are just a lot of fun. “You get this feeling being in a room with other movers and shakers that you just want to go out and do something!” Parker said. “It reminds you why you’re doing the whole entrepreneurship thing in the first place.” To kick off Startup Week on the peninsula, an “Idea Launch” will be taking place Sunday, Nov. 17 at Addie Camp in Soldotna. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., aspiring entrepreneurs can stop in and speak to business mentors from the community about how they can explore and expand
their business ideas. Appetizers and refreshments will be available. To “Jump into Startup Week,” the Kenai Young Professionals will be hosting an “adults only” night at Jumpin’ Junction on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna on Monday, Nov. 18. From 7 to 9 p.m., attendees will have full use of the building, which features mini-golf, a Velcro wall, and a new virtual reality system. Everyone 18 and older is welcome. The cost is $20 per person, payable online through the Kenai Chamber of Commerce or in cash at the door. Socks are needed to use the bounce equipment and athletic shoes are required for the VR system.
Also on Monday, Nov. 18, the Alaska Small Business Development Center will be hosting a workshop on starting a business. The workshop will focus on the topics of business licensing, record-keeping, hiring, planning, legal forms of business and access to financing. The workshop will be at the SBDC office on Kalifornsky Beach Road at 2 p.m., and attendees can register ahead of time at the SBDC website. During lunch on Tuesday, Nov. 19, Soldotna Speakers will be hosting a one-hour workshop on effective communication. Starting at noon, See startup, Page A3
Board of Fish to discuss Cook Inlet finfish in December By Kat Sorensen Peninsula Clarion
The Board of Fisheries will meet in Seward in December to discuss lower Cook Inlet finfish. The meeting will be held from Dec. 10 to 13 at the Alaska Vocational Technical Center’s Student Service Center (AVTEC). The board will consider 47 proposals pertaining to sport, personal use and subsistence
and commercial fishing in the lower Cook Inlet. Each of the 47 proposals on the table have been submitted by the Fish and Game, Fish and Game Advisory Committees, local fishing organizations or the general public. The meetings are open to the public and will begin with a training session at 12:10 p.m. on Dec. 10 on how to navigate the board process. The public is also invited to give
testimony during the meeting. Interested parties must sign up by Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. at the AVTEC location. Written comments submitted before Nov. 25 will be included in the board’s workbook for the meeting. Comments submitted after Nov. 25 are recorded as copies, will be given to board members and are accepted throughout the meeting. After Nov. 25 comments are limited to five doublesided pages, or 10 single pages.
The board notes that “as a practical matter” comments submitted after the board begins deliberations on relevant proposals are likely to receive less consideration than comments submitted earlier. Individuals not in attendance can submit written comments by fax to 907-465-6094. AVTEC is located at 514 4th Ave. in Seward. For more information visit adfg.alaska.gov.