Latest news with #LastFrontier
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cruise industry files lawsuit against popular Royal Caribbean port
Cruise industry files lawsuit against popular Royal Caribbean port originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. As Royal Caribbean's popular Quantum Class cruise ship Anthem of the Seas embarks on its first-ever adventures in the Last Frontier this summer, a new battle is heating up between the cruise industry and one of its ports of call. A total of four Royal Caribbean ships are sailing in Alaska this summer, taking adventurous cruisers to explore sought-after ports like Sitka, Juneau, and of their popularity with cruise travelers, all three of these Alaska ports have been grappling with how to effectively manage cruise tourism to protect the environment and quality of life in their communities. Although Alaska ports have mostly been working collaboratively with cruise lines on measures to regulate cruise tourism and offset its impacts, one port recently adopted a controversial cruise ship ordinance, igniting a fight that will now be settled in court. Doug Parker shared details on the Alaska cruise port lawsuit, and other cruise news including significant cruise schedule changes made by Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, on the May 29th edition of Cruise News Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Thursday, May 29th. Carnival Cruise Line has canceled seven sailings aboard Carnival Conquest in January over a rescheduled dry dock. Now the impacted cruises — originally three and four-night Bahamas sailings from Miami — are now off the website and not open for booking. Impacted guests can rebook comparable sailings with price protection, onboard credits, and possible airfare reimbursement. Full refunds are also available. No reason was given for the dry dock shift, but the original dates are now offered as casino sailings. Similar dry dock changes have also recently impacted Carnival Magic and Carnival the cruise industry is suing the town of Skagway in southeast Alaska over a new tax ordinance. Yeah, the policy passed late last year allows Skagway to collect sales tax on full-price cruise excursions, including commissionable fees. The Cruise Line International Association argues that this violates state and federal law, calling it unfair. Skagway officials say it ensures consistent taxation for all tourists, regardless of how they're booked. The lawsuit filed in state court seeks to overturn the ordinance and recover legal Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas is arriving ahead of schedule again and adding another sailing. Yeah, the cruise line has announced a new four-night showcase cruise departing Port Canaveral on August 16th. This will be visiting CocoCay and offering two days at sea. This is the fourth preview sailing ahead of the ship's official seven-night Caribbean cruise on August 31st. Guests booked on later cruises can now join this cruise if they'd cruise line stocks were down on Wednesday. Carnival Corporation: down two and a half percent, 23.00, Royal Caribbean: down two percent, 250.80, Norwegian: down three percent, 17.54, and Viking: down 1.3 percent, 44.32. If you have a lead on a story, let us know, tips@ This week's Cruise Radio Podcast: a review of Carnival Jubilee, where you listen to your favorite podcasts. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News today. Have yourself a great Thursday. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Los Angeles Times
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Alaska Republican speaks truth about Trump: ‘Retaliation is real. And that's not right.'
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska's longtime U.S. senator, was home from Washington this week, touching base. As part of her rounds, the Republican lawmaker appeared in Anchorage before an annual meeting of tribal leaders and nonprofit executives. Inevitably, the discussion turned to the wrecking-ball presidency of Donald Trump and his autocratic and, frankly, un-American penchant for siccing the government on his political foes. Asked what she had to say to those living in fear, or who represent constituents afraid of today's McCarthyesque climate, Murkowski responded with honesty and bracing candor. 'We are all afraid,' she said. She then paused five long seconds, her face a rictus of wonderment and concern, allowing the observation and admission — from a sitting member of the United States Senate, no less — to sink in. 'It's quite a statement,' Murkowski went on. Another brief pause, then several starts and stops. 'But we're in a time and a place where ... I've not been here before,' she said. 'And I'll tell you, I'm oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real. And that's not right.' It's a fine pass we've come to when simply speaking the truth and stating the obvious are considered newsworthy, much less an act of courage. But here we are, folks. America, 2025. If you wish to be cynical, there are reasons why Murkowski — whose comments Monday quickly ricocheted across the country — may be more prepared to speak out against Trump than her timorous Republican peers. Trump easily carried Alaska all three times he ran for president. But his showing — the 54% of the vote he received in November was a high mark — is a shadow of his blowout victories elsewhere. Trump won Wyoming with 70% of the vote, West Virginia with 68% and Oklahoma and North Dakota with 65% support. His executive order changing the name of North America's tallest peak, Denali, back to Mt. McKinley has landed among Alaskans with a decided thud. A survey of adult residents found they opposed the switch by more than 2 to 1. In other words, the Last Frontier is not exactly head over heels for Trump. Besides, Murkowski won't face reelection — should she decide to run for a fifth term — until 2028, when Trump's time in office will finally, mercifully be winding down. Those factors, however, don't take away from the starch in the senator's spine or her willingness to stand up while so many others in her party cower in submission. Give Murkowski her due: She doesn't shrink from a fight. In 2010, she notched a rare write-in victory after losing the GOP nomination to a right-wing 'tea party' Republican. In 2021, Murkowski was one of just seven Republican senators — and the only one to face constituents in the next election cycle — to vote to convict Trump in an impeachment trial for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Her act drew a censure from state GOP leaders and the petulance you would expect from Trump, who urged some Republican, any Republican — 'If you have a pulse, I'm with you!' — to challenge Murkowski's reelection. When Kelly Tshibaka, a 2020 election denier, stepped forward, Trump appeared at an Anchorage rally to lend his support. Murkowski won anyway. She may be the state's most popular living politician, said Amy Lovecraft, a political science professor at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. 'She knows the state,' Lovecraft said. 'She gets stuff done. She's a doer.' She's also outspokenly independent, a rare commodity in today's increasing cult-like GOP. In fact, the whole notion of checks and balances — a foundational principle of American democracy — has gone out the window, Murkowski suggested in Anchorage. 'Right now, we are not balancing as the Congress,' she said, expressing concern, as well, over Trump's attempted undermining of the judiciary. Murkowski has taken on Trump more than once. She refused to vote for him in 2024 — she didn't support Kamala Harris, either — and was one of the few Republicans in office to publicly condemn Trump's shameful pardon of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. She opposed Pete Hegseth's risible nomination as Defense secretary and voted to undo Trump's heedless tariffs on Canada. She's also expressed concerns about Elon Musk's wanton assault on federal employees. 'Things are happening so fast through this Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE' — the fictive name of Musk's made-up agency — 'None of us understand the half of it. It's literally piecing it together,' Murkowski told those gathered in Anchorage. Speaking on Monday to the Alaska Daily News, Muskowski recounted numerous conversations with some of those summarily fired in Musk's precipitous purge. Many were in tears. 'They thought that they were in a profession they've given so much to and thought that they were doing well,' Murkowski said. 'And literally, with no notice whatsoever, [they were] terminated and told that their work performance was not satisfactory, which was not true. 'These are real emotions. These are real people,' she said. 'These are real fears and they need to be heard.' Indeed. Sadly, for now, Murkowski is one of vanishingly few Republican politicians with the guts to speak up against the party's rogue president — a brave, but lone, voice in the wilderness.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska can be 'cure' for nation's 'ills' with help from Trump admin, governor says
EXCLUSIVE: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said his state can take the lead on being the best prescription for putting America back on the right track in multiple ways, including energy dominance, job growth and reducing government debt. In an exclusive interview Thursday with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the National Governors Association and Republican Governors Association winter meetings, Dunleavy said he is excited to work with President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on these matters in the Last Frontier. Burgum's experience in North Dakota and his openness to pursue Trump's vision of an energy-independent America based on responsible stewardship is exactly what the country needs, Dunleavy said. "What President Trump is doing is getting us back to what the purpose of all of this was," he said of the original intent to use federal lands not primarily for parks but for responsible stewardship of natural resources. In The Only Us State Bordering Russia, Gov Says Defenese Are Strong "And if we do that, we can eliminate a lot of ills: debt, job creation, reliance on foreign actors. The solutions are here. He knows what the solutions are and is implementing the solutions now," Dunleavy said. Read On The Fox News App He also said he hopes to work with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on expanding hydroelectric infrastructure in the Tongass National Forest – an area on the Inland Passage between Juneau and Petersburg that the late Rep. Don Young championed. Rollins' role overseeing the U.S. Forest Service – rather than Interior doing so as they do the National Park Service – is another hint that wide expanses of national forests were not meant to be off limits to resource development. Just as the Department of Agriculture works with farmers in the Lower 48 to produce food and goods, its original mission therefore includes utilizing forest resources, he said. One area of "tremendous" potential is Ambler, an area at the foot of the Brooks Range west of the Dalton Highway – better recognized as the 800-plus-mile "Ice Road Truckers" carriageway. Ak Outraged At Federal Oil Lease Sale 'Set-up' By Biden: Fitting Finale For Fossil Fuel Averse Presidency There is a 30-mile section of the line between Ambler and the Dalton Highway that crosses federal land, Dunleavy said – noting the original law gives Alaska the right to cross federal land. "[The law says] we can't be prevented from accessing our leases through federal lands." He said he expects Trump's team to finally allow passage to take advantage of the area's rich mineralization opportunities. "There was no excuse [to stop passage through federal lands] – same as there was no excuse for stopping the legally-executed [oil and gas] lease sales that were part of [Trump's] 2017 bill." "Two of our large national forests are larger than several states. If they were to be managed on a sustainable basis so that we could grow timber, we could mine properly, we could use the hydro resources." Of the ANWR-1002 oil lease President Biden was mandated to market but purportedly "set up to fail," Dunleavy said investors recognized the January "sham" and are eager to see how Trump cures that particular ill. Biden Levied More Energy Sanctions Against Alaska Than Iran: Gov. Mike Dunleavy Expansion of Alaska's gas pipeline infrastructure and well-intended lease opportunities in ANWR-1002 are the right path to energy dominance on a global scale, Dunleavy said. The governor added that the native communities on the North Slope are supportive of responsibly exploring ANWR-1002 as it has and would create jobs and opportunities for the far-flung residents. "Our gas lines would also impact… our Asian allies; our position in the Pacific – It's not just a gas project for Alaska. It's a gas project for the Pacific and our allies," he said. Another field Trump could pursue would be harnessing what are the second-strongest tides in the world, Dunleavy has said. In another recent Fox News Digital interview, that time from Mat-Su Borough, Alaska itself, the governor said Cook Inlet's tides can be a "green" energy that works. Cook Inlet, which extends south from the state's largest city, Anchorage, down the Kenai Peninsula and into the Gulf of Alaska, has an incredibly powerful push-pull dynamic. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Dunleavy said he is encouraging investment in harnessing Cook Inlet tides to produce a reliable energy source, particularly "green hydrogen," while rejecting the idea that the debate over "green" vs. fossil fuels is a zero-sum game. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a White House spokesman said, "President Trump is committed to unleashing American energy and will work with state officials across the country to release our natural resources. Governor Dunleavy knows President Trump is right – unleashing our energy will boost the economy and make America energy independent once again."Original article source: Alaska can be 'cure' for nation's 'ills' with help from Trump admin, governor says
Fox News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Alaska can be 'cure' for nation's 'ills' with help from Trump admin, governor says
WASHINGTON – EXCLUSIVE: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said his state can take the lead on being the best prescription for putting America back on the right track in multiple ways, including energy dominance, job growth and reducing government debt. In an exclusive interview Thursday with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the National Governors Association and Republican Governors Association winter meetings, Dunleavy said he is excited to work with President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on these matters in the Last Frontier. Burgum's experience in North Dakota and his openness to pursue Trump's vision of an energy-independent America based on responsible stewardship is exactly what the country needs, Dunleavy said. "What President Trump is doing is getting us back to what the purpose of all of this was," he said of the original intent to use federal lands not primarily for parks but for responsible stewardship of natural resources. "And if we do that, we can eliminate a lot of ills: debt, job creation, reliance on foreign actors. The solutions are here. He knows what the solutions are and is implementing the solutions now," Dunleavy said. He also said he hopes to work with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on expanding hydroelectric infrastructure in the Tongass National Forest – an area on the Inland Passage between Juneau and Petersburg that the late Rep. Don Young championed. Rollins' role overseeing the U.S. Forest Service – rather than Interior doing so as they do the National Park Service – is another hint that wide expanses of national forests were not meant to be off limits to resource development. Just as the Department of Agriculture works with farmers in the Lower 48 to produce food and goods, its original mission therefore includes utilizing forest resources, he said. One area of "tremendous" potential is Ambler, an area at the foot of the Brooks Range west of the Dalton Highway – better recognized as the 800-plus-mile "Ice Road Truckers" carriageway. There is a 30-mile section of the line between Ambler and the Dalton Highway that crosses federal land, Dunleavy said – noting the original law gives Alaska the right to cross federal land. "[The law says] we can't be prevented from accessing our leases through federal lands." He said he expects Trump's team to finally allow passage to take advantage of the area's rich mineralization opportunities. "There was no excuse [to stop passage through federal lands] – same as there was no excuse for stopping the legally-executed [oil and gas] lease sales that were part of [Trump's] 2017 bill." "Two of our large national forests are larger than several states. If they were to be managed on a sustainable basis so that we could grow timber, we could mine properly, we could use the hydro resources." Of the ANWR-1002 oil lease President Biden was mandated to market but purportedly "set up to fail," Dunleavy said investors recognized the January "sham" and are eager to see how Trump cures that particular ill. Expansion of Alaska's gas pipeline infrastructure and well-intended lease opportunities in ANWR-1002 are the right path to energy dominance on a global scale, Dunleavy said. The governor added that the native communities on the North Slope are supportive of responsibly exploring ANWR-1002 as it has and would create jobs and opportunities for the far-flung residents. "Our gas lines would also impact… our Asian allies; our position in the Pacific – It's not just a gas project for Alaska. It's a gas project for the Pacific and our allies," he said. Another field Trump could pursue would be harnessing what are the second-strongest tides in the world, Dunleavy has said. In another recent Fox News Digital interview, that time from Mat-Su Borough, Alaska itself, the governor said Cook Inlet's tides can be a "green" energy that works. Cook Inlet, which extends south from the state's largest city, Anchorage, down the Kenai Peninsula and into the Gulf of Alaska, has an incredibly powerful push-pull dynamic. Dunleavy said he is encouraging investment in harnessing Cook Inlet tides to produce a reliable energy source, particularly "green hydrogen," while rejecting the idea that the debate over "green" vs. fossil fuels is a zero-sum game. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a White House spokesman said, "President Trump is committed to unleashing American energy and will work with state officials across the country to release our natural resources. Governor Dunleavy knows President Trump is right – unleashing our energy will boost the economy and make America energy independent once again."
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AZ Senate leader urges Burgum to reverse Biden-Obama 'land grabs' on uranium sites
EXCLUSIVE: Arizona's Senate president will urge Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to undo former President Joe Biden's "land grab" in the Grand Canyon State that he said wrongly cordoned off nearly 1 million acres in the state for future energy exploration. State Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said in a letter to President Donald Trump's new Cabinet official – and obtained by Fox News Digital – that he will take swift and sweeping actions like undoing certain national monument designations to "Make America Energy Dominant Again." "On his first day in office, President Trump directed you and the rest of his cabinet to immediately identify and rescind all agency actions that impose an undue burden on the development of domestic energy resources like critical minerals and nuclear energy resources," Petersen wrote. Biden's proclamation making 900,000 acres near the Grand Canyon the "Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni" or "Ancestral Footprints National Monument" nixed any exploration of what scientists believe is more than 300 million pounds of uranium, according to Petersen. Energy Secretary Wright Issues Day-1 Orders Targeting Spr, Nuke Stockpile, More Undoing that "land grab" would both make the U.S. less reliant on foreign uranium and be a potential energy source breakthrough. Read On The Fox News App Notably, during Trump's first administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions looked into allegations of a "racketeering scheme" involving Russian entities trying to forward Moscow's energy goals within the U.S., in relation to the sale of the company Uranium One to Russian energy giant Rosatom – in what Trump called the "Real Russia Story" of the 2016 election cycle. In 2017, Hillary Clinton maintained allegations of Clinton or Clinton Foundation involvement in the Uranium One situation were "debunked repeatedly." According to the left-wing Center for American Progress, the Biden administration issued protections for 28 million acres in Alaska to keep them from the reach of oil and gas interests, as well as 625 million marine acres along coastlines for similar reasons. "Virtually all of the uranium used in America comes from foreign powers," Petersen wrote, adding that former President Barack Obama also enacted a ban on domestic uranium mining during his term. "President Biden's action made this prohibition permanent," he said. Alaskans Launch Group Highlighting How Us Can Be Strengthened Via The Last Frontier In 2018, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case in which the Ninth Circuit ruled against the GOP and mining interests as they hoped to nix the ban – announced by then-Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar as a block on new mining on federal lands near the Grand Canyon for 20 years. Petersen estimated the uranium beneath Ancestral Footprints is equivalent to 13 billion barrels of oil in an area the size of Rhode Island – and that he and other Arizona officials have fought such "land grabs" for more than a decade. As leader of Arizona's upper chamber, Petersen said the feds already own nearly half of the land in his state. The newest national monument does nothing to protect the Grand Canyon, as critics reportedly claimed. Included among the justifications for the new monument, he said, was the protection of the northern grasshopper mouse, which can reportedly carry fleas infected with the plague. Petersen told Fox News Digital on Monday that the previous administration "trashed the Constitution to steal land and critical resources from Arizonans" and that he led the fight against such "generational theft" from the people of Arizona. "I look forward to working with the Trump Administration to reverse the rampant federal overreach and allow Arizona to regain control over its Tenth Amendment rights." "We know President Trump and Secretary Burgum will help make Arizona great again as our state and nation heal from the unconstitutional onslaught of the previous administration."Original article source: AZ Senate leader urges Burgum to reverse Biden-Obama 'land grabs' on uranium sites
