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Kyle Hopkins
Kyle Hopkins writes about Anchorage city government and politics. He covered last year's campaign for governor, and has blogged extensively about Alaska politics for the past year. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com
Sean Cockerham
Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the Daily News before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune two years ago to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Now he's back in Anchorage. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com
Erika Bolstad
Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau this summer, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.
Stevens and Murkowski on ANWR....again - 5/16/2008 4:22 pm
Young's challengers - 5/16/2008 2:15 pm
Green reaction to Palin - 5/16/2008 10:40 am
Polls - 5/16/2008 9:43 am
Fuel costs & Fairbanks - 5/15/2008 6:06 pm
Palin pitches $1.2B program to help offset energy costs - 5/15/2008 1:22 pm
Palin energy plan: Grants to utilities and energy debit cards. - 5/15/2008 1:08 pm
AGIA special session - 5/15/2008 12:29 pm
A snowmaking gun with your name on it - 5/14/2008 7:05 pm
Mt. McKinley: Pride of the Rockies - 5/14/2008 6:29 pm
Put it on the governor's tab - 5/14/2008 3:50 pm
Congressional delegation: Not happy - 5/14/2008 3:48 pm
Young legal defense fund: "No activity." - 5/14/2008 3:07 pm
Alaska Newsreader special edition -- the polar bear decision - 5/14/2008 2:59 pm
Marketing the mayor - 5/13/2008 6:02 pm
Browne withdraws - 5/13/2008 12:33 pm
Larry Bird vs. Georgianna Lincoln - 5/13/2008 11:39 am
An Alaskan VP? - 5/13/2008 7:48 am
ANWR vote...sort of - 5/13/2008 6:57 am
Palin to call special session - 5/12/2008 6:06 pm
Campaign season - 5/12/2008 5:32 pm
Gara's fundraising - 5/12/2008 5:10 pm
Posted: May 8, 2008 - 4:17 pm
From Kyle in Anchorage --
Karleen Jackson, commissioner of the state Health Department, is resigning.
She sent this letter to staffers today:
Jackson
It has been an honor to serve alongside each of you as we’ve worked to promote and protect the health and well-being of Alaskans. However, the Governor has accepted my resignation and effective Friday, May 9, Bill Hogan will serve as Acting Commissioner for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Thank you for the numerous ways you have improved the health and social services programs in our state. I have no doubt that together you will continue to serve the public with ethics and integrity, promote clear and transparent government, and improve the health of Alaskans.
Sincerely,
Karleen K. Jackson Ph.D, Commissioner
Just got off the phone with Jackson. I'll update soon.
7 May 9, 2008 - 9:39pm | dogone
James Steele,Josh Fink, Karleen Jackson all needed to go-
The old regime is crumbling, and thank God for that!
The break-up and clean-up is long over due. Thank-you Governor Palin. What a mess from the old school you have had to deal with. Positive change starts from the top-down, and we all thank-you most sincerely. Keep going, there are more who need to be rooted-out. Let the new competent ones step-up.
6 May 9, 2008 - 7:48pm | nickolas
but a good thing she got out, before my video hits you-tube exsposing the corruption within the state of Alaska and Health and Social Services......
5 May 9, 2008 - 9:29am | juno
How many communications people does it take to screw in a light bulb? The bs hit the fan on Monday when Jackson met with Palin. Friday and still no word from the 3rd floor. Lack of leadership and communication? Blackberry not working?
May 9, 2008 - 11:09pm | Zamboni
Junho, more important how many razors does it take one to shave their arms? Getting stubbly braaww...
Stop hatin' on the press office. I'd say they're doing quite well for the most popular governor in the country!!
May 9, 2008 - 11:08pm | Zamboni
Junho, more important how many razors does it take one to shave their arms? Getting stubbly braaww...
Stop hatin' on the press office. I'd say they're doing quite well for the most popular governor in the country!! And have you seen 'em? Smart and HOT.
May 11, 2008 - 9:58am | haut_monde_ak
"And have you seen 'em? Smart and HOT."
Since 'em is slang for them you must be referring to the folks in the press office- they are the ones smart and hot? Hadn't thought about that. Since I am a female and most of the reporters in Juneau are male, yes, I would be qualified to consider a male "hot." You?
4 May 9, 2008 - 8:34am | dab
Always Negative never anything Positive
"Halcro, the only degree you'll ever earn--Palin Hater Degree. HA! You know that was funny.
Run the " " car business and leave running the state to Gov Palin."
This is the reason you were not even close in the race.
You never had anything positive to say. And never had any forward thinking ideas.
May 10, 2008 - 10:08am | _Syrin
PS....Palin is NOT awesome, pleeaasssse people
Palin is incompetent and self absorbed. Alaska is the last thing on her tiny mind. The state is going down and so is her family structure. If anyone really cared about Alaska or Sarah....You would call for her to RESIGN Immediately!
May 11, 2008 - 10:29am | rfn
To the added underscore prefix on the more recent commentary!
It means something....question is similar to the one being posed by some hereabouts in relation to members of the executive branch support staff....was the change voluntary or "required"?
May 9, 2008 - 9:44pm | dogone
We blame Jackson for allowing abused and neglected children to be further hurt by OCS. They are bullies with a tone & attitude which tears families apart. OCS workers who are hung-over, ill-tempered,arrogant, slobby dressed and missing the mark. Carry on Sarah, you rock.
May 9, 2008 - 9:35am | Stags_Leap
SOS from the Palin Administration
just look at her flip flop on the Juneau Access Road issue and her inability to communicate with her Commissioners and Legislators.
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050908/sta_277395924.shtml
May 9, 2008 - 11:39pm | Zamboni
Why go out to bid, and spend tax payer money, when the court could still grant a permanent injunction and stop the project dead in its tracks? Gov Palin is wise to proceed cautiously with this expensive project until the federal court makes a decision.
May 9, 2008 - 9:34am | haut_monde_ak
Stick to the discussion at hand...
which is the resignation of Commissioner Jackson.
Andrew Halcro is not mentioned in this blog, nor has he commented here. I've read a few of his replies- he blogs as "ahalcro." Don't see him here. Many of Palin's supporters are obviously becoming desperate when they start bringing in individuals who have nothing to do with the topic at hand.
Do you have something to contribute directly relating to this blog? I do, and that is, we probably won't ever know the real reason why Ms. Jackson has left her position. Most public figures don't ever reveal the true reasons, which is often why we hear such things as "personal family matters." Vague and ambiguous responses most of the time in an attempt to keep all parties involved from looking bad.
May 10, 2008 - 2:03pm | Stags_Leap
if you think this is isolated -it's not. Just look at Palin's "coomunication" problem with her DOT commissioner re the Juneau Access Road. Palin only communicates by blackberry -and usually only in response to negative op-ed pieces. Meanwhile, state departments lack oversight and vision. Palin has given them no attention.
Palin is now surrounded by hard core obstructionist fundamentalists who want a state-owned gasline project (aka socialism via Hugo Chavez). Her core "team" are focused completely on sticking it to Big Oil...meanwhile the state government and the services it provides -is falling apart due to lack of leadership, vision, and an understanding of how government works.
Jackson isn't the first to abandon the Palin Posse ship. And she won't be the last.
May 9, 2008 - 9:49pm | dogone
Good bye KJ is the topic at hand, Great news
Jackson, Fink and Steele are all out for the same reason: incompetence in their job positions. News falsh, there are many others who can, and are willing, to take on the job with excellence, ability, dedication, and effiency. Which none of the above have. Good riddence.
3 May 8, 2008 - 6:38pm | dab
Everyone moves on to different jobs--Alaska wishes you well and thanks you for time and service to the Administration. Everyone should be encouraged by the dedication and service individuals put forward in service of the administration and ALASKAN"S. We will welcome your replacement with the same enthusiasm.
May 9, 2008 - 9:58pm | dogone
The Imaging group doesn't thank-you at all. Oooops big "mistake." We definitely welcome a good replacement, especially in the Valley,about time.
2 May 8, 2008 - 6:12pm | yours_truly
Why Tibbles left???? What are the news agencies in this state doing. That should have been big news but it wasn't. Now this.
I agree with the last post. Palin is completely INEPT.
1 May 8, 2008 - 5:27pm | Stags_Leap
Plain ineptness = state government failure
Jackson may or may not fess up to the real reason(s) she is leaving. But the lack of vision and guidance from the Palin administration is resulting in top tier managers leaving en masse.
Palin's obstructionist/fundamentalist inner circle of whackos who want a state-owned gasline (aka socialism) has her focused completely on the gasline and keeping the producers from coming on board with a proposal. However, in the meantime she has a State Government to run, and that apparently is not happening. Senior level managers are abandoning ship in droves. And you can't say it is resulting from anything other than incompentent oversight by the Palin administration. Is Palin ever in Juneau? I mean -this is becoming a friggin joke.
May 9, 2008 - 10:06pm | dogone
Newness at the helm, at long last, Thank-you Sarah !
Good bye to the awful, incompetent, "top-tier" en masse.
Sarah Palin and her admin. are the best thing that have happened to this state in 40 years. People first, then money, then things. The years of skull-duggery are finally over, she just has the awful mess they made to clean-up. We are so thankful, bye KJ, let me speak for all of us when we say, "bye,bye."
May 8, 2008 - 8:33pm | Stags_Leap
I guess your station doesn't respond to pathetic ratings for your show, but hey -you need to vicariously live somehow. Pathetic.
May 8, 2008 - 8:37pm | akmooster
as opposed to your pathetic ratings...
here? Eddie (in this case) is right. and you remain irrelevant.
May 8, 2008 - 8:22pm | AK_Lady
Who hates Palin?
Who thinks Palin's policies stink? I DO, I DO!
Who knew Eddiot was the rule maker/blog monitor here?
May 8, 2008 - 8:35pm | juno
Other than non-stop public relations campaigns and photo shoots about Sara.
May 8, 2008 - 8:35pm | Stags_Leap
unbridled brown-nosing of the governor will lead to Palin calling in to his show, which will improve his ratings. Fat chance you fat fruit cake of a uninteresting radio show host.
May 8, 2008 - 6:56pm | chasm
Tom Irwin is focused on sticking it to the oil companies, even if it kills the Alaska economy, but dear Sarah is not focused on anything.
May 8, 2008 - 5:50pm | juno
Palin on Juneau?? What secrets is Palin keeping from public
Juneau Empire reports Assistant Attorney General Mike Mitchell said the public was not entitled to know what advice was given because legal recommendations were exempt from public disclosure.
Why are deliberations from Palin's Disaster Disaster Policy Cabinet's being withheld from public scrutiny? Is transparency in Palin's administration on a need to know basis? Did they make the wrong decision? Will the public know what's going on behind closed doors? Palin gives $$$ to Mat Maid but Juneau left in the lurch. Read the "Delegation asks Palin to revisit disaster issue" here.
Palin/Parnell honest? No
Palin/Parnell ethical? No
Palin/Parnell transparent? Only on "need to know basis"
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.
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8 May 15, 2008 - 3:54pm | sunnyak
Efficiency Expert Needed
Thank goodness there is going to be change. Health and Social Services is so inefficent. The money wasted in redundancy is horrible.
Gov. Palin, please send an efficiency expert to just get HSS organized.
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