Alaska News Update, 5/24/10

In a startling return to common sense, Alaska's Commissioner of Education, Larry LeDoux, with a half dozen other states, has informed the federal government that we will not be competing to win up to $75 million in the Race to the Top sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. ~ snip ~

Dispersing the funds outside the intent of the law, President Obama can take over a large part of the nation's educational system without passing enabling legislation as required for health care reform.

To compete and win, a state must turn over its education system to the feds. The feds will control the school's standards, charter schools, teacher and principal evaluation and the careers that students are educated to enter.

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FAIRBANKS -- It's the calving season and Alaska's moose population will more than double in the next three weeks. However, it won't take long for bears and wolves to take advantage of the boom.

The month-long moose calving season began almost two weeks ago. State wildlife biologists say approximately 120,000 moose calves will be born by the first week of June.

Fairbanks moose research biologist Rod Boertje said of that number only about 30,000 will survive a year. Most of the calves that perish will be killed by black bears, grizzly bears or wolves soon after they are born. "Over 40,000 will be killed in the first six weeks," Boertje said.

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I note that Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the "constitutional carry" bill into law, giving Arizonans the right to carry concealed without requiring a permit. Arizona now joins Alaska and Vermont in recognizing citizens' inalienable natural right of self-defense.

Welcome aboard, folks.

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Well, the day beckons; there are things to go and people to do ... have a great day, folks!