January 4, 2019

Man upset over missing hot sauce opens fire at Oklahoma Taco Bell

A gunman who complained about not getting his taco sauce early Monday opened fire at a fast food restaurant in southwest Oklahoma City, police reported.

No one was injured at the Taco Bell, 2116 SW 59, where the drive-thru window was hit by gunfire.

The employees told police a man in a car went through the drive-thru about 1:25 a.m., and then pulled back around and could be heard from outside the restaurant yelling about not getting his taco sauce with his order.

He then pulled out a gun and opened fire. Employees ran to the back of the store and locked themselves inside a bathroom, police reported.

Read more: https://www.alicetx.com/news/20190102/man-upset-over-missing-hot-sauce-opens-fire-at-oklahoma-taco-bell

January 4, 2019

More Respect in the Future for Bevo

Photographer says he’ll pay Texas mascot Bevo ‘more respect in the future’ after close encounter


You could say Austin American-Statesman photojournalist Nick Wagner took the first hit at the 2019 Sugar Bowl.

“I was focusing on getting a shot of Georgia’s live mascot Uga. I just remember looking back and locking eyes with Bevo before feeling him buck my back,” Wagner said of his very close encounter with Texas’ mascot Tuesday night.

In a clip that has now been widely shared and viewed on multiple platforms, from even more angles, Bevo can be seen charging his way through a makeshift barrier, closely missing Georgia’s bulldog mascot and instead ramming squarely into Wagner’s back.

And he’s got the scuff marks to prove it. Wagner shared a picture of his back to Twitter reassuring his mom that, yes, he is “still alive.”

Read more: https://www.alicetx.com/news/20190102/photographer-says-hell-pay-texas-mascot-bevo-more-respect-in-future-after-close-encounter

Ouch! That has to hurt (particularly if you thought this thread was about Beto).

January 4, 2019

Texas Monthly announces Bum Steer Awards for 2018

Texas Monthly magazine announces their Bum Steer Awards for 2018, noting the state’s top ridiculous or foolish endeavors by politicians, celebrities and other individuals.

The print publication will be out Jan. 8, but is available online now.

The Bum Steer of the Year goes to radio host Alex Jones.

First runner-up is former congressman Blake Farenthold.

Second runner-up is former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez.

Third runner-up is former congressman Steve Stockman.

Read more: https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2019/01/03/texas-monthly-announces-bum-steer-awards-2018/2475485002/
(Wichita Falls Times Record News)

January 4, 2019

Kenai Assembly's invocation policy was ruled unconstitutional. Now atheists and a 'pastafarian' are

Kenai Assembly’s invocation policy was ruled unconstitutional. Now atheists and a ‘pastafarian’ are set to open meetings.


On Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, there’s a list of people signed up to read invocations to open borough Assembly meetings in 2019. The list includes Christian pastors, atheists and a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Such is the result of a battle that has simmered for years in the borough over whether the Assembly could have rules related to religion — specifically, who could say invocations before its meetings.

In October, the Alaska Superior Court struck down as unconstitutional a policy saying that only a representative of an Assembly-approved religious group could give invocations before Assembly meetings.

The Assembly passed a resolution in November to adopt a new policy, which allows any borough resident to submit a written request to offer an invocation.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/2018/12/31/kenai-assemblys-invocation-policy-was-ruled-unconstitutional-now-atheists-and-a-pastafarian-are-set-to-open-meetings/

Cross-posted in the Alaska Group.

January 4, 2019

Kenai Assembly's invocation policy was ruled unconstitutional. Now atheists and a 'pastafarian' are

Kenai Assembly’s invocation policy was ruled unconstitutional. Now atheists and a ‘pastafarian’ are set to open meetings.


On Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, there’s a list of people signed up to read invocations to open borough Assembly meetings in 2019. The list includes Christian pastors, atheists and a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Such is the result of a battle that has simmered for years in the borough over whether the Assembly could have rules related to religion — specifically, who could say invocations before its meetings.

In October, the Alaska Superior Court struck down as unconstitutional a policy saying that only a representative of an Assembly-approved religious group could give invocations before Assembly meetings.

The Assembly passed a resolution in November to adopt a new policy, which allows any borough resident to submit a written request to offer an invocation.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/2018/12/31/kenai-assemblys-invocation-policy-was-ruled-unconstitutional-now-atheists-and-a-pastafarian-are-set-to-open-meetings/

Cross-posted in the Pastafarian Group.

January 4, 2019

Alaska governor seeks disaster declaration after earthquake

JUNEAU — Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government following the Nov. 30 earthquake that rocked Anchorage and other parts of south-central Alaska.

Dunleavy told reporters from Anchorage that the declaration, if approved, would free up money to help the state recover more quickly from the magnitude 7.0 earthquake. In his letter seeking the declaration, he wrote federal assistance is “essential to long-term recovery.”

Initial damage assessments and costs for needs such as temporary housing were around $100 million, according to figures provided by the state.

Dunleavy said he was awaiting word on whether the ongoing partial federal government shutdown would affect the state’s request.

Read more: https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/news/alaska-governor-seeks-disaster-declaration-after-earthquake/

January 4, 2019

Land swap to lead to logging in Southeast

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority board approved a land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service, with the aim of getting timber projects off the ground in Southeast.

Wyn Menefee, the executive director of the AMHTA Trust Land Office (TLO), said it’s the biggest land exchange in the trust’s history. Though the exact amount of land still has to be worked out, the AMHTA Board of Trustees approved the exchanged that will send more than 20,000 acres of USFS land to the trust for more than 18,000 acres of trust lands throughout Southeast.

Menefee said the trust is hoping to make money off its newly acquired lands with timber harvesting. According to the TLO website, the lands could yield between $40 and $60 million over the next 20 years. Lands going to the Forest Service will be protected, Menefee explained. The overall aim of the land exchange is to protect viewsheds while logging less-sensitive lands to earn money for the trust.

As part of the exchange, the trust is giving nearly 2,700 acres of land on Douglas Island — land that includes the Mount Bradley (Mount Jumbo) Trail — to the Forest Service. Menefee said the Forest Service is not allowed to do logging on the lands it’s receiving as part of the deal.

Read more: https://www.juneauempire.com/news/land-swap-to-lead-to-logging-in-southeast/

January 4, 2019

Judge dismisses Alaska bonding plan lawsuit

A state court judge has dismissed a challenge to former Gov. Bill Walker’s plan to use bonding to pay Alaska’s oil and gas tax credit obligations.

Superior Court Judge Jude Pate, in a written order dated Wednesday, granted the state’s request to dismiss the challenge by resident Eric Forrer.

Pate said his role is not to make economic policy judgments or second-guess the Legislature but to apply the law of the state Constitution as interpreted by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Lawmakers last year passed legislation to establish a new state corporation that would be empowered to sell up to $1 billion in bonds to pay off remaining tax credit obligations. Legislators previously voted to end a tax credit program geared toward small producers and developers because they said it was no longer affordable.

Read more: https://www.juneauempire.com/news/judge-dismisses-alaska-bonding-plan-lawsuit/

January 4, 2019

Warmer temperatures could cost Alaska up to $700 million

ANCHORAGE — The effects of climate change could cost Alaska hundreds of millions of dollars per year in the coming decades, according to a new study.

The Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage has projected that the warmer climate could cause the state a net loss of $340 million to $700 million per year, the Alaska Journal of Commerce reported Wednesday.

The report published by the institute in November focuses on the net costs of five widely reported effects over the next 30 to 50 years. The projections are based on the state’s annual average temperatures rising by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius by 2050.

The economic effects would not be distributed evenly across the state “as rural communities face large projected costs while more southerly urban residents experience net gain,” the report states.

Read more: https://www.juneauempire.com/news/warmer-temperatures-could-cost-alaska-up-to-700-million/

January 4, 2019

Obama Foundation to host workshop to design Asia-Pacific Leaders Program

HONOLULU (KHON2) - As part of the Obama Foundation's efforts to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders around the world, the Foundation will host a leadership program design workshop in Hawaii for 22 emerging leaders from across the Asia Pacific January 4-7, 2019.

The young leaders -- who represent 16 countries and territories from across the region -- will participate in a workshop to help the Obama Foundation design its future Leaders program in the Asia-Pacific region.

This effort will build on and connect with the Foundation's inaugural international Leaders program in Africa that launched in 2018 and brought together 200 emerging leaders from around the African continent for a one-year leadership development and civic engagement training initiative.

The Foundation is hosting the event in Honolulu given President Obama's deep ties to Hawaii, as well as the unique position of Hawaii, both geographically and culturally, in the Asia Pacific.

Read more: https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/obama-foundation-to-host-workshop-to-design-asia-pacific-leaders-program/1685284398