Girdwood Giants Cap Off Historic Season as Citywide Tournament Runner-Up
By Kyle Kelley
Girdwood Giants Head Coach
The Girdwood Giants Majors Little League baseball team wrapped up an unforgettable 2025 season with a thrilling run to the City Wide Championship game, ultimately finishing as runner-up after a hard-fought 4–2 loss to the Dodgers. With an overall record of 12–4, the Giants secured second place in the league and recorded one of the most successful seasons in Girdwood baseball history.
Throughout the season, the Giants showed exceptional growth, teamwork and resilience. From opening day to the championship game, the team steadily improved in every aspect of the game—developing sharper defense, smarter base running and confident bats. Their progress was evident with each game and culminated in a memorable postseason performance that energized the entire Girdwood community.
With a strong group of eight to 11-year-olds returning next season, the Giants’ future looks promising. They’ll be joined by a talented wave of players moving up from the Minors, setting the stage for another exciting year of baseball and team growth.
As the Giants celebrate their achievements, the team also honors four outstanding players who are aging out of the league and closing the chapter on their Little League careers: Carver Sieling, Skogen Swygman, Lane Stinson, and Wes Kelley. These players have been pillars of the team, showing leadership, dedication and heart on and off the field. Their contributions to Girdwood baseball will be remembered for years to come.
The success of the Giants wouldn’t be possible without the support of dedicated volunteers. Head Coach Chris Stinson, who has led the team for many years, deserves special recognition for his unwavering commitment to Girdwood baseball. As a volunteer coach, Chris has made a lasting positive impact on his players and the entire community—teaching not just the fundamentals of the game, but the values of sportsmanship, perseverance and teamwork.
Read the entire story and more pictures at the link below:
Girdwood Artists create Stained Glass Mosaic
Girdwood’s latest stained glass mosaic has just been completed.
Named “the Cozmic Culvert” and done in the style of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night, the mosaic depicts the night sky in Girdwood. The new mosaic was designed by Thalia Wilkinson and Tommy O’Malley and was installed by volunteers.
Local astronomer John Gallup sited the design so that the stars of the Big Dipper will align with the North Star up in the night sky at winter solstice.
The new mosaic is on Timberline Drive near Gstaad street.
See more pictures of the mosaic at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-artists-create-stained-glass-mosaic
Confusion and Few Answers Mark July 7 ‘Holtan Hills’ Construction
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
With development of a controversial "Holtan Hills" subdivision project less than a week away, government agencies have so far given few answers on environmental, traffic, safety and other questions.
The Municipality of Anchorage has failed to assign a liaison for the project. No one responded to its first bid for the position and a subsequent bid had only one prospect, who was denied the job.
Since then, the city's Heritage Land Bank, the municipality's partner in the sprawling 60-acre venture, has directed questions to developer CY Investments and the company's website.
The site's contact email, however, led to a broken link.
In an email last week, company owner Connie Yoshimura directed questions to George Passantino, but provided no contact or other information.
Passantino works as a consultant for a national lobbying and media relations firm and has represented such companies as Walmart, Lowes, and GE Energy on development projects.
For its part, the Anchorage School District, which owns land adjacent to the development, has been unable "to connect with" people managing the project and the District is closed this week, according to M.J. Thim, ASD's public relations officer.j
“We haven’t been able to get answers," Thim wrote in an email.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Editorial: ‘Action’ is the Antidote to Despair
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
On July 7, SHOW UP
A fundamental purpose of a free press is to serve as a watchdog on power. It's right there in the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting ... the freedom ... of the press..."
Even our nation's founders knew they—and their projects—needed to be watched.
"Bearing witness" is also a form of nonviolent resistance. It often takes courage to not look away from injustice.
Witness is one of the quietest, yet most powerful forms of nonviolent resistance. To witness is to stand present—to injustice, to suffering, to oppression—and refuse to look away. It is an act of moral courage that declares: “I see, I will not be silent, and I will not allow harm to happen unnoticed.” In a world where denial and distraction often shield systems of power from accountability, the simple act of being present becomes radical, writes Kate Laverty of a Belfast, Ireland intercommunity fellowship.
On Monday, July 7, clearcutting, digging and filling of a beloved Girdwood rainforest will commence.
Monday brings development of a subdivision no one in town went on record to support.
Everyone locally, that is to say, dislikes "Holtan HIlls".
What is insidious about the "Holtan Hills" affair is the way it was approved: Anchorage Assembly members slipped it through on a winter day after first postponing it indefinitely and after ignoring countless community comments, testimony, letters, local votes and even resolutions from sympathetic councils in town
Read the entire editorial at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/editorial-action-is-the-antidote-to-despair
History of Girdwood’s Past: Alyeska Hotel and Community —working together
By Larry Daniels
TNews Contributor
Thought from the past…
When the hotel was in the permit phase, it became obvious that wetlands would be impacted and the project would need a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. Both the Arlberg crossing of the moose meadows and the parking lot across from the hotel would require filling a wetland permit. Corp regs require replacing habitat or preservation of other habitat.
Early in concept development, a pond was depicted in front and it appeared to be an enhancement to the site. We decided to propose the development of the pond as an offset for impact to other habitat.
There was also a small stream adjacent to the building. So, the pond had a source of water and a connection to a stream that had a small, silver salmon run. The pond was designed as an over-winter shelter for young salmon fry.
30 years later, did the pond perform as designed? Little fish jumping after insects and a small flock of geese with little goslings, occasional moose visits are evidence that it has performed as intended.
Baby Goats? No Kidding! Girdwood's Library Hosts Goat Fest
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
The most popular Gerrish Library event possibly ever?
Baby goats, of course.
Eleven baby goats, 1-month to 3-months-old, cuddled, butted heads, and trotted in a knee-high fenced enclosure outside the library Wednesday while scores of two-legged kids petted, chased or separated—as in the case of the head-buttters—the four-legged kids.
Cries of "can we bring him home?" were met with only a frown by a mom. Only one Girdwoodian bought a kid and quickly named it, "Fireweed."
Chugiak-based The Tiny Homestead brought the goats as part of Anchorage Public Library's Summer Discovery series. Besides "meet and greets" with goats, The Tiny Homestead sells goats and raw milk from an Eagle River farm managing 50 goats—milkers, bucks and babies.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/baby-goats-no-kidding-girdwoods-library-hosts-goat-fest
Girdwood Giants Advance to Championship with thrilling 1-0 victory over Angels in Semifinals
By Kyle Kelley
Girdwood Giants Head Coach
In an exhilarating semifinal showdown at the City Wide Tournament, the Girdwood Giants Little League Baseball Team clinched a nail-biting 1-0 victory against the Angelson Monday night. The Giants’ success was fueled by outstanding pitching and stellar field defense, showcasing their determination and teamwork as they edge closer to claiming the championship title.
The game, held at the Anchorage Abbott O’Rabbit Fields, was a true testament to the talent and hard work of the young athletes. The Giants' pitcher delivered an impressive performance, striking out fourteen batters, allowing only four walks, and keeping the Angels to zero runs. Meanwhile, the team’s defense was impenetrable, turning potential threats into easy outs and ensuring the scoreboard remained untouched by their opponents.
Read the entire story at the link below:
New Outdoor Concert Series Brings Out Girdwood's Finest
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
For many years, between the late 90s and early aughts, a music scene percolated alongside Holmgren Place in downtown Girdwood.
In a slumping one-room cabin called Studio B, the legendary Photon Band(later just "Photonz") rehearsed original jams, bluegrass staples and, occasionally, funky disco hits.
As the space fell into disrepair and the Photonz drifted into different orbits, the crumpled shed and adjacent yard became an itinerant open mic—sans mic, que fire—for guitar pickers, jam sessions and sing-alongs.
A winter evening might bear a footpath leading to stumps and rickety lawn chairs with dark, hunched figures and Old Crow Medicine Show renditions in gravelly voices.
Bordering the smoke-drifted yard stood a ramshackle second-hand store, "Thriftwood", and farther in back the building housed the offices of building contractor Ralph Brodin.
Some of those musical magicians have passed onto the cosmos like sparks from their fires: Sean, Jonas, Dusty, Dion, Dennis and Vesna. Everyone local heard them, were helped by them.
In the past few years, 148 Holmgren has experienced a revival mostly under the drive of longtime dancer, drummer and builder James Glover, 49, who worked with Brodin as a sub contractor and would go on to lease and eventually own two lots next to the Girdwood Laundramall.
When Thriftwood closed during COVID Glover went to work revitalizing the building, ripping out drywall from the ceiling, painting the walls black and replacing a deck with a paved path.
Last year, Glover opened the Raw Market, an upscale organic grocery store to "create a space for mindful living" where, says its brochure, "everything we do is guided by intention and a deep love for this place we call home."
The market carries bulk ingredients, sells produce and fruit, juices and smoothies and now offers a kitchen menu.
"We're trying our best to have naturally-sourced food with the fewest ingredients possible," Glover said. "Everything in here you can be certain is as good as possible for your body, or as good as we can do on the planet right now."
Read the entire story and more pictures at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/new-outdoor-concert-series-brings-out-girdwoods-finestnbsp
Looming ‘Holtan Hills’ Construction Falls on Community Long Opposed
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A developer's news Monday that excavation for a major subdivision in Girdwood is imminent follows years of sweeping local opposition to the "Holtan Hills" project.
Speaking in multiple town hall, local board, and Anchorage Assembly meetings, in comments on social media, and through written testimony, hundreds of residents have expressed dismay at a plan conceived by developers and politicians outside community engagement.
On Wednesday, two local residents responded via text messages to news of impending construction. Both served on a board—Holtan Hills Housing Advisory Committee—formed years ago to investigate, evaluate, and make recommendations on the controversial proposal.
"As a 26-year resident, homeowner, small business owner, and parent, I stood shoulder to shoulder with Girdwoodians in a request to carve out some of the development proposal so that it could represent the greater desires of our community," said Emma Kramer, who served as the committee's co-chair.
"We offered a multitude of options to help keep its community character—from (short-term rental) restrictions, to deed restrictions, to requirements for a percentage of affordable housing, to zoning for both residential and commercial, to including affordable apartments. Time and time again, our committee was shut down. Ironically, the idea for the committee came from (the Heritage Land Bank, a municipal agency) and the Anchorage Assembly, and yet it offered no more power than a recommendation."
Read the entire story at the link below:
HH Construction to Begin July 7: Road Building in ‘Holtan Hills’ takes GBOS by surprise
Developer Says Local Trails Will Feel ‘Impact’
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
The developer of a planned "Holtan Hills" subdivision behind Girdwood's school said Monday that road construction will begin July 7 and affect two popular local trails for three months this summer.
Fences, "private property" signs and "no trespassing" signs will appear in an area long considered public lands. Two trails, the Middle Iditarod Trail and Girdwood School's Athabascan Trail may see closure.
The news, which came unannounced during a Girdwood Board of Supervisors meeting, took supervisors by surprise.
"At the point in time (when) the road is under construction at the entrance of Holtan Hills, there will be a sign that says 'private property' and 'no trespassing'," developer Connie Yoshimura told the Board. "I know that many of you have used that as trail and walking areas. Unfortunately this is what insurance requires."
The Anchorage Assembly approved the so-called "Holtan Hills" despite overwhelming local opposition last year. A swath, 10 feet wider in places than permitted, was clearcut into old-growth forest behind the school in August.
Yoshimura said a contract for $2 million was signed with GMC Construction and that the company is currently "shopping" for gravel.
Construction of a road and gas, sewer and electric connections will take place during the height of summer tourist traffic in downtown Girdwood and will continue past the opening of school in early August.
"We were quite frankly a little disappointed (GMC Construction) could not begin a little earlier but it was their choice to begin after the Forest Fair," Yoshimura said.
Supervisor Brian Burnett called the lack of details surrounding construction "unacceptable".
Reed the entire story at the link below:
Colorful Local Pride Parade Marks 5th Year—’Stand Up For Who You Are’
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Raising colorful signs, banners, flags and balloons, more than a dozen residents joined Girdwood's fifth annual Pride Parade Saturday to the hoots and horns of passing cars showing support.
More than a dozen marchers left the Daylodge walking the bike path to the brewery, stopped at a lemonade stand and continued down Alyeska Hwy. to Forest Fair's main stage.
"I believe everybody should be able to say who you are and stand up for who you are," said Beverly Peterson.
The local march is a grassroots effort not held in coordinated with Anchorage's Pride Parade scheduled for June 28.
"It's not just about pride, but anybody should be able to say, 'I am...'," Peterson said.
See more pictures at the link below:
‘No Kings’ Protest: Residents flock to Girdwood Rally
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Prior to Girdwood's "No Kings" protest Saturday a group of birders called for a vote.
Should the group participate in a local event held in conjunction with national rallies and marches to oppose policies of the Trump Administration?
"We all knew (protests) were happening," said Jake Mohlman, a guide for the birding group Wings. "Without a unanimous decision we wouldn't have come out."
So, on Saturday, they bought some materials, made signs and stood together on the corner of Hightower and Alyeska to help spread messages of dissent.
"We took a break from birding for one hour," Mohlman said.
"Which is a real sacrifice," added Sheri Robison, a birder from Idaho.
The birding group joined more than 70 mostly-local residents in the largest of four anti-Trump protests held in Girdwood, and one of among at least 17 protests held statewide. Demonstrations took place in more than 2,000 cities nationwide and in all 50 states.
"I'm really concerned about (Trump's) lack of respect for research and science," Robison said. "We can go on... with medicine, too."
Birders are worried about climate change and habitat protection, said another guide, particularly in the Arctic where threatened species like the spectacled eider face impacts from the loss of sea ice and the effects of oil and gas development. Between 1970 and 1993, spectacled eider population had dropped by 96 percent, researchers found.
Cuts to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, clean water and air regulations and research grants all have the effect of undermining protections for birds, said Mohlman.
Others attending Saturday's protest in Girdwood said they were worried about threats and attacks on immigrants and protesters.
Rocky Plotnick, a third-generation Alaska, was on her way south from Anchorage when she heard there was a protest and wanted to help increase participation in Girdwood.
"Our numbers here in Girdwood are more important than in Anchorage," said Plotnick. "It's important to stand up to what's happening (to immigrants)."
Saturday's rally against policies of the Trump administration was the fourth held in Girdwood.
Read the entire story and more pictures at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/no-kings-protest-residents-flock-to-local-no-kings-rally
GAO report says Alaska pipeline regulation office should revitalize, update operations
By Yereth Rosen
The multiagency group that coordinates oversight of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System needs an update to better operate in changing conditions, said a federal report released on Thursday.
The Joint Pipeline Office, a consortium of federal and state agencies with various regulatory duties, has scaled back its operations over the past several years, leading to possible gaps in oversight of the system that has delivered North Slope crude oil since 1977, said the report, issued by the Government Accountability Office, an independent nonpartisan agency that conducts audits and investigations for Congress.
To meet current conditions, the joint office should clarify its desired outcomes and resume what was once communication with the public about regulation, enforcement and other issues, the GAO report said.
“Redefining and documenting the intended outcomes of JPO’s oversight activities, including those aiming to inform the public of its oversight efforts, would enable JPO agencies to work toward shared goals and ensure accountability,” the report said. It is important to document the expectations, the report said. “Clarifying roles and responsibilities would enhance coordination among JPO agencies and help JPO identify any potential gaps in oversight.”
Read the entire story at the link below:
Alaskans plan widespread pro-democracy protests, joining national movement
By James Brooks w/photos by Yereth Rosen
As President Donald Trump orders the U.S. military into Los Angeles to confront protesters there, hundreds of Alaskans are preparing to join pro-democracy rallies planned for Saturday.
At least 18 events are scheduled to take place in Alaska, and more than 1,500 are scheduled nationwide as part of the “No Kings” movement, which is organizing to oppose Trump actions.
Dave Musgrave is organizing an event in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, a region north of Anchorage that voted overwhelmingly for Trump last year.
“We want to raise concerns about what this administration is doing. It’s very much an authoritarian overreach,” he said by phone.
Saturday’s events were originally scheduled to counter a military march in Washington, D.C., for Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
They’ve taken on a new tone since the president ordered the National Guard and the U.S. Marines to oppose protesters in Los Angeles.
“I think the scene is going to be a gathering of citizens concerned about what has been going on, most recently with Donald Trump sending troops to L.A.,” said Laura Stats, who has been helping organize an event in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city.
Protests were already taking place in Anchorage on Wednesday against the state’s decision to accept people arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Protesters gather outside the Anchorage Correctional Complex on June 11, 2025. It was the third consecutive day that protestors gathered at the jail site in response to Trump administration immigration actions. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Forty-two people were arrested outside the state and flown here by federal officials,according to the Alaska Department of Corrections.
The small demonstration taking place on a weekday is expected to be followed by a much larger event on Saturday, outside the Anchorage offices of Alaska’s three-person congressional delegation.
That demonstration will be followed by a march to the Anchorage Park Strip, where Juneteenth celebrations will be taking place.
Lu Dyer is communications director for Stand UP Alaska, which is helping organize the event.
Read the entire article at the link below:
Amid gas crunch, Alaska could revoke leases from a company whose drilling has stalled
By Nataniel Herz
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration is threatening to strip a company of oil and gas leases in Cook Inlet outside Anchorage, saying it’s sitting on deposits that could delay an impending shortage of gas needed for heating and power generation in urban Alaska.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources recently placed in “default” the Cosmopolitan Unit, a block leased by Texas-based BlueCrest Energy, saying it hasn’t met commitments to drill.
The company has held leases at Cosmopolitan for more than a decade. It conducted initial drilling several years ago but has not drilled any new wells since 2019, according to state records.
Company executives say that BlueCrest experienced a cash crunch when, amid a budget crisis beginning in 2014, the state of Alaska chose not to pay tax credits to oil firms that had spent money on drilling. BlueCrest has also had to ask Alaska’s economic development agency to approve delays in paying back a $30 million state loan.
The state’s new notice to BlueCrest, signed in May by Commissioner John Boyle, gives the company until Aug. 21 to show proof that it’s secured investment to drill a $55 million new oil well, as well as to advance development of a new offshore platform that would target natural gas.
That platform could cost $350 million or more, according to BlueCrest officials.
“We want to see aggressive, defined momentum towards putting our resources into active production,” Boyle said in an interview Thursday. “We need to see some drilling. We need to see some action.”
BlueCrest is negotiating with multiple companies about potential investment, Benjy Johnson, its chief executive, said in a phone interview.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll get it done,” he said. “I think we will.”
Johnson said he understands the state’s perspective, but added that defaulting BlueCrest’s leases is “not the solution to the problem.”
“The solution to the problem is helping us get funding to drill these wells, and to get the gas development going,” he said.
Read the entire article at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/k6bmrqyvmh8x4c8m5afzz59ff6rprs-lts2p
Trump wants Congress to slash $9.4B in spending now, defund NPR and PBS
By Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration sent its first spending cuts request to Congress on Tuesday, asking lawmakers to swiftly eliminate $9.4 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and various foreign aid programs.
The request for what are called rescissions allows the White House budget office to legally freeze spending on those accounts for 45 days while the Republican-controlled Congress debates whether to approve the recommendation in full or in part, or to ignore it.
The proposal calls on lawmakers to eliminate $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. That means NPR and PBS would lose their already approved federal allocations, if the request is approved by Congress.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in May seeking to block the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from providing funding for NPR and PBS, leading to twoseparate lawsuits citing First Amendment concerns.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Alaska Run & Walk for Women in Girdwood event Thursday
By Briana Sullivan
Alaska Run & Walk for Women in Girdwood
In Girdwood, we will be celebrating the many years the Alaska Run for Women has united thousands of women from all over the state and beyond in one of the largest all-women runs in the country.
Since 1993, the goal of ending breast cancer has brought waves of women of all ages - with their energy and love together at the starting line, for a common cause. Now, the event offers a virtual option already underway for one week.
“Please join us to celebrate 33 years - In Person or Virtually!",” said Girdwood Organizer Briana Sullivan, Alaska Run & Walk for Women. Since 2024, the Girdwood Fire Department and the Girdwood Clinic teamed up with Briana Sullivan and Four Valleys to organize a unified Team for Girdwood community to join.
“If you've already joined a team, you can still donate to Girdwood's team or show up to participate!. The event has always brought me joy, participating decades ago among a sea of powerful pink support—and into adulthood,” Sullivan added.
“Being a part of the event and knowing so many women impacted by cancer motivates me to join this important annual event. I am happy to help our community stay off the highway or have a local option if they cannot make the main event in Anchorage in a given year."
Girdwood's event will be Thursday, June 5, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Magic Carpet. Sign up for Girdwood's Team!” she exclaimed.
The Girdwood event is part of a larger vision for Alaska, The Alaska Run for Women mission is "To raise money for and awareness of breast cancer and women's health, and to showcase the talents of Alaska's women athletes."
She said this is accomplished through: an annual women's run and walk event that serves as a vehicle for fundraising, participation, awareness and competition, and grant making to organizations concerned with breast cancer research, education, outreach, prevention and early detection.
You can sign for Girdwood's Breast Intentions at the link:
https://www.akrfwregistration.org/team/4558
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/alaska-run-amp-walk-for-women-in-girdwood-event-thursday
Commentary: Girdwood Giants Majors Baseball have Strong Start to the Season at 5-1!
By Kyle Kelley
Coach, Girdwood Giants
The Girdwood Giants Majors Little League baseball team has kicked off the 2025 season with a bang, boasting an impressive 5-1 record! They won the home opener last Friday with a 17-10 victory over the Angels. The Girdwood Giants play against teams from Anchorage. As the team takes to the diamond at Sladen Mohl Memorial Field, their hard work and dedication are evident, and fans are eager to rally behind their local heroes.
Exciting Enhancements at Sladen Mohl Field
This year, the excitement extends beyond the impressive performance of the players. Thanks to the generous support and fundraising efforts of the Sladen Mohl Memorial Field Fund, combined with the skilled craftsmanship of Schubert Construction, Sladen Mohl Field has undergone significant upgrades. The newly constructed dugouts provide the athletes with a sheltered area to prepare for their games, allowing them to stay focused and regroup between innings. These improvements create a more professional and enjoyable experience for the players, visiting teams, and the community.
Moreover, the newly replaced snack shack is a favorite spot for fans and families. With a variety of delicious snacks and beverages available, it’s the perfect place to grab a bite while enjoying the game. The snack shack not only helps fuel our enthusiastic supporters but also fosters a sense of community as families come together to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere at the field. All proceeds from the snack shack support Girdwood Giants baseball now and in the future.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Commentary: Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares simple steps to reduce collisions
By Jason Hoeksema
Professor, University of Mississippi
When wood thrushes arrive in northern Mississippi on their spring migration and begin to serenade my neighborhood with their ethereal, harmonized song, it’s one of the great joys of the season. It’s also a minor miracle. These small creatures have just flown more than 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometers), all the way from Central America.
Other birds undertake even longer journeys — the Swainson’s thrush, for example, nests as far north as the boreal forests of Alaska and spends the nonbreeding season in northern South America, traveling up to 5,600 miles (9,000 kilometers) each way.
These stunning feats of travel are awe-inspiring, making it that much more tragic when they are cut short by a deadly collision with a glass window.
This happens with alarming regularity. Two recent scientific studies estimate that more than 1 billion birds – and as many as 5.19 billion – die from collisions with sheet glass each year in the United States alone, sometimes immediately but often from their injuries.
In fact, window collisions are now considered the top human cause of bird deaths. Due to window collisions and other causes, bird populations across North America have declined more than 29% from their 1970 levels, likely with major consequences for the world’s ecosystems.
These collisions occur on every type of building, from homes to skyscrapers. At the University of Mississippi campus, where I teach and conduct research as an ecologist, my colleagues and I have been testing some creative solutions.
Read the entire Commentary below:
Judge: Alaska limits on intoxicating hemp products do not violate the U.S. Constitution
By James Brooks
A federal magistrate judge has ruled that the state of Alaska did not violate the U.S. Constitution when it acted to limit intoxicating hemp products in 2023.
In an order published May 23, Magistrate Judge Kyle Reardon granted summary judgment in favor of the state and against the Alaska Industrial Hemp Association, which sued two years ago in an attempt to overturn regulations imposed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
The court order means intoxicating hemp products, common in many other states, will remain illegal in Alaska unless sold through a licensed marijuana retailer.
“It was rewarding to be part of the process developing the regulations, and I was happy when we successfully defended against the motion for a preliminary injunction in 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General Kevin Higgins, by email. Higgins represented the state in the case.
“I’m not patting myself on the back too hard though,” he said. “The Division of Agriculture was motivated by public safety concerns when it took measured action to regulate an emerging industry. This was an easy case to make, which is probably why the plaintiffs didn’t file an opposition to the motion for summary judgment.”
An attorney representing the plaintiff did not answer a request for comment on Wednesday.
Alaska legalized the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes in 2014. The state subsequently created a tightly regulated market in which only licensed businesses may grow, process and sell marijuana.
Read the entires story at the link below: