Cruise Free Saturdays and Minimum Wage
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A group opposing the initiative to ban cruise ships from Juneau on Saturdays has raised more than $300,000. Major donations include $75,000 from a Norwegian Cruise Line affiliate and Westmark Hotels, among others. The anti-initiative campaign is being managed by Anchorage-based firm Thompson & Co. Alaska is holding public hearings ahead of November's vote on two ballot measures. The first would raise the state's minimum wage to $15 by 2027 and require sick leave. The second would repeal Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. Hearings for both measures took place today and will be repeated on Tuesday. Ketchikan is expecting an additional 2-3 inches of rain following a rainy weekend, prompting concerns of landslides, especially in higher terrain areas. Residents are advised to monitor their surroundings and have an evacuation plan in place. Recovery work from a previous landslide continues, with a new webcam installed for monitoring. Governor Mike Dunleavy has contracted international law firm WilmerHale to review the leadership and conflict-of-interest policies at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, which manages the state’s $80 billion fund. The review follows recent controversies and will focus on governance improvements, with a report expected by December. The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) is actively pursuing federal disaster aid and mitigation options after the Mendenhall flood. CBJ officials met with federal agencies in Washington, D.C., while Governor Dunleavy formally requested a federal emergency declaration from FEMA. Advocacy for flood prevention continues, with CBJ partnering with Tlingit & Haida to seek additional resources for damage prevention.
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