By the State of Alaska Department of Law Published: July 23, 2018 Operation Donate with Honor. from Alaska Governor Bill Walker on Vimeo. ANCHORAGE—Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth joined the Federal Trade Commission and law enforcement officials and charity regulators from every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico in announcing “Operation Donate with Honor,” a sweeping new donor education campaign to help donors spot and avoid fundraising solicitations that falsely promise their donations will help veterans and service members. The new campaign is being released in conjunction with announcements of new and recent law enforcement actions by the FTC and many states. Every year, grateful Americans repay the sacrifices made by those who serve in the U.S. armed forces with contributions to charities that promise to deliver needed help and services to veterans and service members. Most of these charities live up … [Read more...] about Alaska Attorney General Joins “Operation Donate with Honor”
Alaska
Legislation to Protect Alaska’s Forested Lands Becomes Law
HB 355 Increases Accountability for the Burning of Forested Lands in Alaska By the Alaska House Majority Published: July 24, 2018 FAIRBANKS—Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation into law updating the penalties for burning offenses on publicly and privately forested land in Alaska. House Bill 355 was sponsored by Representative David Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks) and passed the Alaska Legislature this year with significant bipartisan support. “Alaska cannot afford to keep having wildland fires the size of Delaware. They result in millions of dollars in fire suppression costs for the State of Alaska and an invaluable amount of time and property damage for Alaskans. In 2015, 5.2 million acres were burned nationwide. Over half of those acres were burned in Alaska,” said Rep. Guttenberg. “This bill updates statutes that have not been updated in decades and provides a much-needed increase in accountability.” Before the signing of … [Read more...] about Legislation to Protect Alaska’s Forested Lands Becomes Law
New Law Protects Alaska’s Real Estate Market
By the Alaska Senate Majority Published: July 25, 2018 ANCHORAGE—A bill ensuring that companies in the business of helping Alaskans appraise real estate can continue to operate was signed into law. SB 155, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage), puts Alaska in compliance with federal law by requiring the regulation of Appraisal Management Companies (AMC) by the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers. These regulations include establishing minimum standards, mandatory reporting, retention of records and inspection, prohibited practices, and disciplinary proceedings. The law also institutes registry fees, which are required by federal law and passed on to the federal government. An AMC is an independent entity through which mortgage lenders order residential real estate valuation services for properties they are considering extending loans to homebuyers. AMCs fulfill an administrative function in the appraisal process. They select an appraiser and … [Read more...] about New Law Protects Alaska’s Real Estate Market
Announcing the Best of Alaska Business Awards
Published: July 1, 2018 Alaska Business is eager to present the third annual Best of Alaska Business special section. Just three years ago General Manager Jason Martin strolled into the editorial department and said, “I want to throw a party. How can you make that happen?” Well, more accurately, we were all invested in finding a way to bring attention to the exemplary work demonstrated by Alaska’s businesses so we created the Best of Alaska Business survey to allow our readers to choose their favorite businesses—and then made sure to plan a party—which this year is taking place July 12 at 49th State Brewing Company in Anchorage. We’re incredibly grateful to our readers for taking the time to vote—your feedback is invaluable. And to the winners: Congratulations, thank you, and keep up the good work. (for the best mobile experience, please rotate your mobile device to "landscape display mode") Best Place to Work … [Read more...] about Announcing the Best of Alaska Business Awards
Dan Austin, ‘Mother Teresa for Southeast Alaska,’ dies of cancer
Was a leader of efforts to provide housing, help to the homeless and destitute The man who led Juneau’s branch of St. Vincent de Paul, caring for hundreds of homeless and destitute Juneauites for more than 20 years, has died. Dan Austin passed away at his Idaho home on Thursday morning, his wife told the Empire by phone. “He’s been fighting cancer for three or four years,” Annie Shapleigh said. “He didn’t let anybody know.” “It just took a turn for the worse very quickly, and there was nothing that could be done,” she said. No memorial services have yet been scheduled. Maureen Hall, director of the board for the Juneau chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, called Austin “kind of a Mother Teresa for Southeast Alaska.” “There was never a more devoted or dedicated human being to the poor and homeless than Dan Austin,” said board member Jim Studley. “He devoted 30 years of his life to Juneau and … [Read more...] about Dan Austin, ‘Mother Teresa for Southeast Alaska,’ dies of cancer