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Things are looking a little brighter in Alaska’s oilpatch? Job numbers have not yet ticked up and in fact they’re still slipping, though modestly now, after big cuts made in 2016 and 2017 as producing companies adjusted to the world of lower prices. But prices are rising, after a long slump. Even during the slump a number of new projects were being worked on and the brighter price outlook should cause some companies to push the green button on their…

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Was this a virus whipping through the state capitol in Juneau? As the Legislature shut down last Saturday, May 12, odd things happened: There was civility, cooperation, bipartisanship, and good feelings. “The House and Senate and both (Democrat and Republican) caucuses really came together this year,” House Speaker Bryce Edgmon said as the session ended. Things were much different than last year, when the House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats, were all at each others’ throats. There were extended special…

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Togiak herring shing underway Windy weather hampered the start of the Togiak herring fishery and only 955 tons were landed in the rst two days of shing. The quota is 24,042 tons this year. Department of Fish and Game officials typically allow shing until the quota is neared. *** Salmon campaigns: big bucks The Yes for Salmon and Stand for Alaska campaign fund-raising is off and running even with the Alaska Supreme Court decision on the legality of the Yes…

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Haines plans a timber sale The University of Alaska, the state Division of Forestry and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority are working together on a proposed timber sale with an unidentified developer in the Haines area. The university said the identity of the company involved will be made public once terms of the sale and the contract are finalized. Public comment on the proposal closed May 7. The university Board of Regents will discuss the project at its May…

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Pebble gets one year state permit The state Department of Natural Resources approved a one-year land-use permit for Pebble Partnership so the company can drill 80 bore holes needed to gather geotechnical information. Pebble will also be able to do site restoration work. The DNR said it will also ramp up site inspections, and will form a new Bristol Bay Advisory Group to advise the agency. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is meanwhile continuing scoping meetings for an Environmental…

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ConocoPhillips profit climbs in 1Q ConocoPhillips earned $445 million in adjusted earnings from its Alaska operations in first quarter 2018, the company said. The company’s earnings are about four times what they were in first quarter 2017. Oil prices are moving gradually upward and ConocoPhillips has also been able to reduce costs. *** Hilcorp plans four new Inlet wells Hilcorp Energy still plans to drill four new wells from the Steelhead and Monopod platform in Cook Inlet, the company told…

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Air carriers lay on more passenger capacity for Interior Airlines are planning an increase in passenger capacity to Fairbanks this summer mainly in the May and August “shoulder” seasons. Delta plans a 37 percent increase in seats in May and United’s seats will be up 33 percent. Capacity for June and July will be similar to last year for the two carriers. Alaska Airlines, however, estimates its capacity will be up 20 percent all through the summer. That’s mainly due…

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Alaska LNG soliciting investors, needs lawmakers’ permission The Legislature nixed a multi-billion dollar “receipt authority” request from Alaska Gasline Development Corp. as it ended its 2018 session. This limits AGDC’s ability to accept equity investments the state corporation is hoping to attract later this year. This can be resolved if investors actually appear but it will still be in the 2019 session. The timing is awkward with Goldman Sachs, hired as investment advisor, starting work to solicit investment. The Chinese…

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$87.2 million in IT upgrades A number of critical infrastructure projects were funded in the state capital budget as the Legislature ended its 2018 session on May 12. These included $87.2 million in projects to replace and upgrade state Information Technology systems, particularly in the health and social services department and state retirement division. Village water and wastewater projects were funded at $68 million, with $52.7 million of this federal; rural airport improvements were funded at $140 million and the…

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Consumer confidence ticks up Two surveys show consumer con dence ticking up statewide and in Anchorage. The Alaska Con dence Index, a statewide survey of 800, sponsored by the Alaska Division of Economic Development, showed an overall index of 51.9, up from 49.2 last year in the rst quarter. An index over 50 re ects a slightly more positive view of economic prospects. A similar result showed up in an Anchorage survey of 350 residents. The Anchorage index was 52.5,…

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