Newsletters

Suicide is a sobering subject many people don’t like to think about, but it is a necessary subject that all of us need to talk about. Last week I attended the quarterly meeting of the State Suicide Prevention Council. This Council was established in statute in 2001 and has a diverse membership of 17, including 4 non-voting members from the Legislature. There are government officials as well as people with lived experience as survivors, providers, and clergy all sharing the goal to reduce Alaskan suicides.

Winter showed up across much of Alaska this week. The return of snow and ice means roads will often be slick and dangerous for the next few months. The best way to be safe while driving is to slow down. Leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you and always turn on your headlights. Remember that bridges and ramps freeze first. Even when other parts of the roadway are clear, bridge decks and overpasses can have ice on them.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Alaska has the highest rates of domestic violence and sexual assault in the nation. For #DVAM2019, learn who provides services in your community and follow them on social media to stay in the loop about upcoming events, volunteer…

Join me this weekend for coffee and conversation. I will be at the Landing board room from 10am until noon on Saturday, Oct. 12th. See you there!

Seasons are changing! We waved goodbye to the last cruise ship of the season on Wednesday, and temperatures are getting cooler. Luckily, our rain levels are helping out reservoirs.

The annual Permanent Fund Dividends (PFDs) paid out to eligible Alaskans started hitting bank accounts on Thursday. An estimated 631,000 Alaskans will receive a payment of $1,606 to use as they see fit. Sure, some people may use their PFD to do something extravagant, but others will use it to survive the coming harsh winter. The PFD is your share of Alaska’s accumulated resource wealth, and you can use it any way you want.

I hope this newsletter finds you well. You should have received the fall newsletter from Senator Begich and I, but if not please see this link: http://aksenatedems.com/docs/begich/District-19-Rep-Tarr-Sen-Begich-Newsletter-2019.pdf

Happy PFD Day!! Beginning today, an estimated 631,000 Alaskans will receive their 2019 Permanent Fund Dividend in the amount of $1,606. The total distribution for this year’s dividend is $1,013,000,000. Alaskans can check the state’s website MyPFD to check the status of their PFD.