Anyone have details? Someone posted that it was two soldiers and they survived, but got messed up badly.

So a couple people I know got ripped off by Alaskaslist. Same thing both times — paid for a listing, it never showed up, couldn't get ahold of anyone. I got curious and started digging and it's pretty bad.

I looked the business up on the state's CBPL site. It's registered as Alaska Web Service, owned by Michael G Baker out of Chugiak. License #925995. Expired December 31, 2017. Never renewed. That means he's been collecting money from people for over eight years now without a valid business license, which is illegal.

The BBB has him at an F with 14 complaints that he never even responded to. Same stuff over and over — people pay for ads that don't get posted, they get ignored when they try to follow up, some people get charged just to remove their own listing, and then there's the spam emails hitting you up for more money for services you never asked for. It's all the same playbook and it's been going on for years. He gets away with it because most people lose like $5 at a time and just don't bother fighting it.

Seriously, just don't use the site. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are both free. If you're selling gun stuff, GunsAlaska.com is free to use and works well in my experience.

If you already got scammed though, file a PayPal dispute, it works to get a refund and they'll eventually cut him from that service. Then take a few minutes and report him. CBPL handles business licensing complaints at BusinessLicense@Alaska.Gov or (907) 465-2550 — the expired license thing is the most clear-cut violation and the one the state can actually do something about. You can also report to the AG's Consumer Protection Unit at ConsumerProtection@Alaska.Gov, and file a BBB complaint at bbb.org/file-a-complaint so it shows up when other people search for the site.

I know reporting stuff feels pointless but it really isn't. The state isn't going to do anything over two or three complaints. But if enough people actually file, that changes. The only reason this dude has operated this long is because nobody bothers. You can check everything I'm saying yourself. Go to commerce.alaska.gov, click Business License Search, type in Alaska Web Service. It's all right there.

This is so good. This change will help many more people get the help they need.

For any of you that saw my previous post about obvious “fronts” in the Anchorage business arena, looks like the massage parlors got busted (again).

I am a member of the LGBTQ+ Community and went to Identity for my medical needs. I found out they’re closing next month. What are some good alternatives around town?

My apartment complex is completely covered in dog poop and I’m not exaggerating when I say it feels like 80% of the grass is unusable!

I have two dogs, and at this point I can’t even take them outside around our building without them stepping in it. I walked around the entire complex and every building, every patch of grass, and even the walkways! There’s honestly not a single clean area where they can go without running into someone else’s mess.

This feels like a real sanitation issue. It’s bad for the dogs and for residents too. To make things worse, the complex doesn’t provide dog waste bags or any designated trash bins for pet waste, which I’m guessing is part of why it’s gotten this bad.

What can I realistically do here? Has anyone dealt with something like this before? Should I push management harder, report it somewhere, or is there another approach that actually works? I am desperate.

Carolyn Hall responds. This is akin to Murkowski voting Yes for the Big Beautiful Bill and then immediately going on a PR campaign to say she didn't like the bill. It appears Hall is well on her way to becoming another spineless Alaskan politician who says one thing but votes another way. Her reasoning was that she instead supports HB 350 - but she neglects to say that HB 350 has languished in the Labor & Commerce committee for over 2 months with the most recent hearing ending in yet another delay and it will most likely not be passed this session.

Send her a letter here.

Opinion: I voted no on the corporate income tax bill. Here’s why that matters for Alaska.

By Carolyn Hall

I want to be clear: I believe Hilcorp, and any large, profitable S corporation operating in Alaska, should be paying taxes.

Like many Alaskans, I support closing the “S corp loophole.” But that fix needs to be fair, durable and actually work for Alaska long term.

That’s why I voted no on HB 194.

The Senate took an otherwise straightforward bill (intended to help Marathon’s oil supply meet Alaska’s gasoline needs) and abruptly amended it on the floor to include a major fiscal policy shift. The version of the bill that reached the House floor did not create a broad, consistent tax policy and was not reviewed in House committees. Instead, it evolved into a targeted approach aimed at a single company — Hilcorp.

We absolutely need to revisit oil taxes as part of diversifying our revenue base. But we need to do it with the same diligence we bring to other policies: to continue to attract investment in Alaska to grow revenues over the long term while ensuring our state receives its fair share of the value created from that investment, not just from the companies but also from the nonresident workers taking their earnings outside.

Alaska has been here before. Decades ago, when the state eliminated the personal income tax, it created the very gap we’re now trying to address. That decision wasn’t future-proofed and today we’re dealing with the consequences. We shouldn’t repeat that mistake by rushing through a fix.

If we’re serious about closing this gap, we need to do it the right way: by applying a clear, consistent tax structure to all large S corporations above a reasonable profit threshold, whether they’re here today or come to Alaska in the future.

That’s why I support a framework similar to House Bill 350. HB 350 is just a start and far from perfect — it certainly needs more vetting — but it treats businesses evenly, avoids singling out individual companies and creates policy that can stand the test of time.

The version of HB 194 that reached the House floor did not go through the level of public process and scrutiny that a major tax policy change requires. The bill changed significantly at the last minute in the Senate, becoming a vehicle for a sweeping tax shift. On the House floor, legislators were still asking basic questions that hadn’t been answered in a public setting. The bill asked us to pass legislation that none of our members vetted.

The stakes are bigger than one company. These decisions impact jobs, energy production and long-term projects that translate directly into economic stability and the cost of living for my district and for Alaska.

To reiterate, we can, and should, close the S corp gap. Unequivocally, Hilcorp should pay taxes in addition to the royalties they already pay. But we need to do it in a way that treats everyone equally and stands the test of time.

That’s why I voted no on HB 194. I’m committed to getting this right.

Rep. Carolyn Hall represents House District 16, West Anchorage, in the Alaska state House of Representatives and co-chairs the House Labor and Commerce Committee.

I’ve seen like every emergency vehicle in the state driving at high speeds toward cooper landing. Anyone know what’s going on?

Hi!

I want to preface this with a yes, I have checked the common questions thread. However I wanted to get some opinions/suggestions on what to do with very little free time.

I will be in Anchorage from Sunday-Friday night on a work trip. A good portion of each day will be eaten up with work - I might be free around 3 pm each day. This doesn't leave me with a ton of time to play with afterwards. Weather is gonna be a little chilly and snowy/rainy, and I can't extend the trip in either direction to get more time in the area.

With this in mind, what are your top activities for those with limited time and travel abilities?

Do any stores have a good cheese section? I’m hoping to find something other than tillamok and kraft. I’m coming up for a day and wanted to bring some back I can’t find locally.