Anchorage Daily News

This close to primary election day, the four ballot measures and Alaska's U.S. House and Senate campaigns are jamming news outlets with commentary and candidate appearances. To make it easy for you to scan the offerings, here's what's out there today:

Candidates

> U.S. House and Senate candidates, compared side-by-side (Anchorage Daily News)

> Benson vs. Berkowitz (APRN)

Ballot measures

> Alaska Newspapers Inc. weighs in on all four ballot measures. They are neutral on a gambling commission, and no on the rest. (Tundra Drums)

Ballot Measure 2: restricting aerial hunting

> APRN interviews opponents and proponents about how the measure would affect existing wildlife management. KBBI also covers APOC's dismissal of a lawsuit against the state over materials it released on its predator control program. The commissioner for the Department of Fish and Game discusses aerial wolf hunting in an opinion piece.

Ballot Measure 3: clean elections

> Common Ground, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports an informed electorate, hosted two public forums on Props. 3 and 4 at Wilda Marston Theater this week. You can download the audio at KSKA or listen when they are broadcast Monday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. on KSKA FM 91.1. Tim June, chair of Alaskans for Clean Elections, and Ken Jacobus, an opponent, debate the issue.

Ballot Measure 4: clean water

>Again, Common Ground's forum on this initiative can be downloaded from KSKA or heard on the air Monday at 8 p.m. In this case, Bruce Switzer, an adviser to Alaskans for Clean Water, and Lorna Shaw, from the Council for Alaska Producers, debate the initiative. ADN reports on APOC ordering the state to take down its information site on the initiative, with a more extensive ruling expected today.

> Native leaders urge a 'no' vote on Prop. 4 (Arctic Sounder)

> Mary Nelson: Water initiative too broad to do much good (Arctic Sounder)

> River of trouble runs through clean water (Arctic Sounder)

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Is the Coast Guard up for its new role in the Arctic? The jury seems to be out, according to Wired magazine's Danger Room blog. He quotes the top Coastie in Alaska, Rear Adm. Gene Brooks, telling the Pentagon yesterday that while Alaska is the natural base for operations in the Arctic, the Coast Guard has focused its operations along the state's southern edge. Gearing up for its role farther north will take five years, as long as he gets more equipment and more people.

The Canadian Press explains what one of the U.S./Canadian hot spots is in the Arctic. The National Post says the two countries have "agreed to disagree" over who controls the Northwest Passage. National security for both countries, in the wake of Russia's aggressiveness in the Arctic, means they are happy if at least one of them controls it.

The Huffington Post talked to U.S. Senate candidate Mark Begich about Alaska's role in national security. Newsweek summarizes all the resource, military and commercial potential emerging in the north, pointing out that Barrow is not a place you end up in accidentally.

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Ron Paul endorses Rep. Don Young. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Wednesday that the 72-year-old Texas congressman sent his Alaska constituents a letter urging them to vote for Young.

"Don has been an outspoken voice against environmental extremists over the years and has strongly opposed the types of federal regulatory overreach advocated in the name of environmentalism."

The Next Right, a conservative blog, found this turn of events appalling. Ron "sound money" Paul and Don "It's my money" Young deserve each other.

Meanwhile, the Republican revulsion to earmarks seems to be softening. The Associated Press reports that high gas prices and a weakening economy have eclipsed the campaign to disdain earmarks. Club for Growth's Pat Toomey acknowledged that GOP leaders have dropped the subject.

And Fairbanks columnist Dermot Cole unpacks the Club for Growth's ad against Young over tax increases.

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Ted Stevens is not the company you want to keep. The Pioneer Press points out a Democratic campaign ad from Al Franken that says Minnesota's Republican candidate Sen. Norm Coleman is tainted politically because he fishes with "disgraced Sen. Ted Stevens." They let a fish do the talking, literally.

FISH: Over 10,000 lakes in Minnesota but where does Norm Coleman go fishing? Alaska! Indicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens flew him up. And got big oil honchos to give thousands just to fish with Norm.

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Milk for $10? Newsweek has posted a video on grocery prices in Barrow. A sample of prices in the story that came with the video:

Head of iceberg lettuce $2.79/pound

Milk $9.99/gallon

Dozen eggs $4.39

Loaf of white bread $2.79

Butter $4.99/pound

Lean ground hamburger $3.18/pound (on sale)

Flour/10 lbs $16.99

Sugar/10 lbs $15.55

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In other headlines of interest to Alaskans:

> 18 delegates head to the Democratic convention (KTUU)

> Seismic studies don't hurt Gulf whales; Alaskans watching (Associated Press)

> Peninsula candidate summary (Peninsula Clarion)

> Kachemak otters on the upswing (APRN)

> Summer flood bills come in at $10 million (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and KUAC)

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