LΓΆki Gale Tobin's Avatar

LΓΆki Gale Tobin

@lgtobin

Unapologetically pro public education. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Azerbaijan 08-11). Auntie. Public servant. 🌈. πŸš΄πŸΎβ€β™€οΈ. DenaΚΌina EΕ‚nena.

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20.11.2024
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Latest posts by LΓΆki Gale Tobin @lgtobin

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Opinion: Alaska’s universities shouldn’t be afraid of diversity When the UA Board of Regents backs away from inclusion, it sends a message about who belongs in our classrooms β€” and who doesn’t.

I have attended the University of Alaska on and off since I was 17. For me and many others, the University of Alaska is more than just buildings and budgets; it is a public trust.

Effective leadership requires more than merely responding out of fear.

www.adn.com/opinions/202...

09.03.2026 21:04 πŸ‘ 25 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Okay - this is a dumb one, but I really need help here:

Anyone have a sheer tight/pantyhose recommend that DOESNT RUN literally the moment you try and put them on?!???!?

I am losing my mind.

09.03.2026 05:40 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It’s too easy to go to war

08.03.2026 23:48 πŸ‘ 2949 πŸ” 281 πŸ’¬ 122 πŸ“Œ 23

As no Nomite is racing this year, I will be rooting for KOTZ rookie Kevin Hansen!

06.03.2026 22:51 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

❀️

06.03.2026 04:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Writing good public policy is a juggling act. #akleg

06.03.2026 04:21 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Did some research for an education bill today and learned that year over year inflation for motor fuels was at 6.5% (BLS, Anchorage, Dec 24-25)

And here some guy just last week said "inflation is down!" πŸ€”πŸ€”πŸ€”

04.03.2026 04:30 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Great piece by @lgtobin.bsky.social in today’s News-Miner!

The university that taught me who I am is now turning its back on inclusion www.newsminer.com/opinion/comm...

03.03.2026 23:39 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Empty Office Podcast - Season 4, Episode 7 Listen now | Senator Tobin is joined by Mindy O'Neall, the Mayor of Fairbanks, for a wide-ranging discussion about community planning, housing, and the challenges of running an old city with new chall...

"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women"

Madeleine Albright.

lgtobin.substack.com/p/the-empty-...

01.03.2026 19:50 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Opinion: We were honored as Alaska Teachers of the Year. Now we can no longer stay. A broken retirement system, relentless vetoes and anti-public education rhetoric have pushed even the state’s most accomplished educators to walk away.

We wanted to stay and help build the world-class education system our leaders love to talk about. But you cannot have a world-class system when your leaders treat people like a disposable commodity or are actively working to destroy it."

www.adn.com/opinions/202...

27.02.2026 01:35 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Language learning is quite a journey and requires daily immersive practice (as you know).

Prior to my service, I spent years learning ASL (my brother is an Interpreter) and during my service, I learned and spoke Azerbaijani (also called Azeri).

Today I dabble in ASL and Spanish.

26.02.2026 22:25 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ“£πŸ“£πŸ“£Calling All Anchorage Residents πŸ“£πŸ“£πŸ“£

Budgets are moral documents and ours communicates what is the top priority of the state.

What do you think is the most important thing for the state to financially support?

Call in and tell us what you think!

26.02.2026 18:09 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

What he said πŸ‘‡πŸ½

25.02.2026 02:48 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Do not get lost in a sea of despair.

Be hopeful, be optimistic.

Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.

Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.
- John Lewis

24.02.2026 03:54 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Empty Office Podcast - Season 4, Episode 6 Senator Tobin is joined by Representatives Mina and Hall to talk about the $1.3 billion in federal funding coming to Alaska through the Rural Health Transformation Program.

Confused about the Rural Health Transformation Program?

Learn what your lawmakers know by listening to the newest Empty Office Podcast featuring @repmina.bsky.social and Representative Carolyn Hall.

open.substack.com/pub/lgtobin/...

22.02.2026 22:18 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
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A beautiful day to walk in support of warmth for our neighbors!
#unitedway

21.02.2026 23:11 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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New office coffee cup, who dis?

21.02.2026 18:30 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The joy I feel when it is time to change from my Kona Jake cyclocross to my 907 fat tire bike will never be beat.

21.02.2026 04:01 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Alaska Senate committee overhauls revenue bill to include sweeping changes to oil taxes Sen. Bill Wielechowski called the state’s current oil tax system β€œfatally flawed.”

It's time Alaska.

www.adn.com/politics/ala...

20.02.2026 01:58 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

Unsurprisingly, his response to a reporter asking about his reaction to the protestors:

"I didn't see any protestors."

😢😢😢

19.02.2026 06:17 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ‘ŠπŸ½βœŠπŸ½

@wielechowski.bsky.social and his Senate Resources co-chair Sen. Giessel amended the Governor's sales tax bill by removing the sales tax and added several revenue provisions, including an Education Head Tax.

Real Alaska leadership showing up for Alaska's schools.

17.02.2026 18:18 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Captain β€œHell Roaring’” Mike Healyβ€”Tamer of America’s Western Sea Frontier - NOAA Ocean Exploration Born in 1839 on a plantation near Macon, Georgia, Healy was the son of a white plantation owner and a slave. Healy became the first U.S. sea service officer of African descent and the first to command...

Ever hear about Captain Michael Healy?

Not only did he play a crucial role in the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, the precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard, but he is also recognized as bringing reindeer herding to the Seward Peninsula.

Black history is so cool.

oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-f...

15.02.2026 22:20 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Nothing like being able to send my 6 year old nephew, Malcolm, a picture another Malcolm.

Best response from my nephew: his hair is just like mine πŸ₯° @malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social #BlackHistoryinthemaking #BlackHistory

14.02.2026 20:04 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Black history is so cool.

#BlackInAlaska

13.02.2026 20:07 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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SB 206 offers gun locks to parents and guardians of children and teens who express suicide ideation or who are victims of bullying.

Teen suicide is an impulsive act and 80% of kids go from thought to action in less than 10 minutes.

SB 206 offers time. Time to intervene. Time to help.

12.02.2026 06:58 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

296 days.

11.02.2026 23:38 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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NEWS: Senator Tobin and Representative Stapp Introduce Veterans Justice Act to Expand Alternatives to Incarceration for Alaska Veterans Email from Alaska Senate Majority FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 9, 2026 Media Contacts Louie Flora Staff to Senator Tobin Louie.Flora@akleg.gov ‭(907) 465-3704 Senator Tobin and Representative

Alaska is home to 60k veterans, and far too many continue to face challenges related to their military service.

Today, I and Rep Stapp (R- FAI), introduced the Veterans Justice Act, which creates a statewide veteran sentencing program to support veterans. #akleg

alaskasenate.org/press/020926...

10.02.2026 00:05 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Benito said "God Bless America," and then proceeded to name every country in South and North America.

πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯

09.02.2026 01:32 πŸ‘ 3532 πŸ” 702 πŸ’¬ 33 πŸ“Œ 44

Great question.

The rubric and scoring are being developed by the Dept of Health.

The long and short is selection of projects is at the sole discretion of the Commissioner and the Dunleavy Admin.

I have my concerns if the rubric will mean anything at the end of the day.

09.02.2026 02:21 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Just your Sunday reminder that the reason Alaska is scrambling to disburse $272 million dollars through the Rural Health Transformation Fund is because your government codified 2017 tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and paid for it by cutting health care and food assistance for veterans.

08.02.2026 23:50 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 15 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2