Alaska

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Alaska early Sunday morning. Its epicenter was located 52 miles (83 Km) east of Old Iliamna, Alaska. It had an initial magnitude of 6.4. The USGS reported that there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage, but also reported that strong shaking could be felt near Anchorage. This was about a minute after the #earthquake stopped. It was a loud quake!

With sadly ironic timing, we noted just last week that the blowback from "unequivocally good" low oil prices was set to cross the border from an increasingly suicidal Canada, and so, as AP reports, it appears Alaska is facing the toughest of times. As oil prices make new cycle lows, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has called for the state's first income tax in 35 years in order to close a $3.5-billion-dollar deficit the state is carrying.