Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO - Juneau

Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO - Juneau
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Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
A dog stands with its paws on a counter. A glass of beer sits on the counter.

Overhaul of Alaska alcohol laws makes progress in Legislature

This year, the most controversial provision has been one that limits the number of tasting rooms for breweries, distilleries and wineries. Right now, there can be one for every 3,000 residents. Under the new law, there could only be one for every 12,000.
Lawmakers sit around tables in a committee room

Legislators are divided over what to call state payments to Alaskans and the message it would send

House majority members say describing the entire $2,550 payment as a dividend would set expectations that PFDs would be that size every year. 
A woman in a mask standing on a landing, seen looking down through the stairwell from the landing below

An Alaska politics recap, from redistricting lawsuits to a Capitol COVID outbreak

The Alaska Supreme Court ruled on redistricting last week, the House plans to take up the budget in a few days — and there's yet another conflict about mask-wearing on the House floor.
Four people stand at the front of a room for a press conference

Special election dates announced to fill Alaska’s sole seat in US House

There will be two special elections this summer to fill that vacancy: a special primary election by mail on June 11 and a special election to pick the winner on Aug. 16.
Gov. Dunleavy speaks from behind a lectern with health commissioner Adam Crum standing beside him

Governor announces official split of Alaska health and social services department

Under the change, there will be a Department of Health and a Department of Family and Community Services.

State leaders mourn the loss US Rep. Don Young: ‘Alaska’s Alaskan’

State leaders from across the political spectrum reacted with shock and sadness to the news of the death of Rep. Don Young on Friday. 
Lawmakers seated in a committee room at the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska House committee proposes funding schools a year ahead using money from rising oil prices

If the plan becomes law, that would mean there’s enough money budgeted to cover the state share of school costs through June 2024.
Lawmakers and others seated in a Capitol committee room

Lawmakers issue subpoenas in move to make Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation board members talk about Rodell firing

The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee voted 10-0 to issue subpoenas to all six of the corporation’s board members, four employees and a Department of Revenue worker.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaking from behind a lectern

Dunleavy calls for big dividends as Alaska’s revenue forecast increases by billions

Gov. Mike Dunleavy urged the Legislature to send some of the money to Alaskans in the form of $3,700 in permanent fund dividends.
Three men talking in a room at the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska House debates bringing back limits to campaign donations

A House bill would limit individual contributions to candidates to $2,000 over two years. 
AlaskaCare mailers

Retired public employees and state settle long-running legal dispute over medical, dental benefits

The Alaska Constitution says that public employee retirement benefits “shall not be diminished or impaired.” But the state and retirees have differed on how to interpret this guarantee.

Alaska House bill would start process to rename highway named after convicted war criminal

A bill working its way through the state Legislature would start the process of renaming the Glenn Highway. Glenn was convicted of committing war crimes in the Philippines.
Commissioner of the Department of Revenue Lucinda Mahoney talks about the declining value of the state government's Russian assets as Gov. Mike Dunleavy listens on March 8, 20222, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Olivia Ebertz/KYUK)

Alaska sees a swift drop in the value of its Russian investments and looks to sell

Alaska's revenue commissioner said the value of state-held Russian investments has declined from $267 million at the end of last year to a current estimate of no more than $15 million.
Alaska House Finance Committee members review documents during public testimony on the committee's draft budget on March 4, 2022, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. Pictured are Reps. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer; Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks; Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage; Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River; Neal Foster, D-Nome; Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan; and Bart LeBon, R-Fairbanks.

Alaska House committee drafts budget with $2,500 total for PFD and energy relief check

The budget proposal unveiled on Friday by the House Finance Committee would spend over $4 billion in state funding to run state government. That’s $148 million more than Dunleavy proposed. 
A man with two flags behind him

Gov. Dunleavy directs state to take steps to divest from Russia

Dunleavy also requested further actions from the federal government and Alaska businesses and individuals. 
The University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau, shown on July 25, 2019 (David Purdy/KTOO)

Alaska senators consider bill to protect accounts used for scholarships, ferries

The intent of Senate Bill 224 is to keep any money in the accounts from being swept into a state piggy bank, the Constitutional Budget Reserve. 

Alaska lawmaker retaliates after Washington proposes tax on fuel exports

The Washington legislation would increase fuel exported to Alaska, Idaho and Oregon by 6 cents per gallon. It wouldn’t affect Washington residents. 
A woman in a mask standing on a landing, seen looking down through the stairwell from the landing below

Mask and COVID-19 test requirements are dropped for Alaska State Capitol

The rules will continue to require those who test positive for the virus to isolate.