Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO - Juneau
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
Amendment would allow state bonds to back college loans
Alaskans are voting on whether to allow the state to issue debt to lower the interest students pay for college loans. Listen Now
Abortion ruling at center of justices’ retention battle
Voters will decide whether to keep two Alaska Supreme Court justices on Election Day. Alaska Family Action, which described itself as focused on advancing biblical principles, opposes retaining the judges. But advocates for keeping the judges said the group’s opposition to the judges could harm the state’s tradition of choosing and keeping judges based on merit. Listen Now
Lawmakers juggle ideas on alternatives to Walker’s PFD cut
Few citizens love the fact that Governor Bill Walker vetoed half the money for Permanent Fund dividends this year – including Walker. Walker said the PFD cut is necessary as part of a comprehensive fiscal plan he’d like the Legislature to adopt. Two senators would like to reverse the cut through different methods – a lawsuit and a new piece of legislation. Listen Now
Walker puts the brakes on issuing bonds to pay pensions
The state of Alaska won’t issue bonds to pay for public worker pensions – for now. Gov. Bill Walker pressed pause on the sale Tuesday of up to $3.3 billion dollars of pension obligation bonds after meeting with members of the Senate Finance Committee. Listen Now
Anti-incumbent mood could threaten Republican-led House majority
When voters head to the polls on Nov. 8, they’ll decide who’s going to represent them in the state House and Senate. That will trigger the backroom talks that determine who will form the majority caucuses – and the legislature’s future direction. Listen Now
Q&A: Legislative aide lobbied for amendment that could benefit son in sex crime case
A legislative aide used his connections to try to affect a state law in a way that could benefit his son, who state prosecutors said sexually abused a 12-year-old girl when he was 18
Wielechowski, Kastner fight for votes in East Anchorage
For a decade, Democrat Bill Wielechowski has represented an East Anchorage Senate district where Republicans outnumber Democrats. He attributes part of his success to one of the oldest political activities: knocking on neighbors’ doors, one at a time. Listen Now
Legislators, candidates and party officials respond to campaign finance reports
Democratic and independent candidates critical of the majorities in the State Capitol have raised more in campaign donations than Republicans since the primary. Democratic leaders say the campaign reports filed Monday show that donors are rejecting how the Legislature approached the state budget this year. Listen Now
Pew report sees Alaska ahead of other states in its ‘sovereign wealth fund’
A national report says other states can learn from the example of the Alaska Permanent Fund as they seek to grow their own funds they’ve built from natural resource extraction. Listen Now
Walker administration looks to sell billions in bonds to pay for pensions
Standard & Poor’s announced Friday it expects to lower Alaska’s credit ratings if the state government sells bonds to pay for public-worker pensions. Listen Now
Judge reverses House District 40 primary, gives Nageak a two-vote edge
A judge on Thursday reversed the outcome of the Democratic primary for the House district that includes the North Slope and Northwest Arctic boroughs. Listen Now
Juneau access road proves to be point of contention among officials
Governor Bill Walker is facing a major decision on one of Alaska’s oldest and controversial megaproject ideas: whether to extend Juneau’s main road 28 miles closer to Haines and Skagway. Listen Now
Lawmakers see Walker’s potential pension bonds as risky
Governor Bill Walker’s administration wants to borrow money to pay for public workers’ pensions, by selling up to 3.3 billion dollars in what are known as pension obligation bonds. The plan is drawing concern from lawmakers, who say it may be risky. Listen Now
Access to overdose preventative still bogged down in barriers
Scores of people have died in Alaska from heroin and other opioid overdose deaths this year that the drug naloxone, also known as Narcan, could have prevented. Listen Now
Politically charged tweets posted from state account during debate
Two politically charged tweets were posted from the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services Twitter account during the presidential debate on Monday.
Alaskans endure rising insurance costs
Alaskans shopping for individual health insurance on the federal exchange will only be able to choose from one insurer when open enrollment starts on November 1st.
Walker ‘disappointed’ in Permanent Fund suit filed by Wielechowski today
A lawsuit seeking to maintain full Permanent Fund dividends this year was filed Friday – and Governor Bill Walker blasted the arguments in the lawsuit. Listen now
Wielechowski to file suit against Permanent Fund Corp. on Friday
Senator Bill Wielechowski plans to file a lawsuit Friday seeking to force the Permanent Fund Corporation to transfer the full amount for Permanent Fund dividends this year. Listen now
State seeks to stop people from wrongfully claiming PFDs
To stop people from wrongfully claiming Permanent Fund dividends, the Alaska Department Revenue has launched a new program to audit applications this month.
Marijuana industry advocates criticize slowness of regulation
Alaska’s top marijuana regulator said pot will be on sale by February. But industry advocates expressed frustration Wednesday that it’s taken nearly two years since voters approved the sales. Listen now