Alaskans push for acceptance of walrus ivory, but there’s an elephant in the room
Federal law prohibits sales of African elephant ivory, but six states have now banned the sale of ivory more broadly. That has repercussions for Alaska Native ivory carvers, who use tusks from legally hunted walrus.
Dunleavy: Wasilla special session will be focused on PFD, capital budget can come later
Dunleavy held a press conference Friday in front of Wasilla Middle School, his recommended venue for the session. He says while there is still work to be done on the capital budget, the dividend is his priority for this session.
Border senators urge more oversight from B.C. in transboundary mining
U.S. senators from Alaska and three other border states have written to British Columbia’s premier expressing concern over transboundary mining.
Murkowski differs with Trump on campaign help from foreign powers
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was not happy to hear President Trump say he would accept foreign intel on a political opponent.
Dunleavy calls for round two in Wasilla after Alaska Legislature adjourns first special session
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has called for a second special session to be hosted in Wasilla next month. The session’s agenda is limited to PFD funding.
Why fishermen are mailing corks to Murkowski
Bristol Bay fishermen who oppose the Pebble Mine are adding an unusual task to their pre-season chores: They’re writing messages on cork floats and mailing them to Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Vote to draw from state savings account to pay for capital projects falls short
With large differences remaining over permanent fund dividends, that means the special session will likely end Thursday or Friday with more work left to do.
State employees anxious as government shutdown threat looms
A state operating budget is now on its way to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk. The question is whether it will be enough to prevent a government shutdown on July 1.
$20M state grant released to Alaska schools, but future funding remains unclear
School districts across Alaska are looking forward to a bump in their bank accounts from a $20M grant appropriated last year. But the overall outlook for state education spending is far from clear.
As the Alaska Legislature fights over the budget, a decades-old accounting quirk takes on new importance
At Alaska’s state Capitol this week, there’s a lot of talk about something called “the sweep.” What is it, and why is it such a big deal this year?
Capital budget, Power Cost Equalization, college scholarships are caught in PFD debate
If an amendment to the capital budget to pay full permanent fund dividends isn’t successful, the Republican House minority leader expects there won’t be enough votes to draw from the Constitutional Budget Reserve.
Alaska Senate sends budget to governor without PFDs
It’s not clear how deeply Gov. Mike Dunleavy will cut using the line-item veto. Medicaid, the university and school bond debt reimbursement are the areas with the biggest increases over what he proposed.
Alaska House passes compromise budget, leaving action on PFD to Senate
If the Senate passes the budget bill on Monday as expected, it would go to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk later this week. If he signs it, it would avoid a state government shutdown on July 1.
Budget deadlock could delay Medicaid payments to health care providers
Health care advocates said nursing homes and behavioral health providers are among those who may not have large cash reserves to cover costs during a delay.
Pioneer Home residents fight ‘preposterous’ rate increase
A proposal to more than double the monthly costs for most residents in Alaska’s Pioneer Homes met with stiff opposition during recent public testimony on the issue.
US House calls for more research on ocean acidification
The change in ocean chemistry is alarming to subsistence communities and the fishing industry.
PFD rally brings out governor’s ardent Mat-Su supporters
Governor Mike Dunleavy held a rally Thursday night in Wasilla in support of a Permanent Fund Dividend amount that adheres to the law established in 1982. There was no vocal opposition to Dunleavy from the crowd.
Governor’s top staff directed Alaska’s rollback of PFAS regulations
The Dunleavy administration’s decision to defer to the EPA over safe levels of PFAS chemicals in drinking water came at the direction of the governor’s top aides. That’s according to dozens of redacted emails released following records requests.
Have Alaska’s US lawmakers read the Mueller report? We asked.
You can get an “I read the Mueller Report” button for bragging rights. But no one in Alaska’s congressional delegation can rightfully wear that button. Not yet, anyway.
Murkowski ‘not inclined to be supportive’ of Trump’s Mexico tariff
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says her Republican colleagues are not happy with President Trump’s plan to impose a 5% tariff on all goods from Mexico.