Government

Legislators plan D.C. trip to sell ANWR

A contingent of Alaska politicians including House Speaker Mike Chenault will miss several days of the legislative session next week to go to Washington, D.C., and again make a pitch for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

More on ANWR

Education funding hike gets support from educators, parents

The Senate Finance Committee heard overwhelming support Wednesday for a proposed increase in education funding.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Alaska could see savings with pension deposit, analyst says

The state could save $5.3 billion in payments to Alaska's troubled public employees' retirement system by putting $2 billion into a reserve fund now, a legislative fiscal analyst said Wednesday.

Education funding hike gets support from educators, parents

Bill would require ultrasound before abortion

More Legislature coverage

Bill would require ultrasound before abortion

Women would be required to undergo an ultrasound before receiving an abortion under legislation proposed in the Alaska Senate on Wednesday.

Senate unveils oil tax bill, leaves details to committee process

The long-awaited Senate oil tax bill has been introduced, and there are no surprises in it.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

DNR claims mission statement isn't a philosophy change

The commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources told lawmakers Tuesday that no philosophical change is intended in a proposed a new mission statement deleting the words "conserve" and "enhance."

Alaska Senate plans generic oil tax bill to start process

Redistricting board plans appeal of judge's decision

The Alaska Redistricting Board on Tuesday decided on a partial appeal of a judge's decision that they redraw four House districts.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Alaska Senate plans generic oil tax bill to start process

The Alaska Senate is planning to unveil a generic oil tax bill this week, leaving to the committee process the job of finding problems in the proposal and working out solutions.

Audit takes new dig at Native corporation contracting benefit

The debate over the sole-source contracting privileges that Alaska Native corporations have used to make billions of dollars is flaring in Congress with a new government audit that finds lax oversight.

Read the GAO report on Alaska Native corporations

Rural Alaska air travel subsidies survive budget cuts

Subsidies for rural Alaska air travel survived the cost cutting talk as Congress passed a four-year funding bill for the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday after years of dispute.

FAA bill speeds switch to GPS for airliners

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Alaska education commissioner defends school intervention

Alaska Education Commissioner Michael Hanley on Monday fended off criticism of his department's approach to intervention in struggling schools.

State attorney warns against repealing school intervention

House continues analysis of state operating budget

More Alaska Legislature coverage

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Lawmakers get advice on coastal management initiative

The Legislature's top attorney says he thinks lawmakers would have "a lot of latitude" in crafting a coastal management program to replace the one that lapsed last year. The question is: Can it pre-empt a proposed ballot initiative?

Alaska education commissioner defends school intervention

House continues analysis of state operating budget

More Alaska Legislature coverage

Bill introduced to require F-16 fighters to remain at Eielson

Alaska's two U.S. senators have introduced a bill that would forbid the Air Force from transferring F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks.

37 nominated to attend US service academies next year

Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced that she has nominated 37 young Alaskans for appointment to the U.S. military service academies for the class of 2016.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Oil taxes to highlight busy week for Alaska lawmakers

Alaska lawmakers this week are expected to take up three of the biggest issues facing them this session, with all eyes on the Senate for perhaps the biggest issue of all: oil taxes.

More Alaska Legislature coverage

BLM defends its work on NPR-A 'legacy wells'

Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management say the agency is monitoring environmental risk from old wells on federal land on Alaska's North Slope, as well as updating plans for remediating the sites.

Building for libraries, archives and museum ready to start in July

The architect for the new state Library, Archives and Museum building says it'll be ready to build in July.

Judge orders redistricting board to redraw 4 districts

The Alaska Redistricting Board must redraw three Fairbanks-area House districts and another in the Aleutian chain, a state court judge ruled Friday.

Lawmaker seeks end to tax break benefiting Baptist Temple

An Anchorage lawmaker is asking the Alaska Legislature to undo a 2006 change in state tax law that is benefiting only one Anchorage church: the same church that sought the amendment.

Inquiry targets Anchorage Baptist Temple tax exemptions

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Parnell supports divestment of holdings with Iran connection

Gov. Sean Parnell is calling for the divestment of state investments in companies that either do business in Iran or with Iran's ruling government. The Alaska Senate is considering similar legislation.

Governor isn't inclined toward equity infusion for pension

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Kerttula raises concerns about bill on in-state gas pipeline

A proposal intended to advance an in-state natural gas pipeline project goes too far in giving authority to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., the leading House Democrat said Tuesday.

Senate panel debates divestment in Iran