Government

Home for chronic inebriates opens in Fairbanks

A new residential facility for the homeless has quietly opened on South Cushman Street, offering living space to residents who may have gone a decade or more without it. A sister facility with the same philosophy, Karluk Manor, recently opened in Anchorage.

In D.C. forum, Alaskans urge action on Bush energy crisis

Lawmakers, energy experts and Native leaders said Thursday that rural Alaska's oppressive energy costs are a dire problem with elusive solutions.

Federal spending in Alaska has leveled off, report says

The explosive growth of federal spending in Alaska has flattened, according to a new analysis, but the state's per-capita haul is still more than 40 percent above the national average even with legendary spender Ted Stevens gone from the Senate.

Alaska election officials say they're ready for voting

Alaska election officials say they're ready for the upcoming elections even though at least one key change they'd hoped to make -- moving up the primary -- stalled in the Legislature.

Judicial Council plans hearing on retention of 26 judges

Alaska has 26 judges up for retention votes in November, and the state Judicial Council will collect public testimony on whether they should remain in office.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Special session ends after House adjourns

The special session called by Gov. Sean Parnell to lower oil taxes and develop a natural gas pipeline was rocky throughout and fizzled to an end Monday evening with no legislation passed on either topic.

More Legislature news

Parnell picks Shelley Hughes for Gatto's Palmer seat

Parnell isn't planning another special session

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Alaska lawmakers question Point Thomson settlement

Signs of skepticism emerged Friday over the deal applauded by the Parnell administration last month to resolve long-running litigation over the Exxon Mobil-operated Point Thomson oil and gas field.

Alaska House weighs options after Senate adjournment

More Legislature news

Rep. Gara's doctor reports he's cancer-free after surgery

Rep. Les Gara's cancer surgery in New York City went well Tuesday, and his doctor said he's now cancer free, he said Friday.

Committee to hire experts to advise on energy

Alaska's Senate Finance Committee plans to hire experts to advise lawmakers on ways to address high energy costs.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Parnell pulls oil taxes from special session

In an abrupt reversal that astonished legislators, Gov. Parnell said Wednesday evening that he is abandoning his top priority for the special session -- big oil tax cuts -- because he sees no hope of getting a bill through the Legislature.

Oil industry plans to continue push for Alaska tax change

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Prospects look grim for oil tax cut proposed by governor

No one in the Legislature seems to like Gov. Parnell's latest proposal to cut oil taxes, which would cost the Alaska treasury $1.5 billion to $2 billion a year, about the same as Parnell's earlier proposal.

More Legislature news

Tab for special session could reach up to $30,000 a day, agency says

A state employee who oversees the Legislature's finances says it is still too early to determine the cost of the special session, but the early estimate is "up to $30,000 a day."

Sisters awarded $2 million for years of abuse in state care

Alaska authorities were supposed to protect the sisters from a mother who drank and did drugs, and from the increasing violence of their stepfather. But as a Kenai jury recently found, the state put them in places even worse.

Special session cost likely $30,000 a day

A state employee who oversees the Legislature's finances says it is still too early to determine the cost of the special session but the early estimate is "up to $30,000 a day."

Begich stalls promotion over Eielson questions

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich has stalled the promotion of an Air Force lieutenant general to express his frustration with a lack of answers about a proposed move of an Eielson Air Force F-16 base squadron.

Legislature passes scholarship bill

House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a bill establishing a long-term funding source for student scholarships.

Legislature passes autism bill

The Alaska Legislature has passed a bill that would extend insurance coverage to some children for treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Senate oil-tax bill appears dead in House

The oil-tax bill passed by the Alaska Senate on Saturday night appeared to be alive in the House for a moment on Sunday morning but then was stripped from a bill and appears dead. Today is the final day of the regular legislative session.

Legislature passes scholarship bill

Judges get flexibility in fetal alcohol sentences

Effort to halt church property tax exemption fails

Legislature passes autism bill

Legislature bans texting while driving

Senate passes oil tax reform bill

More Legislature coverage

Judges get flexibility in fetal alcohol sentences

The Alaska Legislature has approved a bill that would give judges flexibility when handing down criminal sentences to people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Effort to halt church property tax exemption fails

An attempt by Rep. Berta Gardner to resurrect her bill to strip the property tax exemption from church-owned houses occupied by religious school teachers failed Sunday as an amendment to another tax bill.

Legislature bans texting while driving

The Alaska Legislature has passed an explicit ban on texting while driving. The Senate passed HB255 on Sunday, the last scheduled day of session. The House passed the bill earlier.