Gov. Dunleavy’s State of the State address postponed a day

JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy was scheduled on Monday to deliver his sixth annual address to the Legislature, but that’s been postponed until Tuesday evening at the earliest due to weather delays affecting flights into Juneau.

The State of the State address is the one opportunity each year for a governor to lay out their legislative priorities directly before lawmakers and Alaskans.

High winds and heavy rainfall all day Monday in Juneau saw flights delayed and at least one flight turned back to Anchorage.

Jeff Turner, a spokesman for the governor’s office, said by email that the address was delayed after heads of state departments and some of Dunleavy’s guests had been unable to make it into Juneau in time for the governor’s address.

The State of State address has now been postponed until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Turner said.

Long-time legislative watchers said they could not remember another State of the State address that had been postponed by another governor.

At a speech last week before the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, Dunleavy spoke about wanting to increase Alaska’s population, getting new resource projects approved and his support for an education package that included bonuses for teachers, more funding for homeschooled students and provisions to authorize more charter schools. After Thursday’s speech, Dunleavy said he would veto a standalone education bill that simply increases school funding and isn’t part of broader package.