Alaska House passes budget over Republican opposition, but many elements remain uncertain
Two key procedural votes failed, and the Senate and governor have yet to act. Revotes are possible before the special session ends Friday.
Politics
Alaska Senate delays action on proposed compromise budget plan
The budget proposal attached strings to funding for programs like the Permanent Fund dividend, and it was criticized by some lawmakers as a strong-arm tactic.
Curious Alaska: What’s Sarah Palin up to these days?
Thirteen years after her sudden rise to notoriety, Sarah Palin is simultaneously the most famous Alaskan and nearly invisible within the state.
Alaska’s back-to-work bonus plan is killed in compromise budget
A House-Senate panel prioritized construction projects instead.
New compromise plan for Alaska’s state budget puts pressure on supporters of a large Permanent Fund dividend
Before a key Tuesday vote, lawmakers say there’s ample arm-twisting in the state Capitol.
Alaska Legislature’s budget negotiators settle on $1,100 dividend, but upcoming vote could cut it in half
A legislative panel also made plans to spend about $500 million in federal aid, sending millions to cities, boroughs, nonprofits and tourism businesses.
Alaska lawmakers hope to reach tentative budget agreement
One of the biggest outstanding issues was what size dividend to approve for residents this year.
Biden administration will restore parts or all of ‘roadless rule’ in Southeast Alaska, reversing Trump action
Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a prompt statement condemning the decision that limits development in Tongass National Forest.
10 Senate Democrats and Republicans, including Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, say they reached 5-year, nearly $1 trillion infrastructure deal
The senators have been encouraged by President Biden to keep working on the effort after he walked away from a Republican-only proposal this week.
State prosecutors accuse former Alaska legislator of 4 more voter-fraud felonies linked to 2018 campaign
Former state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, who was originally accused last year, now faces five felonies.
Conflicting legal opinions lead to discrepancies in Alaska state finances totaling more than $1.6 billion
A legislative audit detected 91 issues with the state’s money management and reporting last year.
Alaska is considering the biggest changes to the Permanent Fund since its creation, but lawmakers say public response has been light
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office has created an advertising campaign to boost interest.
Alaska lawmaker takes state-paid tour of Arizona’s Republican-led election audit
Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, said he’s looking for ideas that could make sense in Alaska.
Without broad agreement on Alaska’s state budget, high schoolers could lose scholarships and rural electrical prices may double
A key procedural vote requires broad agreement, and with the Permanent Fund dividend at question, lawmakers are uncertain.
Gov. Dunleavy urges Alaska lawmakers to act on dividend plan
Some legislators have raised questions about some of the administration’s modeling assumptions and concerns with tackling the dividend issue without other pieces of a possible fiscal plan.
Tom Fink, former mayor of Anchorage, dies at 92
Fink, who also served as speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives and ran for governor, died of complications from old age, his son said.
3 US senators, including Alaska’s Sullivan, will visit Taiwan, discuss relations
Sunday’s trip is likely to anger China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and objects to Taiwan being called a country. Like most nations, the U.S. has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Juneau petitioners fail to get proposed cruise ship restrictions on local ballot
The proposals would have banned cruise ships in the Alaska capital on Saturdays, restrict their daily operating hours and prohibit specific large ships.
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Biden administration suspends oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Interior Department will also conduct a “comprehensive” environmental analysis of the oil and gas program in the refuge, which Congress approved in 2017 at the urging of Alaska’s congressional delegation after decades of failed attempts.
Money in state budget for hiking trail from Seward to Fairbanks is a step toward trans-Alaska route
Anchorage-area trails, including a link between the Coastal Trail and Ship Creek, would be covered under a $13.2 million earmark in the state budget.