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Senators say time is running out on Power Cost Equalization, college scholarships and grants, and medical education
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
While much of the focus this month has been on the vetoes, state senators in Juneau raised alarms about another budget issue: the money swept from state budget accounts into a harder-to-access piggy bank, the Constitutional Budget Reserve.
In 4 a.m. emails, demonstrations and in-person ambushes, Alaskans press lawmakers on budget vetoes
Nathaniel Herz, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Anchorage
At a news conference in Wasilla yesterday, Republican lawmakers issued a request to Alaskans: Please, stop showing up at our houses to plead with us about the governor’s budget vetoes. Constituents also showed up in person in Wasilla to make their case.
Cuts to universities could threaten Alaska’s unified library catalog
Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska – Juneau
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s cuts to Alaska’s university system could dismantle a statewide library system that allows patrons to easily request more than 3 million titles from libraries across the state.
Portugal. The Man returns home to protest budget vetoes
Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
Grammy Award-winning band Portugal. The Man is back in its home-state, playing a free concert Tuesday evening in Anchorage as part of a rally against Governor Mike Dunleavy’s recent line-item budget vetoes.
After public pressure Fairbanks City Council opposes Dunleavy line-item vetoes
Tim Ellis, KUAC – Fairbanks
The Fairbanks City Council has finally declared its support for overriding Governor Mike Dunleavy’s budget-cutting vetoes. The council and Mayor Jim Matherly had been under mounting public pressure to take a stand on the issue since Dunleavy announced his vetoes on June 28th.
Budget cuts cost Nome its youth facility
Joe Coleman, KNOM – Nome
Governor Mike Dunleavy’s line item vetoes — if they are not over-ridden by the Legislature — have resulted in the closure of the Nome Youth Facility.
Dry weather could exacerbate wildfire risk in Interior
Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Wildfires have charred over a million acres in Alaska so far this summer. The benchmark is considered average for an entire burn season, but with large portions of the state remaining very dry, there’s anticipation of more acreage being consumed during an extended wildfire season.
Public safety officials discuss AG visit, rural justice
Krysti Shallenberger, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Bethel
U.S. Attorney General William Barr declared a law enforcement emergency in Alaska last month after visiting rural communities facing some of the highest rates of violence without any kind of law enforcement. He is also pledging millions of dollars in emergency funds.
NASA researchers’ first visit to Nome focuses on satellites, Yukon River plume
Davis Hovey, KNOM – Nome
Scientists from all over the world come to Nome each summer for various research projects. The first wave of studies this season included researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration – NASA.
