Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO - Juneau
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
The campaign to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ended
Recall Dunleavy Chair Meda DeWitt linked the decision to Gov. Mike Dunleavy filing for re-election.
Alaska House committee lowers proposed PFD amount to $1,100
The Alaska Permanent Fund dividend would be $1,100 under an amendment a committee passed on Tuesday.
Alaska legislators scrutinize Dunleavy’s proposed $2,350 PFD
State budget director Neil Steininger said the governor still wants the Legislature to pass the constitutional amendments he’s proposed, to enshrine the PFD in the state constitution and lower the state’s spending limit.
Former state Rep. Les Gara becomes fourth candidate for Alaska’s governor
Gara, 58, is the fourth candidate to file for the primary, to be held on Aug. 16, 2022. The others are independent former Gov. Bill Walker, Libertarian Billy Toien and Dunleavy.
Dunleavy adds proposed $2,350 PFDs to special session agenda
Without the move, it was possible Alaskans wouldn’t receive PFDs this fall for the first time in 40 years.
Alaska Legislature meets for 3rd special session amid uncertainty over PFDs, budget gap
The House has adjourned until Wednesday. The Senate adjourned until Thursday.
Here’s what’s on the agenda for the Alaska Legislature’s third special session
The special session starts on Monday.
Dunleavy won’t appeal judge’s ruling that state must fund program for lower energy costs
Gov. Dunleavy said the ruling provided clarity and that the Power Cost Equalization program provides an essential service.
2020 census data is out. Here’s how Alaska has changed in the last 10 years.
The share of Alaska’s population that identifies as a race or ethnicity other than solely white rose from less than a third of the population to more than than 40%.
Judge rules in favor of Alaska Federation of Natives to keep fund lowering power costs
The ruling on Wednesday will keep more than $1 billion dollars in the Power Cost Equalization Endowment Fund.
Alaska seeks to collect more than 20,000 missing DNA samples from people charged with crimes
Alaska law requires that state and local law enforcement agencies collect DNA samples from all people charged with a crime against another person or a felony. But over the past 25 years, that hasn't happened in thousands of cases.
Alaska WWAMI medical students face large tuition increase due to funding dispute
Students and others involved in health care in Alaska asked lawmakers to agree to fund the program in the upcoming special session.
Dunleavy’s office looks to spend $250K on advertising his Permanent Fund amendment
The governor’s office has posted a request for media agencies interested in contracting with the state for the campaign. Agencies have until Friday to respond.
Alaska joins request asking Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor signed onto a filing in support of an appeal by Mississippi.
Ahead of special session, Alaska lawmakers consider phasing in PFD changes along with new revenue
The Alaska Legislature has nine days to go before the scheduled start of a special session. And it’s not yet clear whether a working group of lawmakers will recommend proposals the rest can consider during the session.
Alaskans will have chance to weigh in on long-term budget changes, starting next week
Alaskans will soon have a chance to weigh in with what changes to state taxes, services or permanent fund dividends they would like to see in the long term.
The Guardian reports Alaska assistant attorney general behind racist, anti-semitic and homophobic posts
The Alaska Department of Law is looking into allegations that Assistant Attorney General Matthias Cicotte posted racist, anti-semitic and homophobic comments on social media.
The long backstory behind Alaska House minority caucus votes on PFD, shutdown
While the approach of the Alaska House Republican minority caucus is new, it’s rooted in frustrations building among some Republican legislators and voters for years.
AFN, others sue Dunleavy over cuts to rural energy program
The Alaska Federation of Natives and other organizations, municipalities and rural power providers sued Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration on Monday to keep the funding that helps lower power costs in high-cost areas.
Mat-Su had a large number of excess deaths last year, raising questions about COVID-19 reporting
The Mat-Su Borough had the country’s lowest number of reported COVID-19 deaths compared to the number of people who died in the borough beyond what would normally be expected, according to recently published analysis.