James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Alaska senators introduce bipartisan bill intended to revive a pension program for state workers
One in five state jobs is vacant, and reintroducing a pension will help the state fix its recruitment problems, bill sponsors said.
Alaska Airlines’ flying salmon is about to be extinct
Alaska Airlines will paint over “Salmon Thirty Salmon,” the custom Boeing 737 that looks like a 129-foot-long Alaska king salmon.
Alaska school board and Gov. Dunleavy pick new education commissioner
Former special education teacher Susan McKenzie will be the new commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Alaska’s Mount Edgecumbe volcano shows more signs of reawakening, scientists say
The Alaska Volcano Observatory is planning to install additional instruments on Southeast Alaska’s most prominent volcano.
Alaska legislators on guard after multiple COVID cases are confirmed in the Capitol
Leaders of the Alaska Senate Finance Committee will institute “voluntary” COVID testing for legislators and staff who work on the committee.
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. takes multimillion-dollar stake in grocery chain Three Bears
It’s one of the latest moves by the corporation’s in-state investment program, which is drawing concerns from corporation trustees.
Alaska House censures Rep. Eastman for comments about the economic ‘benefit’ of child abuse deaths
Eastman said he intended to make an analogy in opposition to abortion. His colleagues didn’t see it.
Alaska Court System rule change will remove hundreds of marijuana convictions from Courtview
State lawmakers have been considering broader legislation intended to help people convicted before legalization.
Alaska state budget runs risk of a deficit this spring as oil prices stay below forecasts
A leading senator says there’s no cause for worry right now, and the problem could resolve itself.
Alaska House votes unanimously to support Willow oil project
The Biden administration could decide the project’s future as soon as March 6.
Alaska’s new elections director, a Trump donor, stays quiet on 2020 election fairness nationally
Carol Beecher doesn’t have elections experience, but Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom cites her administrative background, impartiality as reasons for the pick.
Alaska Senate approves free trapping licenses for disabled veterans
Sen. Kiehl said he’s never been able to understand why disabled veterans can hunt and sport fish for free, but not freely trap for furs.
Alaska legislators begin drilling into governor’s underground-carbon plan
State lawmakers need to hire new independent advisers because their usual firm was plucked by Gov. Dunleavy’s administration.
Sullivan: ‘Several other unidentified objects’ also traveled over Alaska
After a U.S. Air Force fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Alaska’s North Slope on Friday, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said several other similar objects have traveled over the state in recent weeks.
After China balloon scare, Air Force shoots down object flying above Alaska’s North Slope
A Pentagon spokesperson said the shootdown was ordered by President Joe Biden.
Revived legislation proposes penalties for abusing Alaska’s 911 system
A bill adding criminal penalties for harassing 911 dispatchers or abusing the 911 system in Alaska is advancing in the Legislature.
Weddings are resuming at Alaska courthouses — here’s how to get married in Alaska
Whether you go to a courthouse or not, getting married in Alaska can be an easy process, and anyone can conduct the ceremony.
Alaska’s governor, lieutenant governor and top officials are in line for a pay increase
The State Officers Compensation Commission has recommended raising the governor’s annual salary from $145,000 to approximately $176,000.
Gov. Dunleavy says Alaska doesn’t flare its natural gas. It does.
Targeted by environmental groups, gas flares in Alaska are regulated more by economics than concerns about greenhouse gases.
Retiring from the high court, Alaska’s chief justice defends its system of selecting judges
Members of the Senate’s coalition majority say they don’t expect changes to the system before the 2024 election, but others aren’t sure.