Seeking hidden ‘pockets of oil’, BP takes on a massive project at Prudhoe Bay
The 3-D seismic survey is part of the effort to keep the oil field alive for decades to come.
Lawsuit seeks to eliminate Medicaid application backlog
The Alaska Division of Public Assistance director says the backlog has been shrinking recently, including a large decrease in the past month.
Anchorage keeps liberal-leaning Assembly, says no to alcohol tax in initial municipal results
In unofficial results for Tuesday’s Municipal election in Anchorage, two Anchorage Assembly members handily won reelection, while three new faces will join the local municipal body.
EPA, Alaska seek to relax water pollution rules
The Trump administration is quietly reviving a long-stalled effort by state regulators to loosen pollution standards where fish spawn.
Aboard Alaska’s endangered ferries, passengers fear a “giant step back in time”
Step onboard the MV LeConte, where a single trip last week showed how Southeast Alaska residents have knit the state's ferries into their lives – and how they would adapt if the ships stopped running, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy is proposing.
Alaska aims to be first state receiving federal Medicaid funding as a block grant
Gov. Mike Dunleavy told President Donald Trump in a letter dated March 1 that top federal Medicaid official Seema Verma has urged Alaska to be the first state to receive Medicaid dollars as a block grant.
Lawmakers amend budget to stop reimbursing municipalities for school bond debt
The House Finance Committee voted Wednesday for an amendment that would stop the state from reimbursing municipalities for existing school bond debt.
At Iliamna Lake hearings, residents speak out on Pebble Mine
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is holding a series of public hearings on the proposed Pebble Mine’s draft environmental review. Three were held in communities on Iliamna Lake. That region – and the people who live there – would be among the most immediately impacted by the project.
Rep. Young shoves reporter on way to VAWA vote
Congressman Don Young has apologized for shoving a female reporter at the U.S. Capitol today. He was on his way to vote for the Violence Against Women Act.
Ballot initiative to move Alaska Legislature’s meetings clears early hurdle
After the sponsors get some official documents, they’ll have one year to collect more than 28,000 qualified signatures to put the question to voters in 2020.
Former Gov. Bill Walker lands at political ally’s law firm
Former Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has a new job. Walker, an attorney, has joined the law office formerly known as Brena, Bell and Clarkson -- now known as Brena, Bell and Walker, according to a document filed Friday in a federal case.
New York Times reporter discusses story revealing ANWR oil test well was ‘worthless’
This week, the New York Times published a story uncovering a long-held Alaska secret: it revealed that the only exploratory oil well ever drilled in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was "worthess." Alaska's Energy Desk reporter Elizabeth Harball talked to Henry Fountain, one of the New York Times reporters who broke the story.
Lawmakers seek competitive contract to run psychiatric institute
Rep. Ivy Spohnholz said the department didn’t provide enough information to Chief Procurement Officer Jason Soza for him to be able to adequately review the contract, which would pay Wellpath $225 million over five years.
UA Board of Regents begins process to eliminate UAA Education department
The University of Alaska Board of Regents took the first step today in phasing out the Education Department on the Anchorage campus. The regents voted to eliminate seven initial licensure programs.
House Finance budget includes cuts, but less than the governor’s
The Alaska House Finance Committee has proposed a budget that reduces state spending by $314 million, less than a third of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed cut of $1.03 billion. The committee finished its work on Friday, proposing cuts that are much greater than those proposed by House subcommittees.
In Ketchikan, Dunleavy presents arguments for big budget cuts
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Monday visit to Ketchikan included a 90-minute question-and-answer session with residents. Outside about 30 demonstrators picketed the venue.
Alleged Alaska prison gang member arrested in Georgia
The last of six Alaska men indicted together in late March on federal murder and kidnapping charges - and allegedly connected to a white supremacist prison gang - has been arrested in Georgia.
Dunleavy calls for action on constitutional amendments, crime bills
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said state lawmakers aren’t moving fast enough to pass his big priorities this session. That’s not just an idle threat — Dunleavy has constitutional powers he can use to force lawmakers into action.
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s red veto pen looms over this year’s budget debate
In Alaska, the governor wields line-item veto power stronger than in all 49 other states. And the high bar to override such vetoes, combined with Mike Dunleavy’s desire for spending cuts, is drawing new attention this year to the constitutional power.
Caring for Alaska’s seniors during tense budget talks
Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget proposes eliminating more than a third of the state’s funding for Medicaid. To achieve that, some hospitals and nursing homes could be paid less to provide skilled labor.