Dunleavy administration pick for $94,000-a-year labor relations manager comes without labor relations experience
Jared Goecker started as the state’s labor relations manager last month – a job that includes helping to supervise negotiation of union contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. His boss said she interviewed several candidates for the job and that Goecker was the best fit.
Navy plans to be more active in the Arctic
As part of an increased presence in the Arctic, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer said he'd like to send a ship through the Northwest Passage this summer.
House Resources Committee considers making Tier 3 water protection a legislative process
The House and Senate are considering bills that would make the state Legislature responsible for approving Tier 3 nominations for federal waters.
US Army Corps extends comment period on Pebble’s draft EIS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has extended the public comment period on its draft environmental review of the proposed Pebble Mine.
Four months into 2019, Anchorage on pace to break homicide record
Through the first four months of 2019, Anchorage is now on pace to surpass the 35 homicides that occurred in 2017, the most ever in Alaska's largest city during a calendar year. That broke a record -- by one death -- set the year before.
New Anchorage climate plan calls for 80 percent cut to emissions by 2050
On Tuesday, the city’s Assembly is receiving the 106-page document, which outlines everything from transportation recommendations to emission reduction targets.
Pompeo to Arctic Council: Easy days are over
The countries of the Arctic Council have for years rejoiced that their region is a zone of peace and cooperation. But in a speech in Finland Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took a harder edge.
Big parts of Gov. Dunleavy’s agenda remain unfinished. But he still has time, tools at his disposal.
With the legislative session winding down, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has gotten traction with some of his ideas, but many others have stalled. The governor's office is still holding out for more, but his allies say Dunleavy can still declare victory without passage of specific bills or initiatives.
Alaska lawmakers approve vaccine program continuation
Lawmakers have voted to extend the Alaska Vaccine Assessment Program, which provides universal
As memories of the Exxon Valdez fade, a plea to Congress to retain the lessons learned
A group of Alaskans traveled to Washington, D.C. to ask lawmakers to renew a fund that allows the government to launch a spill response and pay compensation, even before the company at fault is held to account.
Constitutional delegate Vic Fischer opposes Dunleavy’s amendment proposals
Vic Fischer spoke to the House State Affairs Committee Tuesday, two days after his 95th birthday. He contrasted the state constitution’s language with the proposed amendments.
Here are the five biggest issues to be resolved on Alaska’s state budget
The budget conference committee is aiming to finish its work in time for the House and Senate to pass the budget by the scheduled end of the session on May 15.
Why is the US so far behind in the Arctic? Clues emerge at congressional hearing
Retired admiral Thad Allen, a former Coast Guard commandant, said the country needs to wake up to the strategic importance of the Arctic Ocean and commit more resources to it.
House passes sweeping crime bill
House Bill 49 would mark the third time the Legislature changed major provisions of the controversial criminal justice law known as Senate Bill 91.
How a small, Arctic village found itself in the middle of Alaska’s new oil boom
Alaska is on the verge of a new oil boom -- and the village of Nuiqsut is right in the middle. Now the village faces tough choices. How do you maintain a way of life when the oil industry is knocking on your door?
In Utqiaġvik, temperatures are warmer, and the ice is changing. What does that mean for whalers?
“I think it was a little more stable, and there was a little bit more assurance that the ice you were on was not going to disintegrate on you that easy,” said whaling captain Gordon Brower.
As the ice goes, Arctic nations find their bonds are tested
In the end, the eight nations of the Arctic Council signed a short statement, affirming their commitment to peace and cooperation. But two major issues loomed over the Arctic Council meeting in Finland this week, and they pull at the seams of Arctic unity.
Attorney general says school funding plan is unconstitutional
A disagreement between the Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy over school funding may be heading toward a constitutional showdown — one that could affect whether the state sends money to school districts.
Bob Penney spent more than $300,000 to get Gov. Dunleavy elected. Then his grandson got an $8,000-a-month no-bid contract.
Clark Penney's company, Penney Capital, was hired to help a Dunleavy administration initiative to bring new businesses to Alaska and expand existing ones. Officials justified the no-bid contract by citing its urgency and Penney's experience working with wealthy investors.
Permanent fund dividend amount to be a focus in session’s closing days
The size of permanent fund dividends will be at the center of talks between the House, the Senate and Governor Mike Dunleavy as the Legislature aims to end its session on Wednesday. The House Speaker said the politically diverse House majority caucus remains united behind being responsible with the budget.