Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN - Juneau
agutierrez (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.209.1799 | About Alexandra
State Braces For Government Shutdown
In just a few hours, we’ll find out whether the federal government will stay open. For days, Congress has struggled to pass a budget, because a bloc of Republicans want to cut out funding for the Affordable Care Act. If Congress doesn’t reach a resolution, it’ll be the first shutdown in nearly 20 years. APRN’s Alexandra Gutierrez explains what that means for Alaskans, laying out the five biggest impacts.
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Judge Dismisses Emissions Control Area Lawsuit
By 2015, every ship that operates on Alaska's southern coast will be required to drastically cut their sulfur emissions. The State has been fighting that policy in court, and this week a federal judge threw out their case.
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2013 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Checks Will Be $900
The 2013 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend will be $900, according to acting Revenue Commissioner Angela Rodell. Checks will be distributed Oct. 3.
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UA Remedial Rates High For Public and Private School Students
A high school diploma is supposed to be a sign of readiness for the next step, whether that's getting a job or going to college. But in Alaska, it turns out that most of the high school graduates who enter the state university system aren't ready for the work.
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Sullivan Steps Down As Commissioner As Senate Race Heats Up
Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan is stepping down from his post amid talk that he's planning a run for U.S. Senate. Republicans see incumbent Mark Begich's seat as one of the keys to taking control of Congress, and the race is already getting heated.
Ethics Infractions Cost Former State Legislator $18,000
A former legislator from Nenana is being fined $18,000 for breaking state ethics rules. An investigation found that Alan Dick, a Republican who served one term in the house, had charged the state and his campaign account for the same travel expenses and that he let family members live in his legislative office.
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New Agreement Bolsters Alaska’s LNG Commercialization Efforts
The State has committed to a formal working relationship with a major Japanese financial institution that wants to develop natural gas projects.
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Schools Struggle With Heating Bills, But No Takers For Loan Program
Every year, the state spends $100 million on school districts' utility bills. Back in 2010, the legislature established a loan program to help bring down those costs. The loans would cover energy upgrades to public buildings, and they would be paid back with the money saved on heating fuel. But even though rising energy costs continue to be problem for districts, schools haven't used the funds as a fix.
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Oil Tax Referendum To Appear On Ballot
It's official: A controversial tax cut on oil companies will be put to a vote. Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai certified the referendum on the new tax law this Tuesday.
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Oil Tax Battle Wages On Through Regulatory Process
After a bill gets signed into law, coming up with the regulations to implement it is supposed to be the boring part. But when it comes to oil taxes, the way regulations are written could mean millions of dollars for either the state, or for oil companies. Now, both supporters and opponents of the recently passed tax overhaul aren't totally pleased with how the regulatory process is going.
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Byron Mallott Jumps Into Governor’s Race
The field for governor just got a more crowded. Byron Mallott says he plans to take on Sean Parnell as a Democrat.
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Alaska Backs NRA In Lawsuit Against Feds
Alaska, and 21 other states, are supporting the Nation Rifle Association in a lawsuit against the federal government. The case, which is before the Supreme Court, will decide whether a federal ban on selling handguns to anyone under the age of 21 is constitutional.
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Alaska To Form Space Partnership With Virginia
Alaska and Virginia are the only states in the country to operate their own commercial spaceports. Now, the two states have decided to team up and form a sort of space alliance.
DOJ Won’t Interfere With Marijuana Legalization
The Obama Administration announced Thursday that it won't sue states like Alaska that allow medical marijuana. Not only that, it won't sue Colorado or Washington for legalizing recreational use of the drug, something that Alaska might do next year.
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With New Standards Test, Schools In For Rude Awakening
This year, Alaska got the OK to start judging schools using its own measurements instead of the standards required by the federal No Child Left Behind law. But with new metrics come new -- and more difficult -- tests, and state officials are expecting to see student performance fall as a result.
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Alaska Tries To Curb Cruise Ship Kickbacks
Every summer, a million tourists pass through Southeast Alaska. It's a boon to local retailers, who rely on the extra customers to make up for slower winter months. But with lots money being spent, business can get dirty.
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State Lawmakers Grapple with Education Funding and Student Performance
Over the past ten years, state education funding has more than doubled while student enrollment has stayed about the same. Still, educational outcomes haven't seen dramatic improvement.
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State Considering New Abortion Regulations
This spring, state legislators considered a controversial bill that would define what counts as a "medically necessary" abortion for the purpose of Medicaid reimbursement. Now, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is considering regulations tackling the same issue. The proposed rule would require doctors to get specific on why they think the state state should cover the procedure.
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How Are Alaska’s Schools Doing?
Last year, half of Alaska's schools were considered failing under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Next year, every single school – even the state's blue ribbon ones – would have gotten an "F" grade. So, Alaska decided to join dozens of other states across the country and apply for a waiver. Friday, the state Education Department has unveiled its new system for judging schools, with hopes of providing a better picture of how well the state's education system is working and where it needs to be improved.
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Democrats Sue Redistricting Board Over New Map
A new lawsuit has been filed against the state redistricting board. This time, it's by the Alaska Democratic Party.
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