Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN - Juneau
agutierrez (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.209.1799 | About Alexandra
Democrats Want PFD Guarantee Put In Constitution
A group of Democratic lawmakers is pushing an amendment to enshrine the Permanent Fund dividend in the Alaska Constitution.
Should Local Funding Of Public Schools Be Optional?
Every year, politicians struggle with how much money to put toward public education. Now, they’re asking another question: Who should pay for it? One legislator is making the case that local governments shouldn’t be obligated to contribute to school budgets.
Teachers, Parents Speak Against Using Public Funding At Private Schools
Many of the arguments against SJR9 focused on school vouchers. While the measure would not create a voucher system, it would enable lawmakers to set one up if they desired.
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Marijuana Initiative Meets Signature Requirement
A measure that would regulate marijuana like alcohol has enough signatures to appear on the ballot. On Tuesday, the Alaska Division of Elections verified that over 31,000 of the signatures submitted come from registered voters.
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Commission Wants Alaska To Have More Influence Over Arctic’s Future
After a year of meetings, the Legislature’s Arctic Policy Commission is rolling out its strategy for the region.
The draft report is over 100 pages, and it offers recommendations on how to manage maritime commerce and resource development in the Arctic, how to improve emergency response, and how to include the state’s indigenous population in policy decisions.
Bill To Reject Pay Raises For Governor, Commissioners Moves Forward
A bill that would reject pay raises for the governor and his commissioners is on track to get a vote in the Senate. The Senate Finance Committee advanced the bill on Friday.
With New Gasline Terms, TransCanada Role Evolves
Under AGIA, TransCanada was licensed to basically advance a project on Alaska’s behalf. The Parnell administration is now pursuing what they’re describing as a more traditional commercial agreement, where the state and the North Slope producers are partners in a project with roughly similar ownership shares.
State Senators Push For Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal justice reform may be coming to Alaska. After spending the summer collecting more information on efforts happening in other parts of the country, the Senate Judiciary Committee has started holding hearings again on their omnibus crime bill.
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Senate Panel Hears Bill On Elementary School Reading Programs
With education being a hot issue this legislative session, some politicians are looking at the basics of learning in their effort to improve student outcomes. Today, the Senate Education Committee held its first hearing on a bill that would establish a reading program targeted at kindergarteners through third graders.
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Lawmakers Begin Review of Gasline Project
Gov. Parnell's bill taxes natural gas at a rate of 10.5 percent starting in 2022. It allows for those taxes to be directly paid in gas instead of money. It expands the powers of the natural resources commissioner and the revenue commissioner to work out a deal with all the other parties involved.
Parnell Proposes Slight Bump To Base Student Allocation
Gov. Sean Parnell introduced his education package Friday, and inside is a small increase to the school funding formula.
That increase would come through the “base student allocation,” which is the amount of money a school gets for each child enrolled.
Educators, Lawmakers Rally Around Repeal of High School Exit Exam
With school districts working on their budgets and teacher layoffs looming, the potential change in the base student allocation is the most talked about portion of the governor’s education package. But part of the bill that has the most political momentum is a section that would repeal the high school exit exam that students need to graduate.
Parnell Offers “Choice”-Friendly School Reform Package
During the State of the State address on Wednesday night, Parnell laid out an agenda that was friendly to the school choice movement, and he made a commitment to increase school funding if it passes.
Minority Leader Beth Kerttula To Leave Legislature
House Minority Leader Beth Kerttula will be resigning from her seat. The Juneau Democrat has been chosen for an oceans policy fellowship at Stanford University, which begins this spring term.
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Legislature Prepares To Gavel In
Tuesday, the Legislature gavels back in, and for lawmakers things look a lot different than they did last January. There’s no oil tax legislation to tackle, and the state’s budget outlook is not quite as rosy as it’s been in past years. APRN’s Alexandra Gutierrez will be heading up our capitol coverage, and she’s here today to talk to us about what’s at stake over the next few months.
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Early Bills Tackle Lawsuits, Medical Care
With the legislative session getting ever closer, lawmakers have released another batch of bills for consideration.
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Signatures Submitted for Minimum Wage Initiative
Sponsors of an initiative to raise Alaska's minimum wage have turned in their signatures. They submitted 43,000 names to the Division of Election's Anchorage office on Friday morning.
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Tribal Councils Express Opposition To Permitting Bill
More than 30 tribal organizations have come out in opposition to a permitting bill championed by Gov. Sean Parnell.
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State Releases Terms Of Pipeline Deal
Last week, Gov. Sean Parnell announced he was cutting a deal to make the state a partner in a large-diameter gasline. Now, the terms of the agreement with the North Slope producers and TransCanada have been released.
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Lawmakers File Dozens Of Bills In Advance Of Session
State lawmakers have pre-filed more than 50 bills in advance of the legislative session.
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