The shoulder has collapsed on Funny River Road near mile 8, and that section will be closed for two days while DOT makes emergency repairs. In December, DOT said publicly that Funny River Road was nearing the end of its drivable life, that the asphalt was fatigued and shoulders had eroded. DOT has plans in place to repave the road this summer. Timely road maintenance is not free, we must be willing to spend State funds if we want to ensure our Kenai Peninsula roads remain safe and open for vehicle traffic. Funding for road maintenance is one of the spending priorities I'm fighting for in Juneau.

 

 

How will you know if a road is closed or there is a tsunami warning? Register your cell phone number at my.kpb.us to get timely alerts for these and other emergencies on the Kenai Peninsula.  

 

 

I am pleased that SB 87, my local lumber grading bill, overwhelmingly passed the House today and is on its way to the Governor for his signature. I believe that Alaskan homes should be Alaska grown. I look forward to the economic opportunities this will bring to sawmill operators on the Kenai Peninsula and across the state and am glad we will now have the option to build our homes with local lumber.

 

 

I support keeping the electoral college. Alaska has far more influence through our three votes in the electoral college than we would if the U.S. goes to a popular vote for the President. I voted against the bill that would make Alaska a popular vote state and I will vote against SB 61 if it comes before the Senate.

 

 

The Senate Education Committee considered measures this week to improve opportunities for Alaska’s students. Changes to the Alaska Performance Scholarship would allow high school students who have focused on vocational education or taken voc-ed classes as their electives to qualify for scholarship awards. The education tax credit, SB 120, will allow Alaska industry to direct how some of their tax dollars are spent on workforce development and educational programs.