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Current Topics
Alaska Public Safety officials say job vacancies hinder human trafficking response. Alaska Beacon
"There realistically are vacancies such that it depletes our ability to investigate numerous areas of our areas of responsibility that we want to do a better job in." said Deputy Commissioner Bryan Barlow, Department of
Public Safety
(My Comment: I am working hard to put Defined Benefit Pension in place. Buck Consulting, Alaska State actuarial for more than 15 years, says the DB Pension will address the recruitment and retention issues that public service, in all levels of government, is facing.)
State failing to process timely cash assistance benefits for hundreds of elderly and disables Alaskans, lawsuit says. ADN
Anchorage high school teacher a finalist for national teacher of the year award. ADN
An Anchorage high school teacher was named one of four finalists this week for a National Teacher of the Year award that will be announced this spring. "Cat Walker has taught science and career and technical education at Dimond High School in South Anchorage for the past seven years," said Dimond High principal Tina Johnson-Harris.
(My comment: Wow! Congratulations, Catherine!)
Overnight snow dump closes Southcentral Alaska schools, sets Anchorage seasonal record. Alaska Public Media
“For reference, last year we hit 100 inches on March 10,” Quesada said.
Debate continues on whether Nebraska should change to permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time. Nebraska Examiner
For a second time, state lawmakers debated Tuesday whether Nebraska needs to pursue adopting permanent daylight saving time or join two states that have year-round standard time.
Education
Dunleavy: Package solution needed for education in Alaska.
Alaska Beacon
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Thursday that he would veto a standalone increase to Alaska’s per-student funding formula and said any education bill reaching his desk should be “a package.”
Anchorage School District offers jobs to applicants without teaching certificates, among other staffing strategies. ADN
The Anchorage School District is struggling to hire enough teachers and other staff to address increasing vacancies. There are currently around 400 unfilled positions districtwide, according to Martin Lang, who heads up the school district’s human resources department.
(My comment: So do we just keep lowering standards for teaching…or do we actually solve the recruitment and retention problem with a reasonable pension and increase wages? I favor reasonable pension (SB88) and increased wages.)
'Teachers leaving faster than they can be replaced,' reports Alaska Dept. of Labor. Alaska's News Source
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development wrote in their December 2023 trends report that teachers are leaving their jobs faster than they can be replaced. “We’re having a hard time for teachers to fill the positions,” Joshua Warren, an economist for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce, said.
As lawmakers consider student funding, Juneau families and educators rally for larger increase. Alaska Beacon
Education funding debate: Alaska lawmakers tackle base student allocation increase. Your Alaska Link
Public education is essential to retaining Alaska's workforce. ADN
We live in a global economy, and skilled parents can live and raise their kids in communities large or small across the country. Growth in remote work has given skilled parents even more flexibility. Our business community recognizes this, and for years has been urging policymakers to invest in quality of life and quality of place. The past economic model was to attract businesses, and workers would follow. Today, jobs follow workers, and workers follow quality of life. Alaska can’t grow with underfunded schools, and kids can’t learn in overcrowded classrooms.
Economy
Anchorage Economic Development Corp. backs sales for property tax relief, community investment. Alaska Public Media
The leadership of the Anchorage Economic Development Corp. is advocating for the creation of a new 3% city sales tax, with two-thirds dedicated to property tax relief and one-third for public projects.
Statewide trooper shortage leads to long response times, less calls in Cooper Landing. Radio Kenai
High job vacancies in Alaska state agencies can reduce services and lead to burnout. Alaska Beacon
To keep Alaska communities safe and workloads manageable, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jim Cockrell said he would need 35% more troopers than he has now. After he fills the 62 vacancies in the department, he wants to ask the state for about 90 more positions. But he said things used to be worse — at one point last year the department had 70 vacancies of 411 trooper positions.
Alaska Legislature takes up bill to restore pensions for public employees. Alaska Public Media
Energy
ENSTAR president warns of natural gas shortfall, delayed solutions for Southcentral Alaska. ADN
Biden administration to temporarily halt some export approvals for liquified natural gas. Alaska Beacon
The U.S. Energy Department will pause approvals of new exports of liquified natural gas to all countries without a free trade agreement with the United States, Secretary Jennifer Granholm and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said on a press call Thursday.
Catch up fast on biz and tech: hydrogen, aviation, EVs, offshore wind. Axios
Politics
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy: No VP inquiry from Trump. Alaska Beacon
Political pressure builds as state-led Alaska LNG project goes another year without a deal. Alaska Beacon
Political pressure is building on Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration to show progress on its huge state-sponsored liquefied natural gas export project, as it asks the Legislature for another $4.5 million to keep it alive.
Lawmakers explore proposal to make childcare more affordable for families. Alaska's News Source
Alaska lawmakers are exploring a proposed bill that would make childcare more affordable for working families and incentivize employers to offer it as a benefit to their employees.
A dozen executive orders from Gov. Dunleavy draw scrutiny.
Alaska Public Media
Some skepticism as Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposes biggest use of executive power in decades. Alaska Beacon
In an unusual use of executive powers, this month Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued 12 executive orders abolishing state boards and granting new powers to the heads of state departments. The orders, which account for almost 10% of all executive orders issued since statehood and are equal to the number of all executive orders issued in the previous 20 years, will automatically take effect in March unless the Alaska Legislature disapproves them in a joint vote of the House and Senate.
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation asks for changes form AK legislature. Fairbanks News Center
Governor owes Alaskans more of an explanation on orders than the same old tune. Alaska Beacon
While consolidating the appointment authority entirely with the governor may be more efficient than sharing it with the Legislature, it seems to miss the point that the advisory board was created to provide oversight and a second opinion, not second the motion of whatever the administration wants to do.
In State of State, Gov. Dunleavy pushes charter schools and teacher bonuses instead of student funding. Alaska's News Source
Tuesday night’s speech came amid calls by lawmakers and Alaskans to increase the per-student funding for schools, or the Base Student Allocation. Dunleavy instead told lawmakers the BSA is the wrong focus.
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy emphasizes GOP education plan and resource development in State of the State address. ADN
Alaska governor pitches teacher bonuses as debate over education funding dominates session. Toronto City News
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