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Current Topics
Federal Aviation Administration withdraws from Alaska groups that work on safety. Alaska Beacon
On Feb. 5, one day before the crash of Bering Air Flight 445, the Federal Aviation Administration informed a group of Alaska air carriers that it would no longer be a member of two organizations that address safety and other issues.
How to rent chickens in Denver to combat egg prices and shortages. Axios
A company called Rent The Chicken offers delivery and setup of a coop on wheels, two or four young egg-laying hens, chicken feed, and food dishes for a five- to six-month rental period across the nation, including in Denver. The standard rental package locally runs $545.
Those battling Alaska child abuse argue state law lacks physical abuse protections. Alaska News Source
Pictures featuring children who underwent child abuse evaluations at The Children’s Hospital at Providence were shown to some state lawmakers by advocates arguing a loophole in current Alaska child abuse law lacks physical abuse protections. Dr. Sean Dugan, who oversees the Alaska CARES service, which helps children who have experienced trauma from abuse, used pictures of noticeable marks on various parts of the children’s bodies to argue to members of the Alaska Children’s Caucus what is currently considered discipline needs to be redefined as “unreasonable force.”
Arctic Issues
Joint US-Canadian grant to support Yukon Tungsten project: Possible blueprint for further arctic critical minerals funding. Wilson Center
Tungsten is a minor metal in terms of market size (est. $5 billion in 2024) and is mostly used in tungsten carbide drill bits and other applications that call for particularly hard metals or alloys. DOD is funding Mactung through Title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950, which “targets investments that create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore domestic industrial base capabilities that are critical to the Department and the American Warfighter.” Only about 8 percent of tungsten worldwide is actually used directly in defense applications, according to the International Tungsten Industry Association, but the language of the DOD award emphasizes the criticality of tungsten nonetheless, calling the metal “a critical input for military-grade steel production, aerospace components, munitions, and ground vehicle armor.”
Economy
Average state tax rates for retail gasoline and diesel fuel nearly flat since July 2024. EIA
The same three states had the lowest gasoline and diesel taxes: Alaska (both at $0.0895/gal), Mississippi (both at $0.1840/gal), and Hawaii (both at $0.1850/gal). The three states with the highest gasoline taxes were California ($0.6982/gal), Illinois ($0.6610/gal), and Pennsylvania ($0.5870/gal). Those same three states also had the highest diesel taxes: California ($0.9212/gal), Pennsylvania ($0.7410/gal), and Illinois ($0.7360/gal).
The footnote that just might save Fed independence. Axios
The Federal Reserve Act — passed by Congress 112 years ago and amended many times since — describes clear authorities for the Fed's Board of Governors, making no mention of White House review. "The Board shall determine and prescribe the manner in which its obligations shall be incurred and its disbursements and expenses allowed and paid," says Section 10 of the law. Translation: The Fed sets its own budget. The law lays out a series of authorities held by the board, sets the structure of hybrid public-private reserve banks across the country, and empowers the Federal Open Market Committee to set monetary policy.
IRS deterrence effect is under fire. Axios
DOGE has started firing thousands of IRS workers, right in the middle of tax season. The move is likely to decrease the effect that restrains wealthier Americans from underreporting their taxable income. A new paper from Policy Impacts calculates that the government ends up receiving $12 in extra revenue for every $1 it spends auditing top-decile earners, thanks in large part to what the paper calls the "individual deterrence effect."
A tariff anecdote. Axios
“There are lots of places where that price increase from the tariff can show up between the manufacturer and a consumer," Fed chair Jerome Powell told reporters last month. "Just generally, somebody has to pay the tariff," he told lawmakers at a congressional hearing. In some cases, it doesn't reach the consumer much; in some cases, it does," he added. "It depends on facts we haven't seen yet."
Fed official talks Trump policy risk. Axios
"These days, higher tariffs and immigration policies are often discussed and thought likely to increase prices, cool aggregate demand and possibly soften employment," Musalem said.
Union expects at least 1,378 Alaska federal employees in probationary status to be fired. Alaska Beacon
David Owens, a national representative with the American Federation of Government Employees, said the union did not have current numbers of those already fired as of Thursday, but expects the Trump administration to fire all probationary employees. Out of the 1,378 employees, 331 are veterans, he said.
New Trump economy caution. Axios
“Consumers broadly anticipate that tariff hikes will lead to higher inflation, but policy uncertainty means that their views are subject to change," UMich's Joanne Hsu said in a statement, adding that 40% of consumers surveyed spontaneously mentioned "tariffs" — up from 27% last month. They're not alone in their anxiety: Small businesses — the economy's biggest hiring machine — are marking down capital investment plans, according to an index from the National Federation of Independent Business, a lobbying group.
With bipartisan support, Alaska Senate panel again proposes new PFD formula. Alaska Beacon
This year, barring tax increases, there isn’t expected to be enough state revenue to pay for both a 75-25 dividend and the K-12 public school funding increase advancing through the Alaska House. Estimates by the Legislative Finance Division, which performs fiscal analysis on behalf of the Legislature, show a deficit of near $500 million in the next fiscal year with a 75-25 dividend and the proposed public-school funding increase. Some members of the Alaska House of Representatives have suggested a $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend — instead of the 75-25 split — would be needed to balance the state’s books if the proposed K-12 funding bill becomes law.
Hard truths about Trump budget cuts. Axios
And the only way to truly reduce the deficit is to target the very programs Trump refuses to touch — defense, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. They account for 86% of the budget. That's reality for a country that, across Democratic and Republican administrations, has spent taxpayer money without restraint or care about debt. This is one area where everyone is guilty.
Trump handcuffs. Axios
You'd need to eliminate roughly $2 trillion just to make up for the current deficit projection, plus interest on our existing debt. That'd mean massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicare and defense. There's also the question of how many times you can spend the same dollar. Trump says he wants tariffs to balance the budget — but he also wants them to eliminate income taxes. And "DOGE dividend" checks would send savings back to taxpayers instead of helping dig the country out of this hole.
Alaska groups express concern over federal cuts, ripple effects on tourism economy. Alaska News Source
Tourism in Alaska is a significant pillar of the state’s economy, according to the Alaska Travel Industry Association, which said that more than 3 million people visited to state last year, creating an economic output of $5.6 billion. The industry alone, it noted, was responsible for creating around 48,000 jobs that supported tourism across the state.
Fisheries
Empty Nets: Big Changes in a Great American Fishery. Wilson Center
"Empty Nets: Big Changes in a Great American Fishery" is the final installment of our video series on Alaskan fisheries. This mini-documentary explores the ongoing crisis in Alaska's fisheries through the voices of scientists, fishers, managers, and other community members. The interviews highlight the critical role these fisheries play in supporting local communities, the state of Alaska, and the nation, while presenting diverse perspectives on the challenges and potential solutions for the future.
Alaska governor proposes lifting state's longtime ban on fish farms. Alaska Beacon
Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday introduced a bill that would partially reverse Alaska’s 35-year-old ban on fish farms.
Top Alaska House legislators reject plan to allow fish farms. Alaska Beacon
“Make no mistake, the industry will recover; however, lifting a ban on freshwater finfish farming sends the wrong signal, at the wrong time. It also erodes the spirit of the current ban and provides a foot in the door for possible salmon farming in Alaska,” they said. “We need to be focusing on solutions for our fisheries that positively impact our industry, market conditions, and the bottom line for our fishermen, not legislation that distracts from that.”
Gov. Dunleavy's new fish farming bill would not allow salmon farming. Alaska News Source
Governor Mike Dunleavy released a video on Monday giving more detail on HB 111, which would lift a longtime ban on certain types of commercial fish farming if passed — several lawmakers have already voiced opposition to the bill.
Energy
CEA, MEA talk to House Energy about Southcentral power supply. Petroleum News
Representatives from several electricity utilities talked to the Alaska Legislature's House Energy Committee about their utilities, their operations and the challenges that they face.
Alaska Energy Authority may scrap plans for EV infrastructure in Alaska as feds freeze funding. Alaska News Source
Following recent executive orders signed by Pres. Donald Trump, the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) said it may have to cancel plans to expand electric vehicle, or EV, infrastructure along the Railbelt and in other communities along the road system.
Education
Vote advances key education bill in Alaska House, with tight margin. Alaska Beacon
A voting error led one Alaska House of Representatives minority-caucus member on Wednesday to vote to move a public-school funding increase one step closer to passage through the Alaska House of Representatives, at a time when the House’s majority caucus has a narrow margin.
Alaska education funding boost nears vote of full House amid affordability concerns. Alaska Beacon
If HB 69 were to become law, the state would be expected to provide $325 million more next year for public schools, with additional increases in 2027 and 2028.
ASD proposes two charter schools move into the soon-to-be-vacant Anchorage elementary schools. Alaska News Source
The Anchorage School District is recommending that Rilke Schule German Immersion School move into Lake Hood Elementary next school year and that Highland Academy Charter School move to the building that Nunaka Valley Elementary students currently occupy.
Earlier this year the Anchorage School Board voted to close the two elementary schools as part of ASD’s “rightsizing” plan. The district supports repurposing the buildings including moving charter schools into them.
Anchorage School Board makes broad cuts to staff, programs and sports in next year's budget. Anchorage Daily News
In a 6-1 vote Tuesday night, the board slashed funding for the 2025-26 school year by about $43 million. The cuts include more than 380 teacher, staff and administrative positions, ending the IGNITE program for gifted elementary students and eliminating all middle school sports and high school hockey, gymnastics and swimming and diving. Additionally, class sizes are set to increase by four across all grades, and some elementary schools will see their singular nurse and librarian positions reduced to half time.
Fairbanks proposed education cuts include over 60 teaching positions, 90 support staff. Alaska News Source
Health Care
1 big thing: How we live vs. how we're born. Axios
Our environment and lifestyle are about 10 times more important than our genes when it comes to longevity.
Overdose deaths fall. Axios
The fatal drug overdose rate fell 4% nationwide from 2022 to 2023 — but grew notably out West and up in Alaska, per new CDC data. Alaska, Oregon and Washington, splitting from the national trend, reported major increases in their fatal OD rates.
Alaska high schoolers are vaping less and more know it's harmful, survey says. Alaska Public Media
The number of Alaska high schoolers who say they’ve used vapes or e-cigarettes recently is declining, according to the latest data from the Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey shows 26% of highschoolers had vaped in the last thirty days in 2019. By 2023, that figure dropped significantly, to about 17%.
Measles, once eliminated in the U.S., sickens 99 people in Texas and New Mexico. Anchorage Daily News
Nearly 100 people across Texas and New Mexico have contracted measles, state officials say, escalating anxiety over the spread of a potentially life-threatening illness that was declared eliminated in the United States more than two decades ago.
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