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Current Topics
Haines falconer trains bird of his dreams. Alaska Public Media
A Haines falconer has acquired and trained the bird of his dreams- a gyrfalcon, The large falcons have traditionally been flown by royalty, but recent breeding programs have made them more accessible to the common falconer.
Biologist and college administrator in Colorado chosen to lead University of Alaska Southeast. Alaska Beacon
Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, a college administrator and professor in Colorado, will succeed retiring Karen Carey as the chancellor in Juneau, University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced on Wednesday.
Alaska senator's fight to regulate 'forever chemicals' gets a boost from new federal standards. Alaska Public Media
On Tuesday, the Enviornmental Protection Agency proposed the first-ever national limit on PFAS compounds in drinking water. Known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment, PFAS have been linked to cancer, liver damage, and high cholesterol.
Without action from legislature, Sitka's schools could lose 15 teaching positions next year. Raven Radio
The Sitka School Board is facing the uncomfortable possibility of cutting up to 15 teaching positions next year, unless the legislature comes through with some eleventh-hour funding for education across the state.
Florida protesters schooled in Native ways at Alaska Board of Game meeting. ADN
Dried salmon savored by rural Alaska Natives as part of a subsistence way of life won't be found among the Spanish tapas, Brazilian steaks or Southern barbecue served in the restaurants of Jacksonville, Florida. Indeed, the differences between Jacksonville (pop. 821,700) and, say, the Yukon River village of Grayling (pop. 213) couldn't be more profound.
Tlingit & Haida selected for State-Tribal Education Compact Pilot Program. Kiny Radio
The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced Sunday it was awarded funding under the State-Tribal Education Compacting Demonstration Tribal Partners Grant program.
Alaska state school board supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls' sports. Alaska Beacon
On Thursday, the Alaska State Board of Education approved a resolution that supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls' sports. The resolution supported regulations that would prohibit students whose sex at birth wasn't female from participating in girls' sports. It also stated that regulation should offer a sports division for students who "identify with either sex or gender."
Furor over mail-in voting fades as Anchorage prepares for April election. Alaska Public Media
The public furor over the integrity of Anchorage’s by-mail municipal election has mostly faded away this year — though nearly half of the candidates for Anchorage Assembly say they don’t support the system.
Anchorage voters decide on using marijuana taxes to fund early education, child care programs. Alaska Public Media
Anchorage voters will weigh in on 15 ballot propositions during next month’s municipal election. The highest-profile proposition would use marijuana taxes to fund early education efforts in the city.
Dunleavy nominates CDQ executive for North Pacific council. Alaska Public Media
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has nominated an executive at Coastal Villages Region Fund as his top choice to serve on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council.
Politics
Opinion: Electronic Registration Information Center strengthens Alaska's democratic institutions. ADN
The system, the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), was created as a nonprofit organization in 2012 in recognition of the vital importance of voting. Led by the highly reputable Pew Charitable Trust, election officials from Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Utah, Virginia and Washington worked together to develop ERIC with the mission of assisting states in improving the accuracy of America's voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens.
Alaska considering return to DB pension model on public sector. Benefits Canada
To bolster Alaska’s public sector, a bipartisan effort is underway to relaunch the state’s pensions as defined benefit plans. “I’m carrying this bill on behalf of thousands of state employees who have worked for more than a decade to refine it,” said Cathy Giessel, leader of the state senate’s Republican majority during her introduction of Senate Bill 88. “It will give our employees a secure and livable retirement and also be affordable to the state.”
New legislation could clear up confusion surrounding e-bikes in Alaska. Alaska Beacon
Alaska legislators are considering a bill that would set basic rules for how electric bikes may be used in the state. Despite e-bikes becoming more popular in Alaska, legislators have struggled to define what constitutes an electric bike. House Bill 8 seeks to change that by adding a clear legal definition of what an e-bike is and is not.
Economy News
Lawsuit accuses Alaska of unconstitutionally managing Yukon, Kuskokwim salmon fisheries. Alaska Beacon
An attorney who successfully overturned a billion-dollar Alaska oil tax credit program is now targeting the state's management of its salmon fisheries.
Oil posts worst weekly loss since April 2020 amid bank chaos. Yahoo Finance
Oil posted the worst weekly loss since the early months of the coronavirus pandemic as banking turmoil poisoned investor sentiment.
Falling oil process leave Alaska lawmakers with a $925 million revenue hit, affecting budget and PFD. ADN
Falling oil prices are projected to leave Alaska's state budget with a $925 million revenue hit, pushing lawmakers to reduce the size of this year's proposed Permanent Fund dividend.
Even with a slimmer Permanent Fund dividend, low oil prices generate deficits in Alaska. Alaska Beacon
Lower oil prices have torn big holes in the Alaska state budget, the Department of Revenue said Tuesday, releasing new estimates showing a deficit of about $220 million in the fiscal year that ends June 30 and another deficit of about $240 million in the year that starts July 1.
Healthcare News
Opinion: Family caregivers are key to aging in place. ADN
Energy News
RCA order dings CEA over power pooling. Petroleum News
ANS off $8.58 for the week as bank runs panic U.S. and E.U. financial markets. Petroleum News
Alaska North Slope crude plunged $3.55 March 15 to close at $71.70, while West Texas Intermediate plummeted $3.72 to close at $67.61 and Brent plummeted $3.76 to close at $73.69.
DEC has regs out for microreactor siting. Petroleum News
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has draft regulations for the siting of microreactors out for public comment, with comments due by May 11.
Qilak LNG still sees quicker path to Alaska LNG exports with smaller, $5B project. Natural Gas Intel
As offtakers in the Far East are looking to diversify supplies, Qilak plans to differentiate itself from other natural gas export projects in Alaska by capitalizing on the latest Arctic LNG technology as an offshore project. It also has a shorter, cheaper route to Asian markets compared to Russia's Yamal project, said Qilak CEO Mead Treadwell.
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