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Current Topics
Unstoppable force, immovable object. Axios
Current needs and future demand—especially in light of the gathering storm of artificial intelligence computing—will need to be satisfied.
After revisions, Federal Highway Administration approves most of Alaska's transportation plan. Alaska Beacon
The six exclusions identified by the Federal Highway Administration:
· $500,000 for planning to improve passenger rail service to places between Fairbanks and Seward, including Anchorage, Whittier, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Nenana
· $7.1 million to replace a bridge on Aurora Drive in Fairbanks over Noyes Slough
· $68.7 million for part of the Port of Alaska project in Anchorage
· $407,284 for a program intended to plan for disaster recovery
· The state’s plan to use $19.8 million in existing ferry ticket sales to match federal grants for ferry-related projects
· $23.2 million for bridge and tunnel inspections
Hughes reframes Ambler Road question. Mining News North
Another rural Alaska Native community has passed a resolution in support of the Ambler Access Project—a proposed 211-mile, industrial-use-only road that would connect the mineral-rich Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska to the Dalton Highway and global markets.
1 big thing: Feeding AI's power needs. Axios
Granholm announced a $1.52 billion loan guarantee to help restart a shuttered nuclear power plant on the shores of Lake Michigan last week. If the Holtec Palisades plant receives regulatory approval, it will become the first recommissioned nuclear facility in U.S. history—part of "major milestones" the Energy Department expects this year for nuclear energy. In recent years, electricity consumption has been largely flat, but the needs of electric vehicles, AI computing and data centers—plus clean tech manufacturing—has added new demands on utilities.
Ancient Rome successfully fought against voter intimidation—a political story told on a coin that resonates today. The Conversation
As voting access evolves in the U.S., the political importance of this centuries-old coin seems more compelling. It turns out that efforts to regulate voting access go way back.
Federal discount on broadband is ending for 25,000 Alaska families. Alaska Public Media
The Affordable Connectivity Program provides discounts of $30 per month for most eligible households. Some 25,000 Alaska households were receiving the benefit in February. But the government has announced that April will be the last fully funded month.
DOT leaders say grant money will fund Port Of Alaska upgrades after federal rejection. Alaska's News Source
State transportation leaders told lawmakers Tuesday that Anchorage grant money will be used to fund Port of Alaska upgrades after the feds rejected the state’s proposal after reconsidering and approving most of $5.6 billion statewide transportation improvement plan (STIP).
Economy
Lawmakers float 'irresponsible' draw from Permanent Fund earnings to pay full dividend. ADN
The director of the Legislative Finance Division, Alexei Painter, said Wednesday that the additional draw would result in around $50 million less in future annual draws. It would also increase the risk that the state would run out of money to draw in future years. An increased draw would create what Rep. Will Stapp, a Fairbanks Republican, called “an existential risk of not having money for dividends or anything else.”
$7.5 million in child care grants added to draft Alaska House budget. ADN
The House Finance Committee on Tuesday added $7.5 million in one-time child care funding to the draft operating budget.
Alaska lawmakers chop budget for Dunleavy's 'statehood defense'. Alaska Public Media
The House Finance Committee voted 6-5 Tuesday to zero out a $2 million budget increase requested by the governor for what he describes as “statehood defense.”
Alaskans are owed more than $4M in unclaimed tax refunds from 2020, IRS estimates. Alaska Public Media
The IRS estimates that 3,700 Alaskans are owed more than $4 million in unclaimed refunds.
Education
Missteps from Alaska's education department could cost the state millions in granted, feds say. Alaska Beacon
The state government risks losing millions of dollars in federal funding because it did not comply with requirements for pandemic relief funds, according to a letter from the United States Department of Education. The result is a federal “high risk” designation that could cost the state grant funding. Members of the Senate Majority caucus said the state could lose more than $400 million.
Alaska gets stern warning from US Education Department over state's distribution of money to local schools. ADN
The U.S. Department of Education this week designated Alaska as “a high-risk grantee” because it said the state failed to fairly distribute COVID-19 relief to school districts.
State owes nearly $30 million to four school districts, including Juneau, federal government says. Juneau Empire
The State of Alaska owes four school districts nearly $30 million in COVID-19 relief funds and is now considered a high-risk grantee, according to a letter sent from the U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday.
Additional $425 million in education funding at risk as Alaska designated 'high risk' grantee. Alaska's News Source
The Senate Education Committee wants to hear from the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) on how it plans to remove a “high-risk” grantee designation by the U.S. Department of Education.
Politics
Peltola's votes show she's one of the least loyal Democrats in the U.S. House. Alaska Public Media
Her aisle-crossing votes are mostly in the areas of energy development and immigration. They bolster her image as a moderate who is open to working with Republicans but they haven’t helped the GOP enact new statutes. Many of the measures she voted for were designed for a different purpose: to scold President Biden.
Biden's latest climate move: $4 billion in "clean" tax credits. Axios
The so-called 48C tax credit selections span hydrogen-related equipment like electrolyzers; grid and offshore wind components; battery equipment and much more, per the Energy Department. Other uses include critical materials-related projects and industrial decarbonization.
Lots of ideas, but not much time, to address Cook Inlet gas crunch. Alaska Public Media
The bills they’re considering to ease the crunch fall into a few buckets—one, making it cheaper for producers to pull gas out of Cook Inlet. There are a few bills aimed at lowering taxes and royalties, though it’s unclear how much royalty or tax relief would actually juice production. At a hearing earlier this year, the largest-by-far Cook Inlet producer, Hilcorp, told lawmakers it wasn’t sure whether they’d move the needle on investment decisions. Even so, Senate Resources Committee chair Sen. Cathy Giessel, an Anchorage Republican, said royalty relief could help smaller producers like HEX/Furie boost their output. “They have the infrastructure in place, they believe the gas is there, so that seems like the quickest solution,” Giessel said. “That’s why the royalty relief has so much interest”.
The simple fix Anchorage municipal elections need. ADN
Ranked choice voting, which Alaskans have experienced at the state level for the past two statewide elections, would be a far more sensible system for municipal elections than the current first-past-the-post method. Its other name, “instant runoff” voting, is a tip-off that this is exactly the system that would free us from having to rush into another election immediately after the first one is certified.
Nonpartisan open primaries let Alaskans choose values over party. Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s previous semi-closed primary model sent candidates on to the general election who weren’t always as popular with the whole electorate. It denied voters the chance to consider candidates who enjoyed more widespread support. Allowing all Alaska voters to give every candidate equal consideration in the primaries appeared to lay the foundation for a more politically diverse and less partisan set of leaders.
Gov. Dunleavy announces new and returning appointees to boards of fish and game. KYUK
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has announced four appointments to the Alaska Board of Fisheries and the Alaska Board of Game, which oversee management of populations on the state’s lands and in its waters.
Healthcare
Child care's ROI. Axios
For every dollar spent on childcare benefits, employers saw a net gain of between $0.90 and $4.25 through reduced absenteeism, less lateness and lower rates of attrition.
Anchorage Health Department to offer low-cost baby check-ups. Alaska Public Media
The Anchorage Health Department will soon start offering check-ups for babies. It’s “Well-Baby Clinic” launches April 9. Anchorage Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Savitt said the program aims to ensure more children are getting important routine and preventative care early. Right now, he said, half of children in the city don’t have a medical provider, and that’s concerning.
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