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Current Topics
Tsunami program that informs Alaskans of the danger is itself at risk. Alaska Public Media
A federal grant program that aims to keep Alaskans safe from tsunamis is slated for elimination. The director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Bryan Fisher, says the word came down March 27, an inauspicious date in Alaska history.
This farm is the only Grade "A" goat dairy in Alaska. Alaska Public Media
Dairy farming is not an easy business, but the micro dairy at Heritage Farm and Ranch in Kodiak makes it work by selling a variety of products and focusing on being more efficient.
Measuring up: How meteorologists gauge the snowfall as Anchorage nears a season record. ADN
As of Saturday, Anchorage is 4 inches from tying the season-long snowfall accumulation record.
Ancient DNA and bones reveal species on the move as a result of climate change thousands of years ago. Phys.Org
“We have found several animal species that have surprised us. Among other things, we found the bones of animals that we see moving northwards again nowadays due to a warmer climate," says Sanne Boessenkool, Professor at the Department of Biosciences, IBV.
How do you measure forever chemicals? NIST
They’re in the air, the water, the food and the soil. They’re often called “forever chemicals,” because once created, they last a very long time.
Russian objection to U.S. territorial claims off Alaska complicates maritime relationship. KTOO
New U.S. claims to seabed territory off Alaska have run into an obstacle: an objection from the Russian government.
Economy
House Finance adopts draft operating budget with a $2,272 PFD. Alaska's News Source
Alaska House prepares to consider budget changes, including money for homeless shelter and ferries. Alaska Beacon
The budget’s biggest single piece is more than $1.7 billion for the 2024 Permanent Fund dividend, enough to pay more than $2,700 per recipient.
Alaska House prepares to open budget debates amid tight fiscal constraints. Alaska Beacon
The state constitution requires a balanced budget, which means no deficit spending. In past years, legislators have spent from savings to expand their options. This year, lawmakers say, there’s not enough support for that option.
Alaska House digs into budget — and a developing gap between expenses and revenue. Alaska Beacon
The operating budget, which will pay for state services for 12 months starting July 1, clocks in at $6 billion, excluding federally funded and fee-funded programs. The state’s capital budget, which covers construction and renovation projects, is expected to be another $550 million. Other legislation, labor contracts under negotiation, and additional items are expected to add at least $100 million more. Altogether, the total is more than the state’s expected general-purpose revenue from investments, oil and other taxes.
(My comment: Yikes! Fortunately, the operating budget comes to the Senate next. We will put some sideboards on it, remove the deficit spending, and address priorities that are within the constraints of available revenue.)
Education
Alaska Pacific University will partner with Seattle University to offer the state's first dual MBA/law program. Alaska Public Media
Alaska is the only state without a law school, forcing prospective lawyers to leave the state. That will change this fall, when students can enroll in a dual law and masters of business administration program (JD-MBA) in Alaska. The dual degree will qualify graduates for jobs in business and law.
Alaska Pacific University and Seattle University to offer dual Master of Business Administration-law degrees. Alaska Beacon
A new program at Alaska Pacific University will allow students to get sequential graduate business degrees and law degrees while staying in Alaska.
States beyond Alaska were surprised by COVID education grant requirement, expert says. Alaska Public Media
On March 27, the U.S. Department of Education called on Alaska to send nearly $30 million to four urban school districts. The agency said the state had failed to abide by conditions placed on public school aid dollars included in a 2021 COVID relief bill. Federal officials warned that the state would be designated a “high-risk” grantee, which could come with new restrictions on federal funds in the future.
Alaska high school students walk out of class to protest Gov. Dunleavy's education veto. Alaska Beacon
Students stage statewide walkout protest over Dunleavy education funding veto. Alaska's News Source
High schoolers from Ketchikan to Utqiagvik walked out of class on Thursday morning to protest Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a wide-ranging education bill that included an historic increase to education funding.
Alaska education bill backed by House Republicans advances to finance committee. ADN
Committee advances Alaska education bill with Gov. Dunleavy priorities, historic funding increase. Alaska Beacon
House Bill 392 has a $680 boost to the $5,960 Base Student Allocation — the state’s per-student funding formula; provisions proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to increase the number of charter schools; a substantial funding boost for home-schooled and correspondence students, and additional funding intended to help K-3 students improve their reading outcomes.
Governor points to statewide opinion poll as reason for educational reform. Alaska's News Source
Conducted by Dittman Research at a cost of $37,500, the poll surveyed 810 people from all over Alaska from different backgrounds. The governor feels the findings show that the majority of people surveyed share his belief that an education bill should not just increase spending, but also address reform.
(My comment: Polls are great but the results depend on what you ask and how you ask it. The actual questions asked is not available to me but the reporters who saw the questions felt that they were “push” questions—encouraging a certain answer.)
Fisheries
Alaska and Canada agree to moratorium on Yukon chinook salmon fishing. KYUK
Alaska and Canada have agreed to a seven-year moratorium on Yukon River chinook salmon fishing. According to a release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the in-river closure for one full king salmon life cycle is outlined in an agreement signed April 1 by the state agency and its Canadian counterpart. It halts the harvest of kings on the mainstem of the Yukon, as well as Canadian tributaries, in an attempt to recover the
long-depressed stocks.
Politics
How women are fighting for more equitable elections though ranked-choice voting. Ms. Magazine
In 2020, Alaskans voted to establish a Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) general election system with strong bipartisan support. On top of this system, Alaska became the first state to implement a top-four non-partisan primary in 2022. This means that in Alaska’s primary elections candidates all appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation and the top four candidates progress on to the general election. “This open primary blew the doors open,” said Sen. Cathy Giessel (Alaska-R). “Ranked-choice voting may not affect who wins, but it definitely affects who runs.” Rep. Peltola, who ran under a ranked-choice voting system, noted that RCV does not necessarily favor one political party over another. She gave the example of Alaska having elected both herself and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, one of the most conservative governors in the U.S..
Discussing the 2024 legislative session. Talk of Alaska
As state lawmakers begin the last two months of the session, there is a lot of work to get done. Lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan education bill, but failed to override the Governor’s veto of it, and now there is growing tension around trying to pass another bill that the Governor would accept. The perennial fight over the size of the Permanent Fund Dividend has yet to be settled, as has the state’s budget. What is the current tone of debate at
the capitol?
When it comes to the PFD, Alaska has too many cooks in the kitchen. ADN
With the Permanent Fund, we also have the Permanent Fund dividend, the largest single source of political divisiveness since Adam and Eve started arguing whether the apple harvest should be regulated.
Normal America: Polling of U.S. adults on rights and freedoms important to the country's identity. Axios
Roughly 90% or more of Americans—Republicans and Democrats—agree the following rights and freedoms are extremely or very important to a functioning America.
Conducting and analyzing public opinion polls. Alaska Public Media
PODCAST: Listen to some opinions about public opinion polls, how they are conducted, and interpreted.
Healthcare
1 big thing: Rise of America's centenarians. Axios
"If I had a jewel to give to people who want to live long and well, I would tell them to get up early in the morning and go out. That is really the best gift that you can give yourself if you want to achieve longevity."
Alaska House to vote on establishing subscription-based health care. ADN
Senate Bill 45 has been championed by conservative advocacy groups Alaska Policy Forum and Americans for Prosperity. They contend it will reduce health care costs by cutting the red tape and paperwork inherent to private health insurance plans. Skeptics of the measure say it could embolden health care providers to discriminate against patients who suffer from serious medical conditions by setting unaffordable service rates, and further limit health care options for patients who depend on public health insurance like Medicare and Medicaid.
Alaska lawmakers OK rules for subscription-style basic health care. Alaska Beacon
Alaska has the highest health-care costs in the nation, and there is a shortage of both specialty care and primary care. The newly authorized agreements are intended to bypass insurance company markups, reducing costs. A patient can subscribe to their local doctor’s office and receive basic care as part of that subscription. Emergency care or specialty services might not be covered as part of the agreement.
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