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Current Topics
In seismically active Alaska, plans for statewide residential building codes are on shaky ground. Alaska Beacon
Despite Alaska’s experience with earthquakes, building code coverage around the state is uneven and enforcement is spotty. The state adopted strict building codes after the magnitude 9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964, but they do not apply to residential structures that are three-plexes or smaller, according to the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission. Some local governments, like Anchorage, have codes that cover residences and enforce them; other regions do not.
Costal Alaska communities net $50M in federal transportation grants. Alaska's News Source
A series of grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation could make some of the Typhoon Merbok damages go away and aid in the communities’ recovery. The Federal administration announced the Alaska project recipients of transportation grants totaling $50.7 million.
Anchorage winter ties for second snowiest on record but hitting all-time mark unlikely. Alaska Public Media
It’s been a snowy winter in Anchorage, so snowy, in fact, that 2023-2024 will go down as at least the city’s third snowiest winter on record. But will the city see enough snow still this season to break either of those records? Not likely, at least for the all-time record.
(My Comment: I’m fine with that!! Like you, I’m looking at my emerging tulips, daffodils and crocuses! Yay! Spring!)
Economy
Peltola says her priority is Alaskans' economic prosperity. KRBD
Alaska’s lone member of the U.S. House says her chief concern is the economy and how her constituents are faring in it.
(My Comment: This is my chief concern and priority as well. That’s why I am offering a bill to return our public employees to a modest defined benefit pension, rein in the cost of pharmaceutical medications, and create a unified transmission grid for energy.)
Education
Bishop disputes feds' claim that Alaska didn't fund schools equitably during pandemic. Alaska Public Media
State education officials continue to dispute the federal government’s claim that Alaska didn’t fund schools equitably during the pandemic.
Funding and staffing emerge as challenges for Anchorage School District's planned career academies. ADN
As the Anchorage School District prepares to launch a major curriculum change for high school students beginning next year, administrators say they’re unsure how they plan to fund and staff for the proposed career track initiative.
Judge rules Alaska correspondence school reimbursements unconstitutional. ADN
Alaska judge strikes down state's cash payments to families using correspondence school programs. Alaska Beacon
Alaska judge finds correspondence school reimbursements unconstitutional. AP News
Judge rules state's correspondence homeschooling reimbursements unconstitutional. Alaska's News Source
Biggest Anchorage K12 private school enrolled all students in public correspondence to qualify for $3,000 reimbursement. Dermot Cole Reporting from Alaska
Judge strikes down private education allotments Dunleavy pushed in 2014, upending push for school vouchers. Dermot Cole Reporting from Alaska
An Anchorage Superior Court judge ruled Friday that correspondence schools that reimburse parents and guardians for their children’s education-related expenses are unconstitutional.
Alaska parents and legislators scramble for answers after judge rules homeschool allotments are unconstitutional. ADN
A judge has thrown out a key part of Alaska's homeschool system. Here's what to know. Alaska Public Media
Lawmakers react to judge ruling state's correspondence homeschooling reimbursements unconstitutional. Alaska's News Source
Alaska correspondence students to 'finish out the year' while officials grapple with ruling. Alaska Beacon
History behind the ruling: How private, religious schools continued receiving state reimbursement money for years. Alaska's News Source
Thousands of Alaska students face uncertainty about their education after a court decision.
(My comment: The "allotment" system is 10 years old. Homeschool option in Alaska is multiple decades older in existence than the "allotment" system.)
Dunleavy argues homeschool allotments are an 'indirect benefit' to private schools. Lawmakers Disagree. Alaska Public Media
Ruling on use of public funds for private, religious education expenses leads to mixed reviews by lawmakers. Alaska's News Source
Dunleavy flip-flops on Alaska's Constitution's clear ban on public funds for private schools. Dermot Cole Reporting from Alaska
The plaintiffs say they brought the suit after noting an uptick in private schools advertising that parents could use their correspondence school allotments to pay for classes or tuition. Public correspondence schools monitor the students’ progress and must approve expenses to be reimbursed.
(My Comment: We actually don’t know how many students are being homeschooled using state funds. The estimate is 18,000 to 22,000. Then-Senator Dunleavy put a prohibition on data collection in the provision that he inserted into a very large education bill.)
Governor Dunleavy discusses education funding. Talk of Alaska
Dunleavy veto of a bipartisan education bill and a failed override has left education funding in limbo while the legislature works on operating and capital budget plans. What does the governor think of those budgets and what would he agree to for an education spending plan? Governor Dunleavy joins us on this Talk of Alaska.
Fisheries
Peter Pan Seafoods announces it will cease operations. Alaska Public Media
Peter Pan Seafood Co., the state-backed processing company that has faced dire financial troubles recently, announced Friday it was ceasing operations.
Politics
Lawmakers still at odds over education funding, PFD amount as operating budget deadline looms. Alaska's News Source
Alaska Senate Majority discusses budget process at press availability. Web Center Fairbanks
Alaska House adds funding for school meals and marketing as budget amendments continue. Alaska Beacon
Senate leaders said on Wednesday that they are worried that the Legislature’s spending plan—operating budget, capital budget and other costs—may cost more than the amount of money available to lawmakers this year. That may result in later cuts to the operating budget, including the proposed $2,200 per-person Permanent Fund dividend, or the capital budget under consideration in the Senate.
(My comment: Every $1,000.00 PFD costs $650 million.)
Alaska House votes down constitutional guarantee for Permanent Fund dividend. Alaska Beacon
Members of the House voted 37-3 to discharge a proposed formula change from the House Finance Committee without a hearing, bringing it one step closer to a vote.
Nonpartisan open primaries let Alaskans choose values over party. Sightline Institute
More than half of Alaska’s primary voters in 2022 took the opportunity to split their tickets between major party, independent, and third-party candidates. Alaska has the highest share of independent voters in the country, and the nonpartisan open primary allowed them to vote for unconventional combinations of candidates. The nonpartisan open primary, combined with the ranked choice general election, may help preserve Alaska's status as one of a handful of states not controlled by a single political party.
Alaska Senate passes capital budget with focus on school maintenance and housing. ADN
The Alaska Senate advanced the $3.9 billion capital budget, which has an emphasis on school maintenance and housing, to the House on Friday.
Schools, university and projects across Alaska are set to receive money from new budget bill. Alaska Beacon
Alaska House rejects constitutional amendment guaranteeing formula-based PFD. Alaska Public Media
Recorded floor speech speaks wisdom into this subject.
(My Comment: Constitutional Amendment to put PFD in Alaska’s Constitution (HJR 7) – a floor speech by a House Fiscal Conservative (why this is a bad Idea). Mercifully, his speech helped House members to think clearly and reject the bill.)
House and Senate trade budgets by agreed upon deadline, PFD debate heats up. Alaska's News Source
Operating budget passes State House; Senate approves state capital budget, mostly for construction. Frontiersman
(My Comment: How this works: Each year, on Dec. 15, the Governor submits his suggestions for the Alaska budget for the next year. The House crafts their version of the Operating Budget first, then sends it to the Senate. At the same time, the Senate writes its' version of the Capital Budget. Then they trade budgets; the House adds their projects to the Capital Budget and the Senate adjusts the Operating Budget so that it balances. Agreeing to trade budgets by April 12, this year, on Friday the Senate passed its version of the Capital Budget and handed it off to the House as the House gave the Senate its version of the Operating Budget.)
Healthcare
House committee advances bill to require overdose-reversing drug in Alaska schools. Alaska Beacon
A proposal to require Alaska schools to keep opioid-overdose-reversing drugs on campus advanced out of the House Education Committee on Monday.
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