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Current Topics
Alaska state ferry Columbia tied up for repairs. Alaska Public Media
The 50-year-old state ferry Columbia is out of service for at least a week for two maintenance issues — a bow thruster problem and leaking pipes. The ferry was scheduled to sail through Southeast Alaska and south to Washington state all summer. Now, it’s in the Vigor shipyard in Ketchikan until at least June 28.
Alaska schools struggling to keep up with the cost of food. KFSK
Alongside Governor Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes to education funding, Alaska schools are about to find out how much money they will receive from the federal government for school meals this year. As school districts look ahead at their 2024 budgets, many are under pressure because of steep inflation in the price of food.
Stressed, Overwhelmed, Out of Shape? There is a park for that. Governing
Public trust in government may be on shaky ground, but there’s one thing government does that almost every American appreciates. More than 80 percent of the population visited a local park facility last year. According to the National Recreation and Park Association, 9 out of 10 adults in the U.S. agree that parks and recreation is “an important service” provided by their local government.
The best and worst run cities in America. Governing
Looking at 149 big and small cities in the country, researchers were able to quantify the complexities of city management. They constructed a “Quality of Services” score made up of 36 metrics grouped into six service categories, which was then measured against the city’s per capita budget.
(Spoiler alert: Anchorage #68, Fairbanks #47. See article for details)
A crucial van service in Anchorage's public safety system is short-staffed, straining city fire and police. ADN
Securitas, the multinational, multibillion-dollar private security firm that the city pays to run the Anchorage Safety Patrol, or ASP, has been unable to fully staff the service amid a nationwide shortage of emergency medical technicians, company officials said last month. (unfortunate that we have to use an out-of-state provider for these services.)
Counting in Iñupiaq, Alaska students build clocks using Kaktovik numerals. ADN
Kaktovik numerals were invented by a group of middle schoolers about 30 years ago. Composed of straight strokes, the numbers visually reflect the composition of the number.
SNAP combats racial divides, study finds. Axios
Racial disparities in food security persist among low-income households that don’t participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but not among those that do, according to a new study.
Economy
New Anchorage airline aims to bring year-round tourism to Alaska. Alaska Public Media
A new Anchorage-based airline said the company hopes to bring hundreds of jobs and a substantial increase in tourism business to Alaska.
This year's PFD is a budget-balancing $1,304. Is this the new normal? Juneau Empire
But even among Dunleavy supporters, there’s recognition that lower PFDs may have to be part of Alaska’s future as oil revenue continues its general decline. “In my judgment what it comes down to is if we’re going to maintain the kind of dividends people want we’re going to have to impose an income tax and I oppose an income tax,” said Denny Dewitt, a Juneau resident who has spent many years working for legislators and several governors, including Dunleavy. “Things are different than they were three years ago or five years ago. The economics really don’t support a huge dividend.”
Individuals' share of charitable giving. Axios
Here, from Giving USA, is the decline of charity — the flip side of the rise of philanthropy. Increasingly, it's a small number of ultra-high net worth individuals, alongside even fewer old money foundations, who determine whether charities thrive or wither away.
My comment: I think “Pick, Click, Give” is an exception and quite uniquely great program in Alaska. But I think there is another point to this - ultra-high net worth individuals and companies determine election contributions. That’s why election-funding reforms in Alaska are so important. The Legislature needs to pass HB 36 or a citizens’ initiative needs to do that.
Wisconsin GOP lawmakers approve pay raise for state employees, especially corrections officers. AP News
Wisconsin Republican lawmakers passed a plan Thursday to raise pay for state employees, including boosting starting wages for corrections officers to $33 an hour.
Aniak residents shocked by quadrupled power bills. Alaska Public Media
At Aniak’s school, the electricity bill went from around $7,700 to almost $24,000. “Just honestly, like, I’m standing in my district office right now and all the lights are off. We’re all working in the dark,” said Madeline Aguillard, superintendent of the Kuspuk School District. My comment: The increase in the BSA funding (school funding) was in response to this kind of cost increase, as well as others, that school districts are facing. The Governor vetoed the additional funding for added fuel costs for state departments as well.
Fisheries
In "major victory" for Southeast Alaska trollers, federal appeals panel reverses fishery closure. Alaska Beacon
"It's a major victory," Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang said in a brief phone interview. "We can go fishing."
Defending Alaska seafood, commissioner questions sustainability of Russia-caught fish. Alaska Beacon
The commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game has urged the organization that certifies seafood harvests as sustainable to revoke its endorsements for Russian-caught fish. Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang is calling on the Marine Stewardship Council to stop certifying Russian harvests. He made both a moral argument and a plea in defense of the Alaska seafood industry. Any support of Russian business ultimately supports that country’s invasion of Ukraine, he argued.
Dunleavy again vetoes research project on salmon bycatch. Alaska Public Media
Among the projects Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed from the state budget on Monday was salmon research to help determine the causes of the chinook and chum crisis in western Alaska. Dunleavy vetoed $513,000 for research on the origins of salmon caught by accident in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, as well as the origin of salmon intercepted by fishermen off the Alaska Peninsula in what’s known as “Area M.” Dunleavy vetoed the project last year, too.
Politics
Alaska legislators lack the votes to override Gov. Dunleavy's budget vetoes. Alaska Beacon
No Special Session to override Governor vetoes...stymied by the opposition of lawmakers who sit in the predominantly Republican House majority caucus, plus three conservative Republicans in the Senate.
Will Alaska lawmakers override Gov. Dunleavy's public school funding veto? Probably not. Alaska Public Media
Governor leaves Mat-Su priorities intact in veto actions, borough assembly told. Mat-Su Frontiersman
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough got through Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget veto process with its major state budget priorities intact, borough manager Mike Brown told the Mat-Su assembly at its Tuesday, June 20 meeting.
Governor appoints Republican donor to University of Alaska regents. ADN
Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed a Fairbanks Republican political activist and business owner to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s public universities. Seth Church, who does not have a university degree, will serve an eight-year term subject to legislative confirmation.
Health Care
Military in Alaska struggles with 'constant strain' of child care shortage. ADN
The U.S. military is struggling to provide child care to its service members in Alaska, which is directly affecting operations and putting a strain on those serving in uniform.
Some Alaskans start losing Medicaid coverage as state begins reviewing eligibility after pandemic pause. ADN
Nearly 3,000 Alaskans were dropped from Medicaid this month as the state resumed its annual eligibility reviews, which had been paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
'Nothing else should matter': At Anchorage roundtable, Sullivan addresses youth mental health crisis with U.S. Surgeon General. Alaska Public Media
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called youth mental health "the defining public health challenge of our time" at a roundtable in Anchorage on Monday.
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