Alaska Legislature

Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)

House cool to Walker compromise

In a bid to avoid a state-spanning government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker on Monday proposed a compromise to bring the Alaska Senate and Alaska House… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)
This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)

Senate approves overdose-fighting bill

The Alaska Senate voted Thursday to restrict the ability of doctors to prescribe opioid painkillers. House Bill 159, proposed by Gov. Bill Walker, is part… Continue reading

This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)
State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Wasilla Republican asks Alaska Legislature to criminalize abortion

Wasilla Republican David Eastman has proposed a measure making abortion illegal in the state of Alaska. On Monday, Eastman introduced House Bill 250, which —… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)
Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Alaska House approves Permanent Fund plan — with strings attached

For the first time in state history, the Alaska Legislature has chosen to spend the Alaska Permanent Fund on something other than dividends. On Wednesday,… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmaker wants primary elections to be more like California

The chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee believes she has a plan to drive Alaska politics toward the center. Her Republican critics say it’s… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A customer takes his drinks from a bartender Friday, March 31, 2017 at Kenai River Brewing Company in Soldotna, Alaska. Soldotna is one of several communities in the state with establishments opened under public convenience licenses, which would be transitioned to restaurant or eating place licenses under SB 76, a rewrite of Alaska’s alcohol statutes. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Alcohol rewrite bill addresses unfinished business

The second half of a sweeping update to Alaska’s alcohol laws is making its way through the Legislature and seeks to streamline the alcohol licensing… Continue reading

A customer takes his drinks from a bartender Friday, March 31, 2017 at Kenai River Brewing Company in Soldotna, Alaska. Soldotna is one of several communities in the state with establishments opened under public convenience licenses, which would be transitioned to restaurant or eating place licenses under SB 76, a rewrite of Alaska’s alcohol statutes. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Education bill to be amended following testimony

A section of Senate Bill 96 calling for the consolidation of schools at less than 80 percent capacity that are located within 25-miles of each… Continue reading

Teresa Reger (left, with sign) and Susie Stafford wave to passing cars at the annual demonstration in support of disability services by the Key Coalition advocacy group, held this year on Friday in Soldotna. Reger and Stafford are both parents of disabled adult children who receive services through the program the Key Campaign seeks to preserve. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Integration and independence’: Activists raise awareness for programs for people with disabilities

For 30 years the disability services activists of Alaska’s Key Campaign have been holding annual statewide demonstrations in towns like Soldotna — where demonstrators gathered… Continue reading

Teresa Reger (left, with sign) and Susie Stafford wave to passing cars at the annual demonstration in support of disability services by the Key Coalition advocacy group, held this year on Friday in Soldotna. Reger and Stafford are both parents of disabled adult children who receive services through the program the Key Campaign seeks to preserve. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Aimed at PACs, lawmaker’s bill may hit political rival

Anchorage Republican Sen. Kevin Meyer has a nightmare. It involves credit card machines. “What we don’t want is for people to have a Paypal or… Continue reading