News

Judge hears arguments in Medicaid expansion case

JUNEAU — A state court judge in Anchorage heard arguments Thursday in a lawsuit challenging Alaska Gov. Bill Walker’s authority to expand Medicaid without legislative… Continue reading

Legislators discuss animals in domestic violence situations

JUNEAU — A state House committee heard testimony Monday on legislation spelling out protections for animals caught in domestic violence situations or in messy break-ups… Continue reading

Bill would restrict attorney general’s appointment to boards

JUNEAU — A bill introduced in the Alaska House on Monday seeks to restrict the attorney general from serving on the governing body of a… Continue reading

Mumford resigns from fish board

Bob Mumford tendered a letter of resignation to Gov. Bill Walker’s office on Friday resigning from his seat on the Alaska Board of Fisheries, according… Continue reading

Senate votes to remove records from CourtView

By a 19-1 vote on Wednesday, the Alaska Senate has approved a bill that calls for records of acquittals, dismissed cases and dropped cases to… Continue reading

Walker lays out expectations for gas line progress

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker said he wants the state and the North Slope’s major producers to reach agreement on key contracts and issues related… Continue reading

UA plan focuses on campus strengths

The University of Alaska Board of Regents and university President Jim Johnsen have agreed on a framework to restructure the system’s campuses at a time… Continue reading

Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage and Rep. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage, discuss a HB 243, a measure that would allow felons whose convictions are overturned to be retroactively eligible for Permanent Fund Dividend checks, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. Lynn introduced the bill after learning of the plight of a group of indigenous men known as the Fairbanks Four whose convictions were overturned after they spent 18 years in jail for the 1997 death of a Fairbanks teenager. A condition of their release was that they would not sue government entities. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Case inspires bill to allow dividend checks for cleared felons

JUNEAU — State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow Alaskans who have had felony convictions overturned and charges later dismissed to become eligible… Continue reading

Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage and Rep. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage, discuss a HB 243, a measure that would allow felons whose convictions are overturned to be retroactively eligible for Permanent Fund Dividend checks, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. Lynn introduced the bill after learning of the plight of a group of indigenous men known as the Fairbanks Four whose convictions were overturned after they spent 18 years in jail for the 1997 death of a Fairbanks teenager. A condition of their release was that they would not sue government entities. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Walker permanent fund plan gets 1st hearing by Senate panel

JUNEAU — The chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee said Tuesday that he wants to vet several ideas surrounding the use of Alaska Permanent… Continue reading

Alaska Democrats question state candidacy law

JUNEAU — Alaska Democratic party leaders have approved allowing candidates not affiliated with a political party to run in the Democratic primary.In a letter to… Continue reading

State to seeks changes in standardized testing

After almost four years of preparation and planning, plus millions of dollars in implementation, Alaska’s new standardized testing scheme appears bound for the garbage can… Continue reading

Panel says Lunch and Learn events could raise ethical concerns

JUNEAU — A legislative committee on Monday found that attendance at the increasingly popular lunchtime presentation series at the state Capitol could violate ethic rules… Continue reading

Bill to update Alaska Military Code of Justice advances

JUNEAU, Alaska — A bill to update Alaska’s Uniform Code of Military Justice is making progress through the state House, advancing Friday from a judiciary… Continue reading

Department of Law plans public integrity unit

JUNEAU — Attorney General Craig Richards plans to establish a public integrity unit as a way to help improve trust in government.The unit was one… Continue reading

State Rep. Andy Josephson, R-Anchorage, left, listens as Joshua Decker, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, speaks about two bills on data privacy at a news conference in in Juneau, Alaska, Wednesday Jan. 20, 2016. The bills are aimed at protecting students and employees from having to provide access to personal social media accounts under coercion or threat. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Legislator joins national movement on privacy bills

JUNEAU, Alaska — An Anchorage legislator and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska announced plans Wednesday to support bills to extend digital privacy protections… Continue reading

State Rep. Andy Josephson, R-Anchorage, left, listens as Joshua Decker, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, speaks about two bills on data privacy at a news conference in in Juneau, Alaska, Wednesday Jan. 20, 2016. The bills are aimed at protecting students and employees from having to provide access to personal social media accounts under coercion or threat. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)
Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, left, receive a ceremonial visit by Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, second from left, and Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, after the House gaveled into session on the first day of the 29th Legislature at the Capitol in Juneau on Tuesday.

Legislature opens regular session

On Tuesday afternoon, Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, and Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, climbed the steps of the Capitol together with smiles on their faces. They… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, left, receive a ceremonial visit by Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, second from left, and Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, after the House gaveled into session on the first day of the 29th Legislature at the Capitol in Juneau on Tuesday.

Survey: Lawmakers predict what session will bring

Everyone wants to know what the second session of the 29th Alaska Legislature will bring, but no one knows the answer. Well, no one outside… Continue reading

Constitutional change proposed to limit session length

JUNEAU — A Democratic state representative has proposed a constitutional amendment to limit regular legislative sessions to 90 days.The proposal, from Anchorage Rep. Matt Claman,… Continue reading

Bill would protect clergy who refuse to solemnize marriages

Of the 34 bills prefiled by Alaska lawmakers on Friday, none have been more controversial than Senate Bill 120 and House Bill 236.The bills, proposed… Continue reading

Alaska Supreme Court upholds local school contribution

JUNEAU — The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday upheld as constitutional a state requirement that local school districts help pay for education, reversing a lower… Continue reading