AKJ3

By Dave Donaldson

A legislative agency Wednesday reported that the state’s credit status will be at risk if the oil tax reductions proposed by the governor become law.  Continue reading →

By Libby Casey

As Congress comes back to work after a five week recess, the White House is going on the offensive, pushing lawmakers to pass what’s normally routine legislation instead of getting tied up in politics.  But the Alaskans in D-C say this is a time of unparalleled gridlock, and they’re looking to the White House to lead.  Continue reading →

By Dave Donaldson

Legislators today began looking at the discrepancy between Department of Labor reports of high Employment on the North Slope and high Unemployment among Alaskans qualified to work there. Continue reading →

ByLibby Casey

The U-S Postal Service warned Congress today it could lose $10-Billion in the fiscal year that ends this month.  That puts the Postal Service in danger of defaulting as it reaches its borrowing limit.  The Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe  is asking Congress to let it break union contracts to fire employees, change retirees’ health benefits, and end mail delivery on Saturdays.  Continue reading →

By Libby Casey

From Ethiopia to the Himalayas to Alaska, indigenous people are experiencing the affects of a changing climate.  The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian is sharing their experiences in an exhibit called, “Conversations with the Earth.”  And it includes photos and stories from Alaska’s Arctic Village.  Continue reading →

By Dave Donaldson

Legislators last week took a lesson in fish management and politics ..  and they got a chance to show their frustration with the federal government’s restrictions on SouthCentral and Southeast halibut harvests. Continue reading →

By Libby Casey

The admission this month by a Senate staffer that he’s guilty of illegal fishing in Alaska is having greater ripples than one man’s future.  Arne Fuglvog was an aide to Senator Lisa Murkowski for five years.  He was a local Petersburg fisherman who made good, and was considered a top expert in the U-S Senate on fisheries policy.  Now some of the Alaskan issues he promoted are under extra scrutiny.  Continue reading →

By Dave Donaldson

Nearly forty six percent of the state’s schools showed Adequate Yearly Progress in the national tests required by the No Child Left Behind standards. That leaves two hundred seventy five schools that did not meet all the measurements of the test. Many are familiar with being on the list – one school has not met the standard in eight years.  Continue reading →

By Dave Donaldson

Reports Monday of recent travel expenditures by legislators indicate that this current year is on track right now to costing about the same as most previous years’ travel – with one exception. Continue reading →

By Dave Donaldson

The state Senate committee looking at the state’s energy future Wednesday got a reminder from the federal pipeline coordinator:   the state statute setting up a pipeline project from the North Slope to North American markets will not – by itself – bring about a gas line.  Continue reading →