Nationwide, premiums for average-priced policies — according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis — offered on and off the health insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act rose by more than a third compared with 2017.
Federal Government
Tribe pursues collaborative role at Sitka National Historical Park
Some programs at Sitka National Historical Park may be under tribal management, as early as this summer. The National Park Service and Sitka Tribe of Alaska have confirmed they are in ongoing negotiations to collaborate on some services in the park in 2018.
Zinke signs land trade to allow road for King Cove
It’s a major turning point in the dispute over a roughly 12-mile road that would be mostly, or entirely, built on what’s now a federally protected wilderness in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Governor asks Trump administration for more public meetings on offshore drilling proposal
The Department of Interior is aiming to reverse Obama-era offshore drilling policy, which largely blocked oil development in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
Federal government shutdown affects 4,000 at JBER
Members of Alaska’s National Guard were supposed to be at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson over the weekend for drills. But most of those exercises were canceled.
Trump signs funding bill, bringing shutdown to an end
The Senate voted to restore funding through Feb. 8 after an agreement to pursue immigration bills in the future. The House and President Trump also need to approve the bill to reopen the government.
Schumer, White House respond to shutdown by pointing fingers
The president is marking the first anniversary of his inauguration with a government shutdown. Lawmakers are back at the Capitol trying to break the impasse — and playing the political blame game.
If the government shuts down, what’s open? What’s closed?
If the federal government shuts down, many federal workers will be furloughed. Federal courts have enough money to continue operations for about three weeks. Active-duty military go to work as normal.
Interior aims to sign King Cove road deal Monday, official confirms
A top Interior official in Alaska has confirmed that on Monday, the Trump administration plans to sign a deal to build a controversial road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Senate Democrats to huddle as shutdown vote looms
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with President Trump at the White House Friday afternoon to discuss a plan to avert a government shutdown.