The Wrangell Assembly approved a new $9 million water treatment plant last week. The current plant hasn’t met the town’s needs for several years.
Government
Feds to drop new habitat rules, ending state’s legal challenge
The Trump administration has agreed to rewrite rules that would have made it easier for the government to designate areas as “critical habitat” for endangered species.
State budget advances, but how to pay for it remains unclear
Fairbanks Democratic Rep. David Guttenberg opposed cuts proposed by minority caucus Republicans.
New state Forest Service leader has Alaska experience
“We spent 23 years together in Alaska and just having an opportunity to come back and re-engage with folks and work on Alaska issues has just been a dream of mine,” said incoming Regional Forester David Schmid.
Companies in foreign trade zones await more details on Trump tariffs
Manufacturers that operate in foreign trade zones may be able to evade President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, trade experts say. But there are a lot of unanswered questions about how the tariffs — which were justified on rarely-used national security grounds — will be applied in zones.
Trump Cabinet turnover sets record going back 100 years
President Donald Trump says “there will always be change, and I think you want to see change.” Already he’s had more Cabinet turnover in 420 days than 14 of his predecessors had in their first two years.
State delays Byford cleanup, but says contentious site won’t change
The cleanup at the old Byford junkyard is on hold, pending further environmental testing from the state. The state still plans on hauling 20,000 cubic yards of lead contaminated soil from the junkyard to a rock-pit, a quarter of a mile from Pat’s Creek.
Social workers report dramatic increase in child abuse and neglect referrals
The state of Alaska is seeing a rise in child abuse and neglect referrals and threats to worker safety, according to those who work in the field.
Alaska regulators quiz utilities over tax windfall
Regulated utilities benefiting from the corporate tax cut should share the wealth with Alaska ratepayers. That’s the argument made by the Attorney General’s office in a recent filing to state regulators.
Oil revenue is up in state’s spring forecast
The state will still have a $2.3 billion gap between what it spends and what it raises. Lawmakers from the two majorities in the Legislature had different responses to the news.