With the help of their teacher-and-sometimes-hip-hop-artist, Juneau elementary school students are releasing an album of original songs.
Zoe Grueskin, KTOO
Despite state funding uncertainty, Juneau School Board passes budget
The approved budget largely maintains the status quo for Juneau schools. But that could change if the Alaska Legislature cuts education funding, as proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
How carving halibut hooks teaches Juneau students both science and tradition
For several years, students in a JDHS science class have been learning about halibut hook carving. A Tlingit carver says it’s mostly about common sense: paying close attention and working with what you’ve got.
How school districts can keep students safe from abuse
If records and reference checks don’t turn up any red flags, there isn’t much other information available to school districts. But there are other steps districts can take to emphasize student safety.
Are more Juneau high school graduates ready for college? It depends.
UAS says over the past five years, more Juneau students are arriving on campus ready for college. UAS uses its own definition of college readiness — a lower bar than national standards — but officials stand by it.
Newscast – Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019
President Trump addressed troops at Alaska’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on his way back from a summit with Kim Jong Un. Alaska’s oil production could see a bump as new fields come on line on the North Slope. The City and Borough of Juneau wants to explore expanding port infrastructure to allow more cruise ships to connect to the city’s electric grid. Sitka Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins says that residents fearful over the governor’s proposed budget should focus their advocacy efforts on Republican senators, who will have the power to override the governor’s vetoes come May. Juneau’s Ernestine Saankalaxt’ Hayes will remain Alaska’s writer laureate a little longer than expected while the State Council on the Arts chooses the next writer to hold the title.
Newscast – Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019
In this newscast: The Alaska Legislature’s top budget analyst says it’s unrealistic for lawmakers to vet and make decisions on Gov. Dunleavy’s budget proposal during the regular session.How Alaskans feel about the governor’s proposed budget has a lot to do with how they make their living and their views on the size of government. The U.S. House voted to cancel President Trump’s declaration of emergency to fund construction of a wall along the southern border. The Senate still must vote on the issue. There’s still no plan to remove the abandoned tugboat sitting in Juneau’s Gastineau Channel, but the city is sending a crew out this week to remove water from the boat so it stays afloat.
Newscast – Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019
In this newscast: Congress today passed a massive public lands bill sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski. It includes a provision to help Alaska Native veterans of the Vietnam era by allowing them to select up to 160 acres of land, but critics predict a land grab. Gov. Dunleavy wants to sell the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Aquatics Center — before the brand new $26M facility has even opened to the public. Ketchikan, Petersburg and Wrangell’s sources of hydropower are at extremely low levels. The communities will gradually dip into their lake reserves when needed.
Newscast – Monday, Feb. 25, 2019
State senators are pushing back against Gov. Dunleavy’s plan to eliminate a fund that’s intended to equalize the cost of supplying power to rural Alaska. A legislative attorney says language in Gov. Dunleavy’s budget proposal giving his budget office discretion to transfer money within departments raises legal and constitutional questions. Gov. Dunleavy rescinded seven administrative orders last week enacted by his predecessor, Bill Walker. They include an order that halted state spending on six infrastructure projects. Clean up work is underway this week, nearly two months after a landslide closed a road near Thorne Bay on Prince of Wales Island. High school students from around Alaska came to Juneau this month to see for themselves how state government works. A bill pending before the Alaska Legislature would allow the state’s ski areas to serve alcohol.
High school students get a close look at state government during a busy week
High school students from across Alaska were at the Capitol this month to see for themselves how state government works. As it turned out, they were there at an especially busy time.