Permanent Fund Executive Director Angela Rodell told the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday that officers don’t take an opinion on what the draw should be, but all of the proposals are reasonable.
Juneau
Watch Sen. Murkowski address Alaska Legislature
U.S. Lisa Murkowski delivers her address at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, to the Alaska Legislature Joint Session.
Push for ride-share companies in Alaska hits speed bumps
The drive to allow ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in Alaska has hit speed bumps. The bill, from Anchorage Republican Sen. Mia Costello, faces opposition from taxi operators worried the entrance of ride-share groups will drive down wages for their drivers and from municipalities that don’t want to cede regulation to the…
Criminal justice commissioner resigns
A supporter of Alaska’s sweeping criminal justice legislation is no longer a member of a commission that has recommended changes to the law. The Juneau Empire reports Juneau Police Department Lt. Kris Sell declined to comment after she resigned from the Alaska Criminal Justice Commission. Commissioners provided input for a law that focused on punishments…
Public testimony split on bill that would introduce an income tax
The measure would create a state income tax that’s 15 percent of federal tax liability and set Permanent Fund dividends at roughly $1,100. Roughly 80 residents signed up to testify on the bill.
School counselors help with things from academic support to grieving
Juneau school counselors say they serve as mediators, sources of information, confidants and much more.
Walker orders state agencies to pursue grants to fight opioid epidemic
Gov. Bill Walker signed a disaster declaration that’s intended to make it easier to give overdose victims the life-saving overdose antidote naloxone. More than 120 Alaskans have died from opioid overdoses over the past three years. Walker said declaring a disaster will enable a coordinated statewide response.
Police find shell casings in Switzer Village shooting incident
Juneau Police Department have cordoned off the area of Forget Me Not Street and ask people to stay way from the scene while officers conduct their investigation.
Middle school sports travel is back on the school board’s agenda
The Juneau School Board will review the issue at its March 14 meeting.
Witness’s domestic violence utterance prompts mistrial in Strawn homicide trial
Judge Philip Pallenberg said he’d rather retry the case in a couple of months than have it potentially go to the Court of Appeals in a couple of years on the bad testimony issue.