Senate President Pete Kelly said his caucus was right to oppose an income tax last year. Anchorage Democratic Sen. Berta Gardner, the minority caucus leader, said a broad-based tax is still needed.
Southcentral
Alaska’s first electric bus for public transit ready for Anchorage streets
A four-month trial period will test how the bus and its batteries fare in cold weather, as the city looks into whether it makes sense to have an entire fleet of electric buses.
Anchorage woman dies of gunshot wounds suffered in December
Juanita Lolesio, 19, of Anchorage died of gunshot wounds suffered two weeks ago, police announced Monday. Police are investigating the case as a homicide but say they have no new information on a suspect.
Petitions submitted to bar payments to lawmakers if they miss budget deadline
The group Alaskans for Integrity said it likely has more than enough signed petitions to put an initiative on the fall ballot.
For Anchorage to Mat-Su commuter rail, a task force takes shape
Gov. Bill Walker wants a task force to look into commuter rail service between Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
New pretrial system scales back cash bail, increases monitoring
The state has created an entirely new Pretrial Enforcement Division. Its 60 officers are responsible for monitoring defendants’ compliance with their conditions of release.
Drilling plan may not change much but still worries Southcentral fishermen and environmentalists
The Trump administration proposed last week to drastically increase the amount of Alaska waters open for oil and gas leasing. Along with keeping Cook Inlet open, it would also make areas near Kodiak and the Gulf of Alaska available for drilling, both of which are currently closed.
Wasilla state Sen. Mike Dunleavy resigns ahead of campaign for governor
Alaska state Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, on Monday announced he would resign his seat to “devote 100 percent of my time and energy to the cause of ensuring that Alaska elects a new governor in 2018.”
Alaska state regulators urge caution to investors eyeing cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrency prices have been swinging wildly. The price of one bitcoin rose from $1,000 a year ago to roughly $14,000 today.
To protest borough’s invocation policy, Homer resident worships Flying Spaghetti Monster
Homer resident Barrett Fletcher prepared to host the first meeting of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster at his home on solstice. He needs the religion to have regular meetings in the area so he can fill the borough’s requirement to give an invocation.