Senators reviewing Gov. Michael Dunleavy’s budget proposal say there’s value in keeping a fund that’s intended to equalize the cost of supplying power to rural Alaska.
Economy
Rep. Young seeks legal path for CBD
Rep. Don Young has joined a group of House Democrats seeking legal status for a product called CBD, a cannabis product often sold as a food additive. CBD doesn’t have the psychoactive components that cause a marijuana high, but all kinds of claims are made about its health benefits.
Proposed Medicaid cut raises concern for health centers, hospitals
Health care providers say cuts could mean services for Alaskans will look “dramatically different than they do today.”
Icelander visits Juneau to share advice for handling growing tourism industry
This year’s Innovation Summit in Juneau featured an expert from Iceland’s tourism sector. Much like Southeast Alaska, the visitors the tiny island nation sees every summer far outnumber its total residents.
Can Bethel afford the costs of climate change?
The costs from dealing with climate change are starting to become more visible in Bethel, a hub town for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. There are also costs to the region’s lifestyle.
Alaska ferries freeze autumn ticket sales amid uncertain future
The Alaska Marine Highway System has stopped selling tickets past September. That’s in anticipation to deep cuts that could be fatal to the state ferry network.
Army Corps of Engineers releases Pebble Mine’s draft environmental impact statement
In a major development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Pebble Mine on Wednesday.
Dunleavy seeks to scuttle Ocean Rangers cruise ship monitors
Voters in Alaska approved a 2006 ballot measure that put independent environmental watchdogs on cruise ships. But Gov. Michael Dunleavy’s administration is looking to scrap the program.
ASRC, after backing Dunleavy’s campaign, blasts his oil tax redistribution plan
ASRC president and CEO Rex Rock Sr. said: “Trying to balance a state budget on the backs of the Iñupiat people across the Arctic Slope is a wrongsided attack on our region.”
NovaGold stakes company future on Donlin Gold mine after major asset sale
NovaGold is staking a lot on the success of the proposed Donlin Gold mine after selling a big asset last year: the Galore Creek project in British Columbia.