Three state representatives introduced the bill last week. Fansler didn’t identify where the money to fund the bill would come from but said the move would save money over time.
Education
Soldotna hockey captain suspended from weekend play over racist tweets
A senior on the Soldotna High School hockey team was suspended from play over the weekend after posting racist comments on social media. The player was a team captain but did not participate in games in Anchorage over the weekend.
Southeast lawmakers wary of education budget cuts
As the Legislature looks to close a nearly $3 billion gap between state spending and revenue, Southeast lawmakers say school funding shouldn’t be cut further.
Gov. Walker hits on same budget themes with new Legislature
Walker said the state government risks spending all of its savings if it denies there’s a problem and hopes for oil prices to rise.
Finance committee weakens school district funding request, sends to next step
The Juneau Assembly could give the Juneau School District about $250,000 extra to pay for facilities maintenance. It’s a fraction of what the district asked for.
Haines School enrollment down, while Skagway keeps growing
Enrollment has dropped to some of the lowest levels the Haines School District has ever seen, but in Skagway, the school is seeing a growth in student population.
Nome woman found dead in Anchorage parking lot
A missing person case for Anchorage police turned into a death investigation on Thursday. A graduate of Nome-Beltz Junior/Senior High School, Martina Painter, 25, was found dead Thursday afternoon. She was the only person in a blue four-door Dodge Dart located in a parking lot near University Lake Park in Anchorage.
Homer students to compete in state robotics championship
This winter, a group of middle-schoolers at West Homer Elementary are putting aside hockey sticks and skis in favor of a more unusual team sport: building robots. The group of 10 sixth-graders calls themselves the “Brickheads.”
Juneau’s biggest stories of 2016
As 2016 winds down, here’s a look at Juneau’s biggest stories of the year.
Nome-based non-profit hopes to revitalize Inupiaq with ‘language nest’
Coming to the region at the start of the new year is a “nest” project focused on Inupiaq language revitalization. A Nome-based non-profit organization called Inuusiq Inc., which started up this year, is spearheading the project.