Politics

At the end of last year’s legislative session, Juneau found itself on the hook for more than $5 million in cost shifts from the state.

Alaska fourth graders had the lowest reading scores in the country in a national assessment last year.

The ballot initiative would raise the minimum tax and eliminate oil tax credits for Alaska’s largest legacy fields. It would also require oil companies to publicly report their revenues and costs from those fields.

Juneau resident Libby Bakalar served in the Alaska attorney general’s office until December 2018, when she was fired by Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration.

Lisa Murkowski sent the hopes of Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans aloft with her “disturbed” comment. The Alaska senator says her point was about procedure.

Analysts say tension in the Middle East doesn’t impact oil prices the way it used to. But that could change.

The bills include proposals on tribal compact schools, oil and gas taxes, and a constitutional amendment to lower the bar for overriding budget vetoes.

The ruling allows the Recall Dunleavy campaign to move forward. But opponents are expected to appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court.

The ballot measure, organized by the group Alaskans for Better Elections, needed to gather 28,368 signatures to qualify for the 2020 ballot.

Lawmakers are considering a war powers resolution that would require President Trump to get congressional approval for further action on Iran.