Methamphetamine-related fatalities have increased fourfold in Alaska over the last decade, according to a state epidemiological report released Tuesday.
State Government
Spending gap could hurt Alaska Permanent Fund, budget director says
Alaska’s state government will have a roughly $600 million gap between how much it spends and how much it raises, State budget director Pat Pitney says.
State challenges national forest roadless rule again
The state is again trying to overturn the U.S. Forest Service’s roadless rule. Officials appealed a court decision that threw out an earlier state challenge.
Deputy Mayor Nankervis announces primary run for Alaska House
Juneau Deputy Mayor Jerry Nankervis announced Tuesday that he wants to represent the Mendenhall Valley in the Alaska House of Representatives. Nankervis filed a letter of intent to run in the August 2018 Republican primary for District 34, one of two Juneau House districts.
Alaska House passes revision to criminal justice law
After a series of contentious votes on amendments, 32 House members voted for Senate Bill 54, while eight voted against it early Tuesday morning.
Alaska House rejects repeal of controversial criminal justice law
An amendment would have repealed most of the law that lowered jail terms for many crimes.
Governor lowers flags to honor Texas shooting victims
On Monday, Gov. Bill Walker ordered Alaska flags to be flown at half-staff for the victims of a shooting in Texas. In a news release, Walker’s proclamation states that U.S. and Alaska flags be lowered. All flags should return to full-staff by sunset Thursday.
Fairbanks mayor: Borough must address $400M building-maintenance backlog
Mayor Karl Kassel told a couple hundred area residents who showed up for two meetings Wednesday that many are so old that they just need to be torn down and replaced, which comes with a price tag of nearly $400 million to catch up on that backlog.
Alaska appeals decision that would open Democratic primaries
The state of Alaska is appealing a decision that would open Democratic party primaries to independents. An appeal notice was filed Friday with the Alaska Supreme Court.
House to debate criminal justice bill over weekend
The bill’s cost could reduce the savings from Senate Bill 91 by roughly 7 percent.