Districts are facing severe budget shortfalls and wrestling with difficult decisions, like closing schools, eliminating positions and increasing class sizes.
State Government
From abortion to zoning: Short summaries of every bill in the 33rd Alaska State Legislature
The Alaska Beacon is aiming to write brief summaries of each bill, resolution and constitutional amendment as it’s introduced.
Juneau delegation outlines priorities for legislative session
The Juneau delegation will host a town hall meeting Wednesday night at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School Commons.
Alaska legislators’ prefiled bills range from marriage equality to fisheries management
Alaska legislators have so far prefiled 68 bills and resolutions ahead of the Jan. 17 session start date.
New legislative housing could address longstanding challenges for lawmakers and staff in Juneau
The downtown location could reduce the need to bring cars to Juneau and would also bring the amount of session housing closer to pre-pandemic levels.
State Public Assistance director is no longer in her post following news of months-long waits for food stamps
Juneau resident Deb Etheridge will replace O’Brien. She was previously Assistant Director of Southeast Alaska Independent Living.
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy appoints two new judges to Anchorage Superior Court
The two new judges will fill seats opened by the impending retirements of Erin Marston and Eric Aarseth.
Alaska joins more than a dozen states banning TikTok on state devices
Last month the FBI warned Congress that the Chinese government could potentially use TikTok to collect users’ data or control their devices.
Alaska legislators say abortion-related legislation is unlikely to advance in the Capitol this year
A bipartisan supermajority in the Senate, plus close margins in the House, means controversial bills on social issues will face major obstacles.
No appeal to Alaska Supreme Court in disloyalty-clause case that confirmed Eastman’s eligibility
The Alaska Supreme Court will not have a chance to rule on the case of a legislator accused of violating the state constitution’s disloyalty clause, clearing the way for him to take office.