Articles written by James Brooks
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Alaska governor's staff deleted state agency's analysis of teacher pay
Staff for Gov. Mike Dunleavy quashed the publication of a new Department of Labor and Workforce Development report examining the competitiveness of... Full story
Alaska retirement board recommends closure of widely used plan after analysis finds flaws The 'managed accounts' program covers more than 10,000 of the 122,000-plus retirement accounts managed by the state
The board in charge of Alaska’s retirement system for public employees has recommended the closure of its commonly used managed accounts program... Full story
Alaska redistricting board agrees to pay $400,000 after losing Eagle River Senate lawsuit
The five-person board in charge of drawing Alaska’s legislative districts will pay $400,000 to settle financial claims brought by a group of East... Full story
$1,312 Permanent Fund Dividend arrives Oct. 5
This year's Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend will be $1,312. The Alaska Department of Revenue... Full story
In new challenges to Tongass 'Roadless Rule,' pro-logging arguments have disappeared
The state of Alaska, a coalition of business groups and a pair of electric-power organizations have opened a new round in the generation-long fight...
Study: Alaska is failing to keep most Alaska-born residents
More than half of Alaskans born within the state have moved away, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data published by the Federal...
Southeast wolves are not threatened or endangered, federal agency concludes
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has again rejected a request to list Southeast Alaska's... Full story
Pete Buttigieg ends Alaska visit with emphasis on ferries
When U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg's flight from Juneau to Haines was rained out... Full story
Alaska natural resources agency OKs bigger off-road vehicles on most state land
Alaskans can now use larger and heavier recreational off-road vehicles on most state land without a specialty permit, a move intended to accommodate... Full story
Permanent Fund could run out of spendable money in three years
The spendable portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund is dwindling and could be exhausted entirely within three years, fund leaders were told during a... Full story
Another campaign complaint filed against opponents of Alaska ranked choice voting
Supporters of Alaska’s ranked choice voting system are again alleging that opponents of the system are violating state campaign law. On Monday,... Full story
Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoes half of proposed funding increase for K-12 public schools
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Alaska’s $6 billion state budget into law Monday after vetoing more than $200 million from the document approved in...
Why did Alaskans statewide get an Amber Alert on Tuesday?
On Tuesday afternoon, cellphones across the state beeped with emergency tones as the Alaska State Troopers attempted to find two-year-old Karma... Full story
House and Senate failed to pass a bill that would have blocked the pay hikes for Alaska's legislators and top executive-branch officials
Alaska legislators, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and the commissioners in charge of state agencies will see pay raises after the... Full story
Legislature approves bill to improve home care for seniors and Alaskans with disabilities
Seniors and people with disabilities who need extra care would be able to get help at home under a bill passed by the Alaska Legislature. The state... Full story
Al Gross should have stayed on U.S. House ballot, Alaska Supreme Court says
The Alaska Division of Elections improperly removed Al Gross, an independent candidate for U.S. House, from last year’s special election ballot,... Full story
Alaska Legislature passes bills boosting mothers' health care and renewable energy fund
Thousands of new mothers will receive extended Medicaid coverage under legislation proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and passed by the Alaska... Full story
House-passed bill would trim the time needed for Alaska loggers to cut state-owned forests
A bill advancing in the Alaska Legislature would dramatically shorten the time needed to approve the logging of some state-owned lands, shrinking... Full story
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy weighs a statewide sales tax amid broader push for fiscal plan
In a pair of closed-door meetings with members of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he is prepared to introduce a statewide... Full story
House approves $6.4 billion proposal would cover state services for 12 months starting July 1 and includes a $2,700 PFD
The Alaska House of Representatives on Monday approved a $6.4 billion state operating budget for the 12 months that begin July 1, passing by a 23-17... Full story
Alaska House votes for temporary boost to public school funding
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Monday to increase the amount of money the state pays K-12 schools per student in the 2023-2024 school... Full story
State sales tax, envisioned as part of long-term plan, gets first hearing in Alaska Capitol
A 2% statewide sales tax proposed by Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, received its first legislative hearing last Wednesday night, with its sponsor sayi... Full story
Fast-track budget bill, intended to help food-stamp program, speeds through Alaska Legislature
The Alaska Legislature has passed a fast-track budget bill intended to immediately address problems with the state’s food-aid program for poor... Full story
K-12 funding increase takes first step forward in Alaska House
The Alaska House Education Committee voted 5-2 Wednesday morning to raise the amount Alaska pays K-12 schools per student, a figure known as the base... Full story
Testifiers support new Alaska housing anti-discrimination bill, sharing personal stories
Dozens of Alaskans testified in the state Capitol on Monday, urging lawmakers to advance a new anti-discrimination measure that would protect... Full story
