Articles written by james brooks
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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, t... 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 A... 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
New anti-discrimination bill proposes housing protections for more Alaskans
Anchorage Democratic Rep. Jennie Armstrong, one of three newly elected LGBTQ members of the Alaska Legislature, has introduced a new proposal to ban... Full story
Alaska legislators worry that killer whales and a federal judge may doom a key fishery
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 35-1 on Wednesday to approve a letter urging state and federal officials to fight a lawsuit that could shut... Full story
Alaska sends food aid to Ukraine, but state declines to act on investments
More than 90,000 pounds of canned Alaska pink salmon purchased and donated by the state of Alaska...
Report shows Alaska has almost eliminated its backlog of untested sexual assault evidence
Alaska’s backlog of untested sexual assault examination kits has all but disappeared after a five-year, multimillion-dollar effort, according to a r... Full story
USDA will restore the 'roadless rule' in the Tongass
The Biden administration will ban new logging roads and most development in much of Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, the U.S. Department o... Full story
University of Alaska will gain land under new federal budget law
An obscure clause in the just-passed $1.7 trillion federal omnibus budget law has awarded the University of Alaska a plot of land half the size of the... Full story
After legislative vote, federal aid to Alaska seafood processors is again delayed
A joint House-Senate committee of the Alaska Legislature voted against accepting $20 million in federal aid to seafood processors, with lawmakers... Full story
Ahead of first-draft state budget, oil prices are driving a tighter Alaska fiscal picture
The lowest crude oil prices of the year are coming at a bad time for Alaska. This week, as required by state law, Gov. Mike Dunleavy will unveil his... Full story
Murkowski, Peltola and Dunleavy projected to win
All three incumbents likely clinched final victory in Alaska's statewide elections Friday, as the... Full story
With more votes counted, Alaska House races are split 20-20 between Republicans and others
Democratic candidate Donna Mears overtook Republican candidate Forrest Wolfe in a closely watched Alaska House race as the Alaska Division of...
Years of flat state funding create budget stress for schools across Alaska
The Anchorage School District, which is considering the closure of six elementary schools amid a projected $68 million budget shortfall, isn’t the o... Full story
Dunleavy, Peltola seek federal relief after failure of Alaska crab fisheries
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has requested a federal disaster declaration and U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola has requested $250 million in relief funding after the... Full story
Alaska absentee ballots should have two stamps, but one is OK, officials say
This year’s Alaska general election absentee ballot is a hefty document, weighing in between 1.1 and 1.2 ounces. If it were an ordinary letter, t... Full story
