Articles written by Larry Persily
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 180
Guest Editorial: Tax credits no substitute for state responsibility
Tax credits have long been popular, growing more so every year. Supporters push them to provide government backing for new initiatives or ongoing...
Ferry ridership still not back to pre-pandemic numbers
The state ferry system carried 181,000 passengers in 2023, still short of the pre-COVID numbers in 2019 and down substantially from almost 340,000 in...
Crew shortage continues to limit operations at state ferry system
The Alaska Marine Highway System’s ongoing crew shortage has eased up for entry-level steward positions but remains a significant problem in the...
Legislature fails by one vote to override of governor's school funding veto
Alaska lawmakers fell one vote short Monday in an attempt to override the governor’s veto of a comprehensive school funding bill, which included a p...
Guest Editorial
Even in winter, there are hot opportunities. And since the state’s prospects for economic well-being are in short supply these days — like being...
Guest Editorial: Alaska needs to control its PFD politics
It was a perplexing week in the Legislature. While the Senate Finance Committee was reviewing honest numbers about real budget needs hitting up...
Developer wants to build housing on former Wrangell hospital property
WRANGELL — A Georgia-based developer who has taken a liking to Wrangell has offered the borough $200,000 for the former hospital property, with plan...
Make all schools better, not just some
The governor’s growing obsession with charter schools is frightening for the future of public education in Alaska. He talks as if charter schools...
Wrangell loses three cruise ship stops to Klawock
Wrangell has lost three cruise ship stopovers this summer to Klawock, where a partnership of three Native corporations is developing a tourist destina...
State, tribe and borough wait on federal disaster funding
WRANGELL — The borough is waiting on a federal disaster declaration to cover the expense of power line repairs and other immediate and near-term...
Assembly decides mandatory boat insurance ordinance needs more work
Assembly members agreed that a port commission proposal to require boat owners to carry marine insurance — or pay a monthly fee in addition to...
Guest Editorial
Risky business not the state’s business The advice for Las Vegas gamblers is don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. It’s generally the...
Wrangell officials concerned about ongoing population decline
Wrangell borough officials are concerned that Wrangell continues to lose population, while those who stay in town grow older and leave the workforce....
Seafood industry expects 'another bad year' of weak markets
“I’ve never seen market conditions as bad as they are now,” Doug Vincent-Lang, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, told a...
State ferry system in 3rd year of crew shortages
Crew shortages continue to plague the Alaska Marine Highway, the ferry system’s director told a gathering of Southeast officials last week. “Our...
State issues preliminary report of Nov. 20 landslides
WRANGELL — State geologists were able to more accurately measure the movement and damage from massive landslides that poured across roads in the...
Guest Editorial: National group works with Forest Service for new cabins
Alaskans often like to complain — a lot, and loudly — about national groups sticking their noses and opinions into the workings of the 49th...
Family learns homeowner's insurance does not cover landslides
WRANGELL — John Florschutz was surprised to learn that his parents’ homeowner’s insurance policy did not cover the loss from the Nov. 20...
Landslide families could receive state parcels under disaster program
WRANGELL — The borough assembly has declared as “hazardous” and assigned a property value of zero to the two lots owned by victims of the...
Proposed ordinance takes aim at illegal dumping in harbor dumpsters
The dumpsters at Wrangell’s public harbors are for boat owners only and for their household trash only — but that hasn’t stopped people from tos...
Guest Editorial: Public deserves a more believable story
It seems the governor’s office must like country music. Can’t argue with that choice. The lyrics speak of American dreams and heartbreaks. What...
Governor wants to take over appointment of entire ferry system advisory board
Unless the Legislature decides otherwise by mid-March, Gov. Mike Dunleavy will take over appointment of the entire nine-member Alaska Marine Highway...
Wrangell assembly raises rates for lightering cruise passengers to shore
WRANGELL — Cruise ship operators that lighter their passengers to shore will pay higher port fees starting this summer in Wrangell. The borough asse...
Energy relief 'bonus' dividend looking smaller
This fall’s energy relief payment, which would go out along with the annual Permanent Fund dividend, is looking smaller than expected several...
Application period open for 43rd year of Permanent Fund dividends
Almost 110,000 Alaskans applied for the fall 2024 Permanent Fund dividend in the first eight days after the application period opened on Jan. 1....