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The Midnight Sun

In her first legislative address, U.S. Rep. Peltola praises Alaska’s bipartisanship

When U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola stood in front of the joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Friday, she looked out at a group of legislators shaped by some of the same forces and energy that made her historic...

Child care providers warn of $30 million shortfall as covid-19 grants expire

We’ve heard a lot of different reasons for Alaska’s workforce problems and ongoing exodus of Alaskans, but one of the common threads through all of it is the sorry state of Alaska’s child care system. High costs, low availability...

Dunleavy’s budget amendments add needed money for public defenders, nothing new for schools

Wednesday was the deadline for Gov. Mike Dunleavy to deliver his amendments to the state budgets. This year didn’t bring the massive, red-alert shake-up we saw in the governor’s first year, instead bringing $117 million of new spending that...

As state looks for quick fix to workforce shortage, labor argues dependable retirement still key

On Tuesday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued an executive order to review state jobs where a four-year college degree isn’t needed. It’s a largely welcome change to address the state’s ongoing high vacancy rate, which has also drawn efforts like...

Legislation would require coverage of 12-month supply of contraceptives

Legislators this week heard legislation that seeks to make life a bit easier for women using prescription contraceptives. House Bill 17 by Fairbanks Democratic Rep. Ashley Carrick would require insurance and Medicaid coverage of 12-month supplies of contraceptives. Currently, most...

Anchorage Assembly moves to make Bronson administration records public: ‘We were duped.’

Amid the growing mountain of controversy facing Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration—whose many controversies were encapsulated in the latest product of the Anchorage Daily News/ProPublica partnership entitled “From Penis Cookies to Spying: A Growing List of Allegations at Anchorage...

Freshmen legislators form informal caucus day after member criticized for being new

The day after Big Lake Republican Rep. Kevin McCabe told a freshman legislator that she didn't understand how the legislative process works because she is new, Soldotna Republican Rep. Justin Ruffridge announced the formation of the bipartisan freshman caucus,...

Chief Justice Winfree’s farewell delivers impassioned defense of an independent judiciary

Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel Winfree, the state’s first Alaska-born justice to hold the position, gave his farewell to the Alaska Legislature this week as part of the annual State of the Judiciary address, giving an impassioned defense...

Limited public safety pension bill advances over acrimonious far-right objections

Legislation to create a defined benefits pension plan for most publicly employed first responders in Alaska advanced from the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on Thursday, over the bitter objections of far-right legislators. House Bill 22, by Anchorage Democratic...

Senate Majority proposes ‘bold’ increase to education funding

The Alaska Senate Majority has made education funding a priority for this year’s legislative session as schools grapple with what years of an unchanged base student funding formula and inflation mean for their future. Today, the Senate Majority announced what...

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