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Still much unknown on how marijuana policies would change in states under Biden plan
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has proposed loosening the illegal status of marijuana at the federal level – but that doesn’t mean the federal government now condones recreational or medicinal use in the many states that have legalized the drug. Moving marijuana from the government’s list of the most dangerous and least useful substances to […] The post Still much unknown on how marijuana policies would change in states under Biden plan appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Brinksmanship and compromise emerge in Alaska’s Capitol as legislative session nears an end
Members of the Alaska Senate have killed, at least temporarily, a plan to end a tax policy worth more than $100 million for one of the state’s largest oil companies. The move came after Hilcorp Alaska and members of the state House of Representatives warned that there would be consequences if the Senate moved forward […] The post Brinksmanship and compromise emerge in Alaska’s Capitol as legislative session nears an end appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
U.S. should hold Russia, China to clean production standards, Alaska Senate says
Members of the Alaska Senate voted unanimously to support national trade policies that would hold Russia, China and other foreign nations accountable to American production standards. Senate Joint Resolution 19 is a statement that recognizes Alaska as a leader in clean production standards and defends it and the rest of the nation against global disparities […] The post U.S. should hold Russia, China to clean production standards, Alaska Senate says appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska’s state economic development agency may be reined in
While the complexion of the next Legislature may be different, indications seem to suggest a transformation of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) may be in store. Shortly after the House Finance Committee rejected a House Transportation Committee recommendation that AIDEA be granted bonding authority for $300 million to do, essentially, whatever it […] The post Alaska’s state economic development agency may be reined in appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Bill to expand definition of ‘village’ qualifying for water funds passes Alaska House
What in Alaska counts as a village? When it comes to state money for drinking water improvements, the definition can be fraught. In a close vote, the Alaska House on Wednesday passed a bill that would add six road-system communities to the list of rural communities that qualify for the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Village […] The post Bill to expand definition of ‘village’ qualifying for water funds passes Alaska House appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Senate OKs increased access to birth control
A large bipartisan majority of the Senate approved increased insurance coverage for birth control on Thursday. Alaskans may access up to 12 months worth of contraceptives at a time and without a co-pay from the state’s pharmacies if the bill becomes law. House Bill 17 also requires health insurance companies to cover contraceptives without a […] The post Alaska Senate OKs increased access to birth control appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think
A little more than two years ago, a clean energy record was broken. For the first time, a regional transmission organization met more than 90% of its electric demand, called load, with renewable power. But if you don’t follow the electric industry closely, you might be surprised where it happened. On March 29, 2022, Southwest […] The post In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Native corporation ending involvement in controversial Ambler road project
The regional corporation owned by the Iñupiat people of Northwest Alaska said Wednesday it is severing its ties to the Ambler Access Project, the controversial road that a state agency proposes to build through the Brooks Range foothills to allow commercial mining in an isolated Arctic area. NANA Regional Corp., based in Kotzebue, said it […] The post Alaska Native corporation ending involvement in controversial Ambler road project appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Debating faked images and video, Alaska lawmakers say AI could eventually be a person
The Alaska House of Representatives is moving toward new restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence computer software that can be used to impersonate a person’s voice and appearance. As soon as Thursday, the House may vote on House Bill 358, which would ban someone from using a faked picture, video or sound clip to […] The post Debating faked images and video, Alaska lawmakers say AI could eventually be a person appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Supreme Court schedules date for homeschool lawsuit appeal
The Alaska Supreme Court proposed hearing the state’s appeal to a court case that struck down key components of its correspondence school program before the end of June. Oral arguments would be held June 25, five days before the end of a hold on the lower court’s ruling. Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman ruled that […] The post Alaska Supreme Court schedules date for homeschool lawsuit appeal appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska needs to stop prioritizing incarceration over education in effort to reduce sex trafficking
Currently House Bill 68 is before the Legislature. This bill aims to combat sex trafficking, yet it further criminalizes sex workers and sex trafficking survivors with the new crime of felony prostitution. HB 68 also seeks to change penalties for soliciting, making it a class A misdemeanor and for a third offense within five years, […] The post Alaska needs to stop prioritizing incarceration over education in effort to reduce sex trafficking appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Could Alaska be the final destination for Japan’s carbon pollution?
For decades, Alaska shipped liquefied natural gas to Japan, which burned the fuel to generate power — and also generated ample climate-warming carbon emissions. Now, the Biden administration wants to study whether those Japanese emissions could be captured, liquefied and shipped back to Alaska. There, they’d be injected and locked away underground in Cook Inlet, […] The post Could Alaska be the final destination for Japan’s carbon pollution? appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
By wide, bipartisan margin, Alaska House puts finishing touches on state capital budget
The Alaska House of Representatives approved a major increase to state spending on school repairs and renewable energy on Tuesday as it voted 39-1 to approve a $552 million capital budget. The capital budget, which pays for construction and renovation projects statewide, exceeds $4 billion if federal funding is included. Amendments adopted by the House […] The post By wide, bipartisan margin, Alaska House puts finishing touches on state capital budget appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Permanent Fund board to consider changes after leak of concerns over trustee
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board of trustees is considering changes to the policies it uses to govern itself in the wake of its top investment officer expressing concern, in leaked emails, that a trustee has conflicts of interest in using her influence to attempt to affect how the $80 billion fund is invested. The […] The post Alaska Permanent Fund board to consider changes after leak of concerns over trustee appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Lawsuit seeks to change Alaska legislative policy on vetoes, but the plaintiff is offering a deal
For the past five months, Alaska political writer Jeff Landfield has been quietly pursuing a lawsuit against Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton that could permanently change the way the Alaska Legislature handles vetoes by governors. The suit, filed in January, asks a state judge to confirm that the Alaska Legislature must vote on whether […] The post Lawsuit seeks to change Alaska legislative policy on vetoes, but the plaintiff is offering a deal appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska lawmakers seek delay in federal requirement for use of lead-free aviation fuel
Members of the Alaska Legislature are pushing back against a pending federal regulation that would require a switch to lead-free aviation fuel by 2030 in most of the nation. A resolution introduced Monday by the House Transportation Committee calls for an Alaska-specific delay of that rule until 2034. The measure, House Joint Resolution 29, cites […] The post Alaska lawmakers seek delay in federal requirement for use of lead-free aviation fuel appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Ratings firms upgrade Alaska’s credit rating, outlook
The two largest credit rating firms issued positive reports for Alaska’s state government last week, noting growing state budget reserves and progress on future North Slope oil projects. S&P upgraded Alaska’s rating, while Moody’s revised the state’s rating outlook from stable to positive on April 30. Credit ratings affect how much it costs the state […] The post Ratings firms upgrade Alaska’s credit rating, outlook appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
This oil platform stopped pumping 30 years ago. Alaska still won’t make the owner tear it down.
The Spurr oil platform stopped pumping crude from beneath the silty ocean water outside Anchorage in 1992. The platform, built in Cook Inlet during Alaska’s first oil boom in the 1960s, was losing money, officials from owner Marathon Oil wrote in a letter to the state. Oil production was expected to decline, and a review […] The post This oil platform stopped pumping 30 years ago. Alaska still won’t make the owner tear it down. appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Legislature rejects Dunleavy-nominated state school board member
The Alaska Legislature voted Tuesday to remove Bob Griffin from the state school board amid bipartisan unhappiness over his actions as a board member. The vote came amid the Legislature’s annual vote on gubernatorial nominees. Legislators approved 78 of the 81 people subject to legislative confirmation during a joint session of the state House and […] The post Alaska Legislature rejects Dunleavy-nominated state school board member appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
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