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New list rates the most bipartisan members of Congress—and the least
WASHINGTON — Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick were the most bipartisan members of Congress last year, according to a newly released analysis from the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. The least bipartisan House lawmaker was Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, while Alabama’s Katie […] The post New list rates the most bipartisan members of Congress—and the least appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska’s education department does not track homeschool allotment spending, but may have to start
As time runs out for Alaska lawmakers to address a recent court ruling that rattled the state’s correspondence education programs, a proposal has emerged for state officials to track their spending for the first time in a decade. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development does not track whether or not correspondence school allotment […] The post Alaska’s education department does not track homeschool allotment spending, but may have to start appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Church, synagogue vandalism to be punishable as a felony in Alaska under passed bill
Members of the Alaska Senate approved a bill that would increase the penalties for damaging or defacing property owned by religious organizations and used for religious purposes on Saturday. It will return to the House for concurrence on changes made in Senate committees. Sen. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, carried the bill in the Senate and said […] The post Church, synagogue vandalism to be punishable as a felony in Alaska under passed bill appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Legislature approves additional planning for mines to benefit high-tech industries
The Alaska Legislature has ordered the creation of a long-term mining development plan for “critical and essential minerals” important to high-technology and defense manufacturing. Senate Bill 118, from Sen. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, passed the state Senate on a 20-0 vote in late April, and the state House passed it by a 39-1 vote on […] The post Alaska Legislature approves additional planning for mines to benefit high-tech industries appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska lawmakers approve task force to consider responses to seafood industry ‘implosion’
A special legislative panel is to make recommendations about state policies to rescue Alaska’s seafood industry, a major pillar of the economy that is mired in crisis, under a bill that won final passage over the weekend. The measure, Senate Concurrent Resolution 10, would establish an eight-member seafood industry task force, with four state senators […] The post Alaska lawmakers approve task force to consider responses to seafood industry ‘implosion’ appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Something woolly is afoot in Alaska
For a journalist, it’s hard to imagine an entry on a public official’s calendar more enticing than four hours of woolly mammoth. OK, it’s not actually that hard — entries like “bribe acceptance” and “V. Putin secret meeting” would also get me pretty excited. Nonetheless, it is an understatement to say that I was prettttttty […] The post Something woolly is afoot in Alaska appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska House passes trans sports ban after extended filibuster by opponents
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 22-18 late Sunday to ban transgender girls from girls’ school sports teams by limiting access to girls whose original birth certificates identify them as girls. The decision followed hours of filibustering by a coalition of opponents, but supporters mustered enough votes to defeat dozens of amendments offered by those […] The post Alaska House passes trans sports ban after extended filibuster by opponents appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska lawmakers support push to investigate, document forced assimilation in boarding schools
Alaska lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to support a federal proposal that would investigate and document the forced assimilation of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children in government-funded boarding schools. House Joint Resolution 17 acknowledges the trauma Indian boarding schools inflicted on Indigenous communities in Alaska and across the country, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. […] The post Alaska lawmakers support push to investigate, document forced assimilation in boarding schools appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Senate contemplates major property tax cut for over-65 homeowners
Four days before the scheduled end of the Alaska Legislature’s regular session, a Senate committee has proposed a major increase in the state’s property tax exemption for disabled veterans, widows and Alaskans 65 or older. On Sunday, the Senate Finance Committee proposed tripling the exemption from $150,000 to $450,000. An eligible Alaskan whose home is […] The post Alaska Senate contemplates major property tax cut for over-65 homeowners appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Legislature plans to eliminate many mandatory newspaper public notices
Alaska state lawmakers are preparing for a final vote on a bill that would eliminate the requirement that many public notices be published in local newspapers. Senate Bill 68, which passed the Senate on a 17-0 vote in March, could be approved by the state House as soon as Monday. In recent years, commercial advertising […] The post Alaska Legislature plans to eliminate many mandatory newspaper public notices appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Supreme Court upholds Valdez ordinance that limited fur trapping
The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the city of Valdez in a lawsuit that challenged the bounds of municipal authority within the state. In a unanimous decision issued Friday, the court upheld a municipal trapping ordinance that banned fur trapping in certain parts of town in order to protect people and pets […] The post Alaska Supreme Court upholds Valdez ordinance that limited fur trapping appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Debate over transgender sports ban brings Alaska House to a standstill
More than 10 hours after it opened debate on a bill that would ban transgender girls from girls sports teams in Alaska, the Alaska House of Representatives remained bogged down on the issue late Saturday. With the legislative session scheduled to end on Wednesday, the protracted debate forced the postponement of other priority work, including […] The post Debate over transgender sports ban brings Alaska House to a standstill appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska House approves marijuana tax reform, advancing bill to Senate
A decade after Alaska voters legalized recreational marijuana, the Alaska Legislature is advancing the first major change to the law that opened commercial sales here. On Friday, the Alaska House of Representatives voted to change the state’s $50 per ounce marijuana tax to a 7% sales tax. If House Bill 119 is accepted by the […] The post Alaska House approves marijuana tax reform, advancing bill to Senate appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Legislature approves bid preference for companies that employ trained veterans
A new bill passed by the Alaska Legislature will give companies that employ participants of a military veteran reentry program an advantage in small contracts solicited by the state. Senate Bill 154, approved 19-0 by the state Senate last month and 37-3 by the state House on Friday, says that a company that employs a […] The post Alaska Legislature approves bid preference for companies that employ trained veterans appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Bills on psychedelics, temporary nursing permits and medical reviews pass in Alaska Legislature
The Alaska Senate on Friday passed a trio of bills broadly aimed at improving delivery of health care, granting final approval to the measures. All three, which originated in the House, are now headed to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for his consideration. One measure, House Bill 228, would set up a state task force to recommend […] The post Bills on psychedelics, temporary nursing permits and medical reviews pass in Alaska Legislature appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain
For the second time while serving in the Nevada Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro gave birth last year. And again, she publicly pledged to continue full participation in her duties. As the nation’s groundbreaker when it comes to working moms in a state capital, Nevada made history in 2019 as the only female-majority legislative […] The post ‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Two years in, the Alaska Beacon is going strong
On Saturday, the Alaska Beacon will mark the second anniversary of its May 11, 2022, launch. Just like this week, the launch week was the last of the legislative session, and the Beacon connected from Day One with Alaskans thirsty to know more about their state government. Since then, the four-person staff has made it […] The post Two years in, the Alaska Beacon is going strong appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska House opposition attempts to filibuster bill restricting trans girls in sports
A coalition of Democratic, independent and Republican lawmakers in the Alaska House of Representatives has stymied a bill that would prohibit transgender girls from playing on girls school sports teams. Legislators opposed to the bill have introduced dozens of amendments, and after debate on a single amendment stretched for more than an hour Thursday, lawmakers […] The post Alaska House opposition attempts to filibuster bill restricting trans girls in sports appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Lawmakers boost Council for Alaska Native Languages with new name, more languages and members
Lawmakers added four Alaska Native languages to the state’s official language tally and renamed the council that advocates for their survival and revitalization on Friday. Members of the Senate approved their version of House Bill 26 with a unanimous vote on Monday. State Representatives concurred with the changes on Friday, which means it goes to […] The post Lawmakers boost Council for Alaska Native Languages with new name, more languages and members appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska lawmakers choose lower funding proposals for school lunches, reading reforms
Lawmakers charged with reconciling the House and Senate versions of the state’s operating budget chose to allocate fewer dollars to reading reforms and lunches for students from low-income families. It will take majority votes of the full House and Senate to approve their choices. The House’s operating budget included nearly $9 million to support the […] The post Alaska lawmakers choose lower funding proposals for school lunches, reading reforms appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
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Alaska Beacon is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government. Alaska, like many states, has seen a decline in the coverage of state news. We aim to reverse that. Our name comes from the first verse of the Alaska Flag Song: “The great North Star with its steady light, O'er land and sea a beacon bright.” Our journalists report fairly and fearlessly on the people and interests that determine state policy. We do not serve any political party or private interest. We support the ability of all Alaskans to participate in the political process. We provide accurate, factual reporting. We promptly correct errors. If you see one, let us know. Beacon reporters explore how state policies affect specific areas like the economy and environment, education, health, and criminal and social justice. We aim to tell stories that aren’t being told, to bring fresh perspectives to state issues and to amplify the voices of Alaska communities that have been marginalized. Alaska Beacon provides a forum for commentary on state issues, with a goal of elevating policy conversations. These commentaries don’t come from our reporters and are labeled differently than our news reporting. Read our submission guidelines here. To do our jobs, we rely solely on the donations of those who value independent journalism. We welcome other news organizations to republish our work, and ask that they credit us. Alaska Beacon is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. Our editorial decisions are made inside Alaska by Alaska journalists.
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