Author
See scenes of new Alaska legislators in training
Twenty of the Alaska Legislature’s 60 members will be new to the building this year, and if you count legislators who are returning to the building after doing their best impersonation of Grover Cleveland – the president who served non-consecutive terms – the number rises to 23. Add the three members of the House who […]
Alaska Supreme Court rules in favor of Jennie Armstrong, clearing her to serve in Legislature
The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld the eligibility of Rep.-elect Jennie Armstrong, D-Anchorage, to serve in the state Legislature. In a summary decision issued Friday, three of the court’s justices voted 2-1 to uphold a lower-court decision in Armstrong’s favor. The justices did not provide an immediate explanation for their decision; one will be published […]
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 report that will be formally presented to the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday. The kits, colloquially known as “rape kits,” are used to collect physical evidence after a sexual assault. Figures published by the Alaska Department […]
Alaska Supreme Court will hear challenge to Anchorage Democrat’s legislative eligibility
A Superior Court ruling that upheld the legislative eligibility of Rep.-elect Jennie Armstrong, D-Anchorage, is being appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court. Late Tuesday, defeated Republican candidate Liz Vazquez and four supporters filed the appeal with the state’s high court, asking justices to overturn the Monday decision by Judge Herman Walker. The Alaska Legislature convenes […]
Elections, daylight saving and more: Alaska lawmakers release first batch of draft legislation
Alaska legislators released the text of 63 bills and five constitutional amendments on Monday, giving Alaskans a first look at legislation prefiled before the Alaska Legislature convenes Jan. 17 in Juneau. A second batch of prefiled bills will be released Friday, and still more will be made public on the first day of the legislative […]
Judge upholds Anchorage Democrat’s eligibility after legal challenge from defeated Republican
An Alaska Superior Court judge has ruled against a challenge to Rep.-elect Jennie Armstrong’s eligibility, clearing the way for the Anchorage Democrat to take office when the Legislature convenes Jan. 17 in Juneau. “Based upon the subjective and objective evidence presented at trial and the credibility of the witnesses, the court finds that Armstrong meets […]
Panel picks five nominees for new chancellor of University of Alaska Southeast
A search committee has picked the chairman of Sealaska Corp. and four education officials as finalists to serve as the chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast, one of three main branches of the University of Alaska System. On Monday, the university announced the shortlist of candidates for the job that will open when current […]
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy appoints two new judges to Anchorage Superior Court
Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed a public advocate and a private-practice attorney to two vacant seats on the Anchorage Superior Court, his office announced Friday. Laura Hartz, a 2005 graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law, and Christina Rankin, a 2002 graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law, were appointed by the governor […]
Alaska follows other states, bans social media app TikTok from state-owned electronics
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday issued a memo banning the use of the China-based social media platform TikTok on state-issued devices, citing cybersecurity concerns. “Simply put, TikTok poses a clear risk to any network or user it touches,” the memo said in part. The decision follows similar action by almost 20 states and the […]
With session approaching, Alaska House members seek to avoid leadership struggle like in U.S. House
As Americans watch the U.S. House struggle to elect a leader, Alaskans may soon see a similar situation develop in the state House of Representatives. “These proceedings back east, it’s a stark reminder to a lot of us that we could be going through the same thing,” said Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham. Eleven days before […]
Alaska’s population rose slightly in 2022, but more people continue to leave than arrive
Alaska’s population rose in 2022 according to new estimates released Thursday by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, marking a second consecutive year of increases after four years of declines. State demographers also retroactively boosted the state’s 2021 population estimate after new data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicated fewer people moved out […]
Alaska legislators say abortion-related legislation is unlikely to advance in the Capitol this year
Two weeks before the Alaska Legislature convenes in Juneau, members of the state House and Senate say they don’t expect much work this year on legislation involving controversial social issues like abortion and transgender rights. “I think it’s safe to say that the social issues along those lines probably will not get a lot of […]