Wire Service

Reps. Sara Hannan (right), D-Juneau, Andy Josephson (middle), D-Anchorage, and Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, discuss proposed amendments to an education bill during a break in Wednesday’s House floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House rejects sweeping changes in education bill, scheduled to resume debate Thursday

Lawmakers considered six different increases in per-student funding over several hours Wednesday.

Reps. Sara Hannan (right), D-Juneau, Andy Josephson (middle), D-Anchorage, and Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, discuss proposed amendments to an education bill during a break in Wednesday’s House floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Senate chambers are seen at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, May 13, 2022. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate approves permanent extension of senior benefits program and three other bills

The Alaska Senate voted without dissent on Wednesday to permanently extend a state program that pays up to $250 per month to poor Alaskans over… Continue reading

The Senate chambers are seen at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, May 13, 2022. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Defined benefits and economic freedom for state workers

I moved to Alaska 12 years ago. The allure of the Last Frontier to newcomers who enjoy nature, adventure and beauty is wonderful. The remoteness… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

My Turn: Figure out new possibilities from district restructuring, rather than trying to fight it

My children are 8 and 9. Both have been fortunate enough to attend Montessori Borealis since they were 3. This school year, my 9-year-old got… Continue reading

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Joe Geldhof is a parent of two daughters who attended public schools in Juneau and a former Juneau Assembly candidate. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Focus on saving teacher jobs, not buildings or nostalgia, to fix school district crisis

The numbers are bad. Really bad. Even dire. Juneau is losing population. Our school enrollment has been shrinking for decades, even as we built new… Continue reading

Joe Geldhof is a parent of two daughters who attended public schools in Juneau and a former Juneau Assembly candidate. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Monday, Feb. 19, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Paul Peterson, author of the Harvard study on national charter school performance. (KTOO 360TV screenshot)

Alaska lawmakers grapple with test-score performance gap between charters and other public schools

Charter study does not show how their testing success can be replicated in regular public schools.

Paul Peterson, author of the Harvard study on national charter school performance. (KTOO 360TV screenshot)
An underwater image captured in 2016 shows sockeye salmon swimming up the Brooks River in Alaska’s Katmai National Park to spawn. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying about 50 million pounds of Alaska fish — pollock, pink salmon and sockeye salmon — to use in its food and nutrition-assistance programs. (Photo provided by the National Park Service)

Agriculture Department commits to big purchase of Alaska salmon and pollock for food programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will purchase about 50 million pounds of Alaska seafood to use in national food and nutrition-assistance programs, state officials said… Continue reading

An underwater image captured in 2016 shows sockeye salmon swimming up the Brooks River in Alaska’s Katmai National Park to spawn. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is buying about 50 million pounds of Alaska fish — pollock, pink salmon and sockeye salmon — to use in its food and nutrition-assistance programs. (Photo provided by the National Park Service)
The trustees of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen during a quarterly meeting at their Juneau headquarters on Friday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board again warns that the fund is running out of spendable money

New analysis offers possible solutions; two-part constitutional amendment the most durable repair.

The trustees of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen during a quarterly meeting at their Juneau headquarters on Friday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: JDHS is a much better facility for high school students

The Douglas Bridge was completed in 1935, unifying our community in more ways than one. By 1956, Juneau-Douglas High School opened its doors to students… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Deven Mitchell, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., gives a tour of the corporation’s investment floor to Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, and other attendees of an open house on Friday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. leaders approve proposal to borrow up to $4 billion for investments

Plan must be OK’d by legislators and Gov. Mike Dunleavy because it requires changes to state law.

Deven Mitchell, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., gives a tour of the corporation’s investment floor to Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, and other attendees of an open house on Friday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces his proposed FY2025 budget at a news conference in Juneau on Dec. 14, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Dunleavy proposes tax breaks for the private sector to address Alaska’s high cost of living

The Dunleavy administration’s proposal to address a crisis of affordability in Alaska is to offer a tax credit to businesses that pitch in to reduce… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces his proposed FY2025 budget at a news conference in Juneau on Dec. 14, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Smokestack emissions into Fairbanks’ atmosphere are seen on March 1, 2023, from the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska legislators give closer look at bill aimed at storing carbon emissions underground

Bill could enable enhanced oil recovery, sequestration of emissions from new coal-fired power.

Smokestack emissions into Fairbanks’ atmosphere are seen on March 1, 2023, from the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at the corporation’s headquarters in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: 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 same advice for investors: Don’t take… Continue reading

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at the corporation’s headquarters in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: JDHS was the high school during stable times; keep it that way if consolidation occurs

In order to financially maintain the high quality of education, tradition and standards of Alaska, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé High should be the high… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Legislature needs to rein in Dunleavy’s power-grab

It’s not surprising to witness so many Republican politicians who’ve been capitulating to this heinous MAGA destruction of democracy; a pretentious pursuit inherently emanating from… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Aurora forecast for the week of Feb. 19

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data, at www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast. The listings below will… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)