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House wavers on income tax

House wavers on income tax

Does the Alaska House of Representatives have the votes to approve Alaska’s first income tax since 1980? “We’re working on it,” Speaker of the House… Continue reading

House wavers on income tax
Customers pass the GCI store at the Dimond Center Mall in Anchorage in August 2016. In a deal announced April 4, GCI will sell a controlling interest to Colorado-based Liberty Interactive Corp. for $1.12 billion. No changes in company structure or management are planned; the deal benefits Liberty by allowing it to spin off an asset-backed subsidiary in a tax-free transaction. GCI shareholders will receive a 58 percent premium on their shares, or $32.50. (Photo/Andrew Jensen/AJOC)

Colorado firm buys GCI for $1.12 billion

ANCHORAGE — It was a good day to be a shareholder in General Communication Inc. Shares of the Anchorage-based telecom leapt 62 percent, from $20.56… Continue reading

Customers pass the GCI store at the Dimond Center Mall in Anchorage in August 2016. In a deal announced April 4, GCI will sell a controlling interest to Colorado-based Liberty Interactive Corp. for $1.12 billion. No changes in company structure or management are planned; the deal benefits Liberty by allowing it to spin off an asset-backed subsidiary in a tax-free transaction. GCI shareholders will receive a 58 percent premium on their shares, or $32.50. (Photo/Andrew Jensen/AJOC)

Will Uber soon be allowed in Alaska?

A bill authorizing Uber, Lyft and similar companies to operate in Alaska is headed to a vote of the House of Representatives. The Alaska House… Continue reading

Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Criminal justice reform rollback nears a vote in the Senate

A bill allowing judges to impose tougher sentences for many crimes is advancing toward a vote in the Alaska Senate. The Alaska Senate Finance Committee… Continue reading

Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Alaska House is on pace for a record number of bills

The Alaska House of Representatives has been a factory for legislation this year. Through Thursday, the 73rd day of the legislative session, members of the… Continue reading

Brandy Sullivan (photo courtesy of Tina Novotney)

After fatal shooting, shining a light on domestic violence

ANCHORAGE — The plan was to meet up in California for a girls’ getaway near the end of April. Lindsey Collins said she looked forward… Continue reading

Brandy Sullivan (photo courtesy of Tina Novotney)
Col. Paul Larson, left, takes the colors from Maj. Gen. Bryan Owens, Commanding General of U.S. Army Alaska, during a change of command ceremony for the Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division on Friday, March 24, 2017 on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. During the ceremony, Col. Paul Larson took command from Col. Scott Green, who had led the brigade since 2014. (Star photo by Matt Tunseth)

Army’s ‘Spartan’ brigade gets a new leader

ANCHORAGE — Fit and ready for action, the Army’s only airborne brigade in the Pacific now has a new leader. Col. Paul Larson assumed command… Continue reading

Col. Paul Larson, left, takes the colors from Maj. Gen. Bryan Owens, Commanding General of U.S. Army Alaska, during a change of command ceremony for the Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division on Friday, March 24, 2017 on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. During the ceremony, Col. Paul Larson took command from Col. Scott Green, who had led the brigade since 2014. (Star photo by Matt Tunseth)

Senate to considers limits of criminal justice reform rollback

How much is too much of a rollback? On Monday, the Alaska Senate Finance Committee will debate a final amendment to Senate Bill 54, a… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cheers for first Alaska Native House Speaker, state income tax

There aren’t many crowds in Alaska that will cheer for an income tax. In a lunchtime address, the state’s first Alaska Native Speaker of the… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Senate Bill 91, one of the biggest changes to Alaska’s criminal justice system in decades, was touted as using an evidence-based approach to emphasize treatment… Continue reading

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

State to close Eagle River Job Center

The state of Alaska is closing the Eagle River Job Center due to state budget cuts. The closure, which will take place May 19, was… Continue reading

UAF says ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to Kenai salmon research offer

KENAI — The University of Alaska Fairbanks turned down an offer for funding for research on Kenai River king salmon because it would only come… Continue reading

How Medicaid expansion affects Alaskans

In the midst of a nationwide opioid abuse spike, states that chose to expand Medicaid said the program has offered critical assistance. Preventative behavioral care… Continue reading

Moderate earthquake shakes ocean floor in western Aleutians

ANCHORAGE — A moderate earthquake rumbled under the ocean floor in the western Aleutian Islands. The Alaska Earthquake Center says the quake occurred at 2:50… Continue reading

Flow reduced in leaking underwater Alaska gas pipeline

ANCHORAGE — Natural gas spewing into Alaska’s Cook Inlet from a ruptured underwater pipeline has been reduced by about half after owners lowered pressure in… Continue reading

Capital decode: One-sentence summaries of all new legislation in the Alaska Legislature

The pace of new bills in the Alaska Legislature is continuing to slow as lawmakers deal with what’s already on their plate. Between March 10… Continue reading

Kenai Assembly defeats proposal to drop invocation policy

KENAI — Though legal challenges still remain, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly has defeated a proposal to drop its controversial invocation policy. The assembly voted… Continue reading

House passes procedural vote, sending state budget plan to Senate

Alaska’s $9.7 billion annual budget advanced to the Senate on Friday, following a procedural vote in the House. Lawmakers earlier this week approved the spending… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, shares her support during a rally held by Alaskans for Life, Inc. on Jan. 22, 2015 on the steps of the Capitol Building. (Sarah Cannard | Juneau Empire)

Statewide smoking ban may be decided by one legislator ─ again

Last year, Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, tried to ban smoking in bars and restaurants statewide. His proposal was the first bill introduced into the 29th… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, shares her support during a rally held by Alaskans for Life, Inc. on Jan. 22, 2015 on the steps of the Capitol Building. (Sarah Cannard | Juneau Empire)
Acting U.S. Attorney for Alaska Bryan Schroder announces federal murder charges against John Pearl Smith II Thursday in Anchorage. An indictment says Smith killed Ben Gross and Crystal Denardi in June 2016 and wounded a third person while attempting to rob them near Wasilla. Schroder said federal prosecutors may seek the death penalty in the case. (Dan Joling | The Associated Press)

Alaska man faces federal murder charges, death penalty

ANCHORAGE — An Alaska man suspected of killing two people during a robbery has been indicted on murder charges by a federal grand jury and… Continue reading

Acting U.S. Attorney for Alaska Bryan Schroder announces federal murder charges against John Pearl Smith II Thursday in Anchorage. An indictment says Smith killed Ben Gross and Crystal Denardi in June 2016 and wounded a third person while attempting to rob them near Wasilla. Schroder said federal prosecutors may seek the death penalty in the case. (Dan Joling | The Associated Press)