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A citizen initiative to limit cruise ships advances in Juneau, while another stalls in Sitka
Unless Juneau’s city Assembly makes the change first, a proposal to forbid cruise ships on Saturdays will be on the municipal ballot in October, but a Sitka push to put cruise ship passenger limits on the ballot was denied late Tuesday. The news marks the latest steps in a broader reckoning in some Southeast communities […] The post A citizen initiative to limit cruise ships advances in Juneau, while another stalls in Sitka appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Fourth human case of bird flu diagnosed in Colorado dairy farm worker
WASHINGTON — Public health officials have diagnosed a Colorado farm worker with the country’s fourth human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state’s department of health reported Wednesday. The Colorado case, the state’s first this year related to spread from dairy cattle to humans, was reported […] The post Fourth human case of bird flu diagnosed in Colorado dairy farm worker appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Inside a company’s bid to make Alaska’s next big oil field lower-carbon
Oil companies help stoke climate change by producing fuel that warms the earth when burned. But the Australian company building one of Alaska’s huge new oil fields says the development, Pikka, will actually be climate-friendly. Like many big businesses, Santos says it will counteract its emissions in part with offsets. Those are credits that companies […] The post Inside a company’s bid to make Alaska’s next big oil field lower-carbon appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Denali and Fairbanks-area fires disrupt tourists and communities in Alaska
A wildfire has forced the closure of one of Alaska’s top tourist destinations and a set of fires have poured smoke into the state’s second-largest city. The Riley Fire burning around the main entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve, which broke out over the weekend and was measured at 388 acres as of Tuesday, […] The post Denali and Fairbanks-area fires disrupt tourists and communities in Alaska appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Governor’s vetoes whittle list of funded Alaska Long Trail projects to four
Only four of nine projects that the Legislature funded this year as part of an envisioned Alaska Long Trail network survived Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto pen. Dunleavy’s vetoes left a bit over $1.1 million of the $3.7 million in Alaska Long Trail projects that lawmakers approved in their capital budget. Steve Cleary, executive director of […] The post Governor’s vetoes whittle list of funded Alaska Long Trail projects to four appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Day care: the moment in history when politicians and families agreed
Mom or Dad is at work all day, or out of the picture altogether. The spouse is at home taking care of the kiddos but needs to get out of the house to work or pursue an education. There is just one obstacle, but it is a big one – day care. In Alaska and […] The post Day care: the moment in history when politicians and families agreed appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling
WASHINGTON — A New York judge agreed Tuesday to delay the criminal sentencing of former President Donald Trump in the state hush money case after Trump claimed the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision absolves him. New York Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, ordered the delay until Sept. 18 so the court could […] The post Trump NY sentencing delayed after U.S. Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses
WASHINGTON – Senior Biden administration officials announced a proposed rule Tuesday to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace, as climate change brings hotter temperatures around the nation. In a call to reporters Monday, officials spoke on background about the new rule, which the administration sent to the Federal Register Tuesday for review. Depending on the […] The post Biden administration announces new rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Gov. Dunleavy vetoes millions intended to solve Alaska’s federal education funding equity dispute
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed the funds state legislators set aside to settle a dispute between Alaska’s education officials and their federal counterparts over whether the state spent pandemic relief equitably. State legislators included $11.89 million in the operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year to allow the state to comply with the federal government’s […] The post Gov. Dunleavy vetoes millions intended to solve Alaska’s federal education funding equity dispute appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska North Slope group sues Biden administration over oil-development limits
A coalition of North Slope local and regional governments, tribal governments and Native corporations has sued to overturn new environmental protections in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage by the organization Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, claims that the rule enacted by the Department of […] The post Alaska North Slope group sues Biden administration over oil-development limits appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
‘No kings in America’: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity
Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the presumption of criminal immunity for official actions taken by a president fundamentally altered U.S. democracy, President Joe Biden said from the White House Monday evening. Speaking for less than five minutes, Biden said the 6-3 decision contradicted the spirit of the country’s founding — set to be celebrated […] The post ‘No kings in America’: Biden slams U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting Trump immunity appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case
WASHINGTON — U.S. presidents enjoy full immunity from criminal charges for their official “core constitutional” acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, sending former President Donald Trump’s election interference case back to the lower courts. The justices left open the question of how far the boundaries of such official acts […] The post Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska lawmakers aim to expand eligibility for scholarships
Alaska lawmakers approved legislation to increase eligibility for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, a merit-based program that provides financial assistance to students pursuing higher education or technical training in-state. House Bill 148 also raises the maximum award amount. Since launching in 2011, the Alaska Performance Scholarship has funded over $122 million scholarships for Alaskan students. However, […] The post Alaska lawmakers aim to expand eligibility for scholarships appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a “terrible” showing and a “bad night.” Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, […] The post Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Gov. Dunleavy signs Alaska budget, vetoes more than $230 million in spending
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed the state budget into law on Friday, while vetoing more than $230 million in operating and capital spending. The total operating budget funding state agencies is $12.2 billion, including $914 million for Permanent Fund dividends, while the capital budget, money designated to build and repair roads, buildings and other infrastructure […] The post Gov. Dunleavy signs Alaska budget, vetoes more than $230 million in spending appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska Supreme Court reverses homeschool allotment ruling
Alaska’s Supreme Court justices on Friday reversed a Superior Court ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program. Nearly 23,000 homeschool students may continue to use their allotments of state education money to pay for private school tuition until the Anchorage Superior Court reconsiders the case. The Supreme Court made its […] The post Alaska Supreme Court reverses homeschool allotment ruling appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
USDA penalizes Alaska $12 million for overpaying food stamp benefits
Alaska’s Department of Health owes the federal government $11.9 million because it overpaid food stamp benefits last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed the state. In a Friday letter to Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg, USDA Acting Under Secretary Kumar Chandran said the state’s payment error rate has been too high for […] The post USDA penalizes Alaska $12 million for overpaying food stamp benefits appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Dunleavy signs bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday in Alaska
On Thursday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill to make Juneteenth a legal holiday in the state. “Juneteenth is a day to celebrate a milestone in our country’s history as it has become a more perfect union,” said Dunleavy in a written statement on Facebook. Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson sponsored the legislation, Senate Bill 22. “Like […] The post Dunleavy signs bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday in Alaska appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Biden administration makes final decision rejecting Ambler Access Project in Alaska
The Biden administration on Friday took the final step needed to reject a proposed and controversial 211-mile industrial road through the Brooks Range foothills that would enable commercial mining in a remote Arctic area in Northwest Alaska. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a document that formalized its decision, announced in April, to deny […] The post Biden administration makes final decision rejecting Ambler Access Project in Alaska appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a […] The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies 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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