Author: Nicole Thompson

President Donald Trump has renewed efforts to advance a long-delayed natural gas pipeline in Alaska, seeking investment from Asian allies. The LNG pipeline project has faced challenges for decades, but Trump’s direct involvement has changed the conversation.  During his address to Congress, he highlighted the initiative, emphasizing interest from Japan, South Korea, and other nations. His administration has held ongoing discussions to secure investment and export agreements, aiming to make the project a reality. Japan already has a large amount of foreign direct investment in the United States, approaching its annual budget. Trump personally pushed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba…

The Anchorage School District outlined why it wants municipality voters to approve a $63,822,000 security and safety upgrade on the school bond proposal, Proposition 1, on the April ballot during the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s “Make It Monday” forum. If passed, property taxpayers would have $12.90 added to each $100,000 assessed value to pay for upgrades at 40 schools and two support buildings. ASD Chief Operating Officer James Anderson told members that projects would include security systems, building entry improvements, infrastructure renovations and replacements, and upgrades to snow removal equipment. Since many of ASD’s schools were constructed years ago, they…

On Friday, Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced a judicial selection amendment to give future governors more significant influence over judicial appointments. If the legislature approves the measure, voters will decide in 2026 whether to limit the Alaska Judicial Council’s role in selecting judges.  The Alaska Judicial Council reviews applications and selects the most qualified candidates for judicial vacancies before sending a shortlist to the governor. The council includes three appointed public members and three Alaska Bar Association members. If a tie occurs during selection, the Alaska Supreme Court chief justice Casts the deciding vote. Dunleavy’s proposal would require the council to…

The Board of Regents’ decision to eliminate all references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from university policies came after Trump’s administration warned institutions to remove race-based policies or risk losing federal funding. Students and faculty at the University of Alaska strongly opposed this decision. Under the new directive, the university must revise job titles, websites, and publications to remove words like diversity, equity, inclusion, and affirmative action. The board stated that it aims to ensure compliance with federal laws while promoting equal opportunity. However, faculty and students argue that the sudden DEI language removal move limits free speech, weakens support…

A damaged subsea cable has caused significant cell phone and internet disruptions across Southeast Alaska, affecting government websites and essential services. The subsea cable outage began late Thursday night, leaving thousands without connectivity.  Alaska Communications confirmed the issue Friday and dispatched a repair ship to assess and fix the damage. Heather Marron, a spokesperson for Alaska Communications, said the company was also exploring alternative ways to restore service in Juneau. She assured customers that resolving the issue remained the company’s top priority, though no estimated restoration time had been provided. The outage took down important online platforms, including MyAlaska, the…

Alaska lawmakers will vote next week on House Bill 69 to increase the state’s per-student public school funding. The school funding bill proposes raising the base student allocation (BSA) by $1,000 next year with an additional $800 increase over two years.  House Speaker Bryce Edgmon and House Rules Chair Louise Stutes confirmed that amendments will be added to the House Rules Committee on Wednesday. After these revisions, the bill will advance to a vote before the full House, where further changes could be proposed. Governor Mike Dunleavy opposes the bill’s current version, arguing that it lacks necessary education policy reforms…

The latest Alaska Infrastructure Report Card showed that the state received a C grade, an improvement from the C- given four years ago. The American Society of Civil Engineers released the report, crediting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for funding major improvements. However, the Alaska Marine Highway System remained the lowest-rated category, receiving a D grade. Engineers emphasized that proper asset management is key to preserving infrastructure and reducing costly repairs. One of the presenters, Greg Kinney, explained that officials must monitor facility conditions to perform preventative maintenance and plan long-term repairs. The report, issued every four years, assesses…

Disability advocates in Alaska are urging the state to withdraw from a federal lawsuit challenging Biden administration regulations on disability rights. Alaska, along with 16 other Republican-led states, joined the lawsuit State of Texas et al v. Becerra et al in September, filing it in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The lawsuit opposes updates to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which bans discrimination against disabled individuals in federally funded programs. Alaska officials argued that the revised regulations create unfunded mandates that burden Medicaid services and potentially reduce available care. Attorney General Treg Taylor warned…

A federal magistrate ruled that Somali asylum seeker Roble Ahmed Salad in Anchorage is being detained illegally and should be released immediately. Salad, 27, was arrested on February 5 in Anchorage as part of a national immigration crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump.  Trump’s legal team quickly filed a federal court challenge, highlighting how his immigration policies affect individuals in Alaska. Salad entered the US through Mexico in 2022 seeking asylum but officials rejected his claim and ordered his deportation in 2023. However the government acknowledged Somalia’s extreme dangers preventing authorities from forcibly sending him back. Stuck in legal limbo…

Alaska Senate leaders introduced a bill Monday to change the Permanent Fund dividend formula to stabilize future payments. The proposal would allocate 75% of the annual fund transfer to state services, leaving 25% for dividends. Senator Lyman Hoffman and six finance committee members sponsored Senate Bill 109, emphasizing the need for a consistent dividend structure. They believe this formula would prevent future disputes over dividend amounts and ensure reliable funding for state services. Hoffman explained that this proposal deserves a serious discussion because Alaskans need predictability in funding essential services and dividends. He acknowledged that senate leadership had not consulted…

The Anchorage School Board budget cuts for the 2025-2026 fiscal year include eliminating nearly 500 jobs and reducing key educational programs. However, Tuesday’s amendment could reverse these cuts if the Alaska legislature approves additional school funding. Board members Kelly Lessens and Carl Jacobs introduced Amendment #6, which provides a framework for restoring programs if funding increases. If approved unanimously, the amendment would allow the district to recover over $71 million in revenue. Lessens acknowledged that while the district is not following best fiscal practices, prioritizing students is necessary to avoid deeper cuts. The current budget eliminates all middle and high…

The Anchorage school budget cuts could significantly impact staff and programs unless state lawmakers approve increased education funding this spring. The Anchorage School Board is set to vote Tuesday on a budget that addresses a projected $111 million deficit for the upcoming school year. Board members Carl Jacobs and Kelly Lessens proposed an amendment outlining how the district would allocate a potential $1,000 increase in per-year student funding. If the Alaska Legislature approves the budget by May 15, the district can restore crucial programs and reduce class sizes to 2016 levels. The proposal reserves $71.1 million for student support, including…