Anchorage Rep. Tarr is out of the House Coalition over committee dispute
It’s not an immediate death knell for the House Coalition’s hold on the House but it’s not great.
Articles by Matt Buxton
House teeters toward organization as Merrick joins majority coalition
They’re finally, nearly ready to get to work.
Dunleavy rolls the dice on pandemic by allowing disaster declaration to run out
It’s a bet that Alaska’s generally promising trends, declining case counts, relatively few deaths and fast vaccination rate will keep up without the state’s disaster powers.
Friday in the Sun (Feb. 12): The Canid Overlord edition
At least it’s Friday.
House elects Kodiak Rep. Stutes as speaker but organization not yet finalized
Stutes was elected on a 21-19 vote after a lone party-line Republican broke ranks to support the moderate Republican member of the House bipartisan coalition.
Comic: The Land of Reinboldia
The land of disinformation.
Legislature’s inability to extend disaster declaration could cost Alaska $8 million a month in food stamps
The program typically has about $15 million go out each month in benefits but was boosted by Congress to address a sharp increase in food insecurity and hunger amid the pandemic.
K-12 teachers will be able to get COVID-19 vaccine in latest expansion of eligibility
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced it will expand the eligibility for the covid-19 vaccine starting Thursday to cover K-12 teachers, people 50 and older with high-risk medical conditions or who are essential workers, as well as people living or working in congregate housing settings.
Murkowski votes to continue impeachment, says anything else would leave Senate ‘toothless’
Meanwhile, Sen. Dan Sullivan voted against proceeding.
Legislation would give Alaska’s essential workers free college education, job training
Begich said the measure is particularly warranted because the economic impacts of the pandemic have largely fallen on low-wage workers, who are still unemployed at a far higher rate than high-wage workers.