Officials are weighing two different ordinances that could have enormous implications for how the state’s largest city handles homeless camping. Some who testified on the proposals at a recent Assembly meeting told the members that making it a crime to sleep outside for people with few resources lacked compassion.
One vetoed bill would have allowed the only state-operated high school in Alaska to compete for maintenance funding against other schools in the state, and another would have capped interest rates for payday loans in an effort to prevent predatory lending.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski reveals details of private meetings with Trump, candid assessments of major political figures — and how personal experience spurred her to be vocal about abuse.
Hoffman confirmed that he doesn’t intend to run for governor or any other office. He also said he would encourage Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon to file for his seat. (via Alaska Beacon)
The closure come two weeks after the Daily News reported on long wait times at the public assistance office, where applicants said they had resorted to waiting several hours in an area that lacked seating and did not accommodate applicants with disabilities.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will allow oil and gas workers to more intensely harass polar bears away from people and equipment near the Beaufort Sea. (via Alaska Beacon)
The Senate voted unanimously to resume the federal Secure Rural Schools program, which sent millions of dollars to small Alaska schools each year until Congress failed to reauthorize it in 2023. (via Alaska Beacon)
