State government

Sylvia Geraghty helps a customer during the weekly food pantry at Resurrection Lutheran Church on Tuesday, Dec. 6. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Online SNAP benefit forms go live as state hopes to catch up on 8,000-applicant backlog by March

State: 260 online forms in first 10 days take average of 20 minutes, compared to an hour for paper.

Sylvia Geraghty helps a customer during the weekly food pantry at Resurrection Lutheran Church on Tuesday, Dec. 6. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The village of Kake on Kupreanof Island in Southeast Alaska. (Flickr/Umnak under Creative Commons license)

Alaska lost a challenge to a COVID-era emergency moose hunt. Now it’s appealing for a second time.

It’s one of multiple cases where the Dunleavy administration is clashing with the federal government.

The village of Kake on Kupreanof Island in Southeast Alaska. (Flickr/Umnak under Creative Commons license)
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State compiles first comprehensive account of Alaska children’s stress and trauma

Bulletin details adverse childhood experiences that are known to lead to poor health outcomes.

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The sun sets on snow-covered boats in Auke Bay on Jan. 10, 2022. On Jan. 1, 2024, most local docks and harbors fees will increase 9%. (Photo by the City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Department)

Changes in state minimum wage and alcohol laws, local harbor fees and sales taxes coming Jan. 1

Free IDs for released prisoners, lifetime trapping licenses for disabled vets also start in 2024.

The sun sets on snow-covered boats in Auke Bay on Jan. 10, 2022. On Jan. 1, 2024, most local docks and harbors fees will increase 9%. (Photo by the City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Department)
A screenshot of the Alaska Division of Finance’s “Checkbook Online” system.

One year and $250,000 later, Alaska’s new spending database is missing in action

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration has missed a legal deadline to expand Alaska’s public spending database to some of its most heavily scrutinized state corporations,… Continue reading

A screenshot of the Alaska Division of Finance’s “Checkbook Online” system.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Alaska Attorney General Trig Taylor (foreground) discusses litigation the state Department of Law is involved with during Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (left background) unveiling of his proposed budget during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol.

Legislative Council votes to sue Dunleavy administration in state employee union dues case

Legislators say executive branch violated separation of powers with unauthorized spending.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Alaska Attorney General Trig Taylor (foreground) discusses litigation the state Department of Law is involved with during Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (left background) unveiling of his proposed budget during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo at the groundbreaking of the Wasilla airport’s expansion. (Office of the Governor)

A tour of Gov. Dunleavy’s capital budget

Southeast items include $9.5M to replace patrol vessel, $1.5M to thin “overly dense young forests.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo at the groundbreaking of the Wasilla airport’s expansion. (Office of the Governor)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen at an appearance earlier this year. (Office of the Governor photo)

A journalist just reviewed 1,000 pages of Alaska budget documents — so you don’t have to

Items to escalate state’s subsistence fight with feds and enhance drone use for law enforcement.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen at an appearance earlier this year. (Office of the Governor photo)
Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in on Thursday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy proposes $14 million in food stamp crisis fixes

Commissioner says state can clear the backlog in 90 days, if there are no ‘further interruptions’

Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in on Thursday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy discussed his proposed state budget for next year during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy’s proposed budget contains “full” PFD, no per-student education increase, $1B deficit

Revenue forecast also released calls for oil prices that could result in supplement to PFD.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy discussed his proposed state budget for next year during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy greets visitors during the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Governor says proposed budget will be released Thursday, funds for new ferry will be included

Dunleavy also highlights initiatives to address “affordability” issues, and charter and home schools.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy greets visitors during the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Emma Pokon, commissioner-designee of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, discusses wood stove pollution regulations affecting the Fairbanks-North Star Borough during a Nov. 26 forum. (Screenshot from video by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation)

Newly designated state DEC commissioner strong supporter of Dunleavy’s challenge to federal authority

Emma Pokon, as state attorney, wrote legislation eliminating independent cruise monitoring program.

Emma Pokon, commissioner-designee of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, discusses wood stove pollution regulations affecting the Fairbanks-North Star Borough during a Nov. 26 forum. (Screenshot from video by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation)
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)

Auditor: Alaska Department of Law ‘likely violated’ state law and constitution

Dispute involves large contract between the state and a Washington, D.C. law firm.

Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)
The Guardian or Authority of Law, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, rests on the side of the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court will consider taking up Alaska union dues case no sooner than December

An appeal seeking to defend Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed union-dues collection plan will be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court no sooner than December.… Continue reading

The Guardian or Authority of Law, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, rests on the side of the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 28, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
The front of the Alaska State Capitol is seen on Wednesday, April 12. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska retirement board recommends closure of widely used plan after analysis finds flaws

“Managed accounts” cover more than 10,000 of the 122,000-plus managed by state.

The front of the Alaska State Capitol is seen on Wednesday, April 12. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Neil Steininger, appointed director of the state Office of Management and Budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020, testifies before the House Finance Committee at the Alaska State Capitol in January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Governor’s budget director departing

Neil Steininger, head of OMB since 2020, latest in series of staff moves by Dunleavy.

Neil Steininger, appointed director of the state Office of Management and Budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020, testifies before the House Finance Committee at the Alaska State Capitol in January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A cycle rickshaw passes the State Office Building in September of 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

State payroll department ‘one crisis away’ from workers going unpaid

Almost half of payroll processing jobs are unfilled, causing errors and delays

A cycle rickshaw passes the State Office Building in September of 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire Members of the deck department of the Columbia state ferry get ready to dock the vessel in Petersburg on July 17. A change in the accounting department is expected to lessen the number of payroll complaints among Alaska Marine Highway System employees.

A fix is in for ferry payroll issues

The change addresses longstanding issues with AMHS employees getting paid late or the wrong amounts.

Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire Members of the deck department of the Columbia state ferry get ready to dock the vessel in Petersburg on July 17. A change in the accounting department is expected to lessen the number of payroll complaints among Alaska Marine Highway System employees.
Capt. Dave Turner and Chief Mate Lucas Bevegni on the bridge of Columbia state ferry as Bevegni takes note of a whale spout more than a mile in the distance. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Fixing the ferry’s future: Help wanted on the Alaska Marine Highway

Part one of a two-part series about the tricky navigation facing the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Capt. Dave Turner and Chief Mate Lucas Bevegni on the bridge of Columbia state ferry as Bevegni takes note of a whale spout more than a mile in the distance. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

State challenges Juneau’s ‘outside the cap’ funding to district

Years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; millions on the line in Juneau.

The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)