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Alaska Special Education Crisis: 200 Teaching Positions Unfilled Statewide
Education officials testified about a severe special education staffing crisis with 200 unfilled positions and a 14% increase in students with disabilities despite steady enrollment.
by Alaska News3d ago1 min read24 viewsAI
Alaska Native Groups Push for Fishing Permit Reform After $7.5B Exodus
Alaska Federation of Natives presented research showing $7.5 billion in salmon earnings have left the state through non-resident permit holders since 1975, devastating rural fishing communities.
by Alaska News10h ago2 min read1 viewAI
House Finance committee debates pharmacist prescribing bill amid abortion concerns
House Bill 195 would expand pharmacist prescribing authority but faces intense scrutiny over whether collaborative practice agreements could enable abortion medication access.
by Alaska News2d ago2 min read1 viewAI
Alaska seeks nonprofit partners to run senior residential programs
Alaska's health department is seeking organizations to operate state-funded residential facilities for seniors who need supportive housing.
by Alaska News5d ago1 min readStatewide3 viewsAI
State seeks bids for online training services, proposals due April 28
Alaska is seeking contractors to provide online training services for state employees, with bids due April 28.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min readStatewide3 viewsAI
Public Meeting on Disabilities and Special Education Set for April 9
The Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education is hosting a virtual public meeting on April 9 to discuss advocacy workshops and planning activities.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min readStatewide4 viewsAI
University of Alaska Board of Regents to Hold Public Meetings in May
The University of Alaska Board of Regents will hold public meetings in May 2026 with opportunities for public testimony.
by Alaska News5d ago1 min readStatewide1 viewAI
Alaska Tribes Removed 1.5M Pounds Marine Debris Despite Funding Barriers
Rural Alaska communities successfully cleaned massive amounts of marine debris from shores but face significant barriers accessing federal funding and resources needed to continue protecting subsistence areas.
by Alaska News9h ago3 min readAI
Alaska Overhauls School Construction Funding to Help Rural Districts Compete
The state is changing how it evaluates school construction projects to level the playing field for smaller districts that cannot afford expensive application processes.
by Alaska News9h ago4 min readAI
Alaska School Funding System Favors Wealthy Districts, Senators Say
Senate Finance Committee members raised concerns that Alaska's school construction funding process allows affluent districts to pre-fund projects and jump ahead of poorer communities that have waited years for repairs.
by Alaska News9h ago4 min readAI
Alaska OT Law Limits Patient Recovery, Licensing Board Says
Alaska's occupational therapy statute restricts therapists to helping patients cope with disabilities rather than actively working to improve function, prompting legislative action to align with national standards.
by Alaska News10h ago2 min readAI
Alaska Senate Shelves Homemade Food Safety Bill After Complex Debate
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee set aside a bill restricting sales of home-canned foods in reduced oxygen packaging after lawmakers struggled with complex food safety definitions and enforcement questions.
by Alaska News10h ago3 min readAI
Alaska House Rejects 30% Cut to Regional Jail Funding Despite Low Use
The Alaska House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would have reduced funding increases for underutilized regional jails, with supporters citing 22% statewide utilization rates.
by Alaska News10h ago3 min readAI
Alaska House Approves $2M for Talkeetna Trooper Post Using ANWR Funds
The Alaska House of Representatives voted to allocate $2 million from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease revenues to reestablish a state trooper post in Talkeetna, addressing public safety concerns along the Parks Highway corridor.
by Alaska News10h ago3 min readAI
Alaska Lawmakers Propose Legislative Oversight of $80B Permanent Fund Board
House committee considers requiring legislative confirmation of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation trustees for the first time since 1982, though constitutional concerns may require a constitutional amendment.
by Alaska News10h ago3 min readAI
Alaska Senate panel weighs restrictions on vacuum-sealed homemade food sales
The Senate Resources Committee discussed legislation that would restrict packaging methods for commercially sold homemade foods, targeting vacuum-sealed and heat-processed containers.
by Alaska News10h ago2 min readAI
163 Alaskans Wait for Life-Saving Organ Transplants
Life Center Northwest presented data showing 163 Alaskans currently await organ transplants, with most needing kidneys and having to travel to Washington for procedures.
by Alaska News10h ago2 min readAI
Alaska House panel advances free school meals for reduced-price students
The House Education Committee moved forward a bill to eliminate meal costs for 3,326 students who qualify for reduced-price meals but struggle to afford full payment.
by Alaska News2d ago2 min readAI
House Finance passes Mount Edgecombe funding bill, advances mail theft measure
The House Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 146 to allow REAA funds for Mount Edgecombe High School and held its first hearing on House Bill 77 to make mail theft a state felony.
by Alaska News2d ago2 min readAI
Alaska House committee advances bill to expand early intervention eligibility
Committee heard testimony on legislation to lower developmental delay thresholds from 50% to 25% for early childhood services, potentially serving more children and saving millions in future special education costs.
by Alaska News2d ago2 min readAI
House Education Committee Advances Bill to Boost Residential School Funding
The committee heard testimony on HB 380, which would increase funding for Alaska's nine residential school programs for the first time since 2015.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI
Alaska Senate Panel Weighs Naturopathic Doctors' Prescription Authority
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 193, which would allow licensed naturopathic doctors to prescribe certain medications under physician supervision.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI
Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Nurse Licensure Compact Bill
The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee received extensive testimony on Senate Bill 124, which would allow Alaska to join the multi-state nursing licensure compact amid the state's severe nursing shortage.
by Alaska News3d ago2 min readAI
Panel Calls for Standardized Child Abuse Reporting Training Across Alaska
The Citizens Review Panel presented recommendations to standardize mandatory reporting training and improve early intervention services for at-risk families.
by Alaska News3d ago1 min readAI
State seeks public input on rural health program at April 22 meeting
Alaska Department of Health is holding a public meeting on April 22 to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Program with community input.
by Alaska News5d ago1 min readStatewideAI
State seeks public input on workers' comp medical fees at four meetings
Alaska's Medical Services Review Committee is holding four public meetings to gather input on workers' compensation medical fee schedules for 2027.
by Alaska News6d ago1 min readStatewideAI
State Teacher Commission to Meet April 23-24, Public Welcome to Attend
The Professional Teaching Practices Commission will hold a public virtual meeting April 23-24 to consider teacher disciplinary cases and conduct administrative business.
by Alaska News6d ago1 min readStatewideAI
Alaska Suicide Prevention Council to Meet May 1, Public Comment Welcome
Alaska's suicide prevention council is holding a public Zoom meeting on May 1 with opportunity for community input.
by Alaska News6d ago1 min readStatewideAI
State seeks contractors for substance abuse treatment at two Wasilla prisons
Alaska is seeking contractors to provide substance abuse treatment services at two correctional facilities in Wasilla, with proposals due May 1.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min readWasilla, AlaskaAI
State seeks contractors for drug treatment at Palmer correctional facilities
Alaska corrections department is soliciting bids for substance abuse treatment services at two Palmer correctional facilities, with proposals due May 1.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min readPalmer, AlaskaAI