Alaska

Alaska child care advocates want subsidies and tax credits caught in legal limbo — and more

Published

10 months ago

February 13, 2025

Alaska child care advocates want subsidies and tax credits caught in legal limbo — and more

Children work on crafts and writing at the Sitka Child Development Center on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

JUNEAU — Advocates want the Alaska Legislature to again pass a child care measure that is being challenged in court, along with additional help for the beleaguered sector.

Legislators last year approved Senate Bill 189, which included new state tax credits for certain corporations that contribute to child care or offer their employees child care, alongside an increase to the state’s existing assistance payments for families.

SB 189 was combined with several different measures in the final hectic hours of last year’s legislative session. Gov. Mike Dunleavy allowed the bill to pass into law without his signature in September.

But the measure has since faced a legal challenge. Former Wasilla Republican Rep. David Eastman sued the state in November, arguing that the combined bill violated the Alaska Constitution’s “single-subject rule,” which requires that provisions adopted in a single bill all relate to one topic.

State senators have recently introduced measures that were identical to those approved by the Legislature last year. Those measures are intended to avoid disruptions if a court strikes down SB 189 as unconstitutional, lawmakers said.

Anchorage Reps. Zack Fields, a Democrat, and Julie Coulombe, a Republican, said the Legislature should pass the same child care provisions as last year.

“Just do the safe thing. Effectively nullify the lawsuit and maintain these important programs,” said Fields, co-chair of the House Labor and Commerce Committee.

Child care providers and workers have long struggled with low wages, high turnover and meager benefits. Parents have complained of long waitlists and soaring costs at child care centers.

The Alaska Chamber of Commerce in recent years has advocated for reforms to expand child care access across the state.

Kati Capozzi, president and CEO of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, said full-time child care for an infant averages $21,000 per year in Alaska.

She said a recent statewide chamber survey showed that 19% of parents missed work last year, and 12% of parents chose not to work, due to a lack of affordable and accessible childcare.

“We have thousands of able-bodied, ready-to-work Alaskans that are sitting on the sidelines due to this crisis,” she told lawmakers last week.

Capozzi said some companies have “expressed serious interest” in using tax credits, but that was stalled by the lawsuit. She urged lawmakers to pass the same child care legislation as last year without changes.

“Let’s just get that through and then focus on the other pieces,” she said.

Another consequence of rushing to pass Senate Bill 189 is that it did not include a formal estimate of costs for child care subsidies. As a result, the higher assistance payments for families have not been paid yet, said Alex Huseman, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Health.

Huseman said that the cost estimate was included in Dunleavy’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that starts July 1. If lawmakers approve that as part of the budget this year, the expanded subsidies will start being paid, she said.

Fields said those subsidies for low-income families are essential.

Alongside subsidies and tax credits, legislators for the past two years have approved $7.5 million in one-time grants for child care providers. Advocates say that grant funding should be increased and made permanent.

Thread Alaska, a statewide child care advocacy organization, wants the Legislature to approve $13 million this year for providers and $8.5 million to support early educators.

Robert Barr, Juneau’s deputy city manager and a thread board member, said those grants would be a starting point to help stabilize and grow the sector. But he also acknowledged the challenges facing lawmakers from the state’s strained finances.

Dunleavy established a task force in 2023 to study child care and how to stabilize the sector. The task force concluded its work late last year and made 56 recommendations. Those include subsidies for families and help for providers to navigate a complex bureaucratic process.

Coulombe, who served on the task force, opposed using state funds to subsidize child care providers’ operating expenses. She said uncertainty surrounding state funding and federal grants under President Donald Trump made that risky for business owners.

“I want them to be thriving businesses. I don’t want them to rely on the state for money every two seconds,” she said Tuesday.

Advocates consider Juneau as the gold standard for municipal support of child care. Anchorage and other Alaska communities are establishing their own local subsidy programs for providers.

Blue Shibler, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children, is advocating for the state to establish a pooled fund to match local government support. She said that would help providers enroll more kids in child care.

“It’s clear to me that the biggest part of the problem, especially in terms of how it’s impacting the economy, is the supply side,” she said.

Barr calculated that it would cost roughly $47 million per year to create a statewide version of Juneau’s subsidy program for providers. He has advocated for an all-in approach for child care funding from local, state and federal sources.

“The state alone isn’t going to solve it. Local governments alone aren’t going to solve the challenge that we’re facing in the sector,” Barr said.

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Alaska

Governor Dunleavy Appoints Two Members to Alaska House of Representatives – Mike Dunleavy

Published

8 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Governor Mike Dunleavy today announced the appointments of Garret Nelson and Steve St. Clair to the Alaska House of Representatives.

St. Clair will represent will District 26. He has lived in Wasilla for 15 years, is a retired Military Police First Sergeant, and spent 7 years in Juneau as a legislative staffer.

Nelson will represent District 29. Nelson and his family have lived in Sutton for 9 years and he is chair of the Sutton Community Council.

“I appreciate the willingness of these Alaskans to step forward to serve at a pivotal time for our state. Their experience and commitment to their communities will help ensure their districts continue to have a strong voice in the Alaska House of Representatives,” said Governor Dunleavy.

The Governor also thanked all the applicants who allowed their names to be put forward and for their willingness to serve our state.

Nelson and St. Clair will assume their House duties upon confirmation in accordance with Alaska law.

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Alaska

Denali National Park offering unique holiday experience

Published

20 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Denali National Park offering unique holiday experience

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Denali National Park & Preserve is offering travelers a unique way to celebrate the holiday season at the base of North America’s tallest peak.

“It’s a great place to come if you’re into snow and being cold,” said Amber Smigiel, Public Affairs Officer for Denali National Park and Preserve.

“If you come at night, you probably have a chance to see the auroras, and it is really beautiful here during the winter.”

Despite the cold and storms associated with winter at Denali, Smigiel said adventure-seekers are still allowed to attempt a summit of Mount McKinley.

“We don’t have any staff up there, so you’re pretty much on your own,” she said.

“We definitely don’t recommend doing it by yourself. Only, I think, 17 people have ever summited during winter, so it’s not a very realistic goal, but you know what? We’re not going to stop you if you want to try.”

For those looking for a calmer experience, Smigiel said there are several events and accommodations planned at the base of the mountain.

“The road is closed at mile 3 for cars, but you can ski, hike, snowshoe on the road and some of the hiking trails in the front country or even farther in the backcountry,” she said.

“You can winter camp if you’d like. We have our permits for that so you can come and sleep in the snow if that’s your thing. Our visitor center has snowshoes and the spikes, snow spikes, so you can go and rent some of that while you’re here.”

While Denali’s iconic bears are mid-hibernation, Smigiel said animal lovers still have a chance to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife.

“The kennels are open from one to four on Saturday and Sunday, so you can come see the dogs and the puppies during the winter,” she said.

“There are still moose and caribou and wolves. The moose sometimes come closer to the front of the park because they like to use the road just as much as people do.”

While visitors are welcomed to book a stay at Denali, Smigiel told Alaska’s News Source that some amenities may not be available during the winter.

“The one thing that you need to remember when you come to Denali during the winter is that there’s one restaurant and one grocery store and two gas stations that are open and those are about 10 miles from the park,” she said.

“Make sure that you have all your provisions with you, water, snacks, all that kind of stuff. We do have an indoor picnic area where you can go and get warm and, you know, fill your water bottles up and that kind of thing, but nothing that you can purchase while you’re in the park.”

Although current weather conditions have caused the park to reschedule, Smigiel said that rangers are planning to host a “Ski and Stroll” for the winter solstice, where visitors are invited to walk trails near the park.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

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Alaska

Alaska’s Maxime Germain named to US Olympic biathlon team

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Alaska’s Maxime Germain named to US Olympic biathlon team

Alaska’s Maxime Germain was named to the U.S. Olympic biathlon team to compete at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. (Photo provided by U.S. Biathlon)

Alaska’s Maxime Germain has been named to the U.S. Olympic biathlon team and will compete at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

Germain, 24, who was born in Juneau and graduated from West Anchorage High School in 2019, will be making his Olympic debut.

“I am stoked to have qualified,” Germain said in a U.S. Biathlon release. “The goal is now to perform there! It is going to be my first Olympics, but it shouldn’t be any different from other racing. Same venue, same racing, different name!”

The announcement was made Sunday at the conclusion of the World Cup stop in France. He is currently 34th in World Cup rankings, the second-best American behind Olympic teammate Campbell Wright.

Germain has raced for the APU Nordic Ski Center and trained with the Anchorage Biathlon Club.

“Maxime has worked really hard throughout the off season, improving his mental game and bringing an overall level up to the World Cup this year,” U.S. Biathlon High Performance Director Lowell Bailey said in the release. “This showed right away at the first World Cup in Ostersund, where he proved he can be among the world’s fastest and best biathletes. Maxime will be a great addition to the U.S. Olympic team!”

Before coming to Anchorage, Germain grew up in Chamonix, France, and started biathlon there at age 13.

Germain is a member of Vermont Army National Guard as an aviation operations specialist and is studying to become a commercial pilot. Germain has trained with the National Guard Biathlon Team and races as part of the US Army World Class Athlete Program.

Germain joins Wright, Deedra Irwin and Margie Freed as the first four qualifiers for the 2026 Olympic Biathlon Team. The remaining members of the team will be announced on Jan. 6 following completion of the U.S. Biathlon Timed Trials.

The 2026 Winter Olympics run from Feb. 6-22 in Italy.

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