Alaska

Lawmakers react to governor’s education priorities in State of the State address

Published

2 years ago

February 1, 2024

Lawmakers react to governor’s education priorities in State of the State address

JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) – Gov. Mike Dunleavy laid out his vision for shaping the future of education in Alaska during his State of the State address on Tuesday, mentioning charter schools, bonus incentives for teachers and the supporting higher education programs in STEM, nursing, Arctic research and other emerging fields.

While Dunleavy didn’t mention Senate Bill 140, the comprehensive education package being supported by the House Majority, his apparent education priorities align with many of the components of the bill. During the speech, Dunleavy talked about the success of Alaska’s charter school system.

The education package that is yet to be heard on the House floor includes a section that would streamline the process for the creation of more charter schools.

“This past November, research from Harvard confirmed that Alaska’s charter school system is the best in the country,” Dunleavy said. “That’s right. You heard correctly. Alaska’s charter school system is leading the nation. This fact should be a cause for celebration. Every educator, every administrator, and every school board member in Alaska should be embracing the opportunity to learn from what’s proving successful.”

The proposed bill also establishes incentives for the retention and recruitment of teachers, another topic that Dunleavy advocated for on Tuesday night.

The proposed bill would increase the base student allocation by $300, an amount the House Majority and House Minority are divided on. The Senate Majority has also advocated for a higher amount.

Dunleavy said Tuesday night that “for far too long the drumbeat for more money in the BSA has drowned out nearly every other conversation.”

In an interview, House Minority leader Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, said he didn’t know how to interpret that comment, but “after 10 years of flat funding, it’s no surprise that education is having an outside voice in the conversation down here in Juneau.”

“What I know is that schools need funding now,” Schrage said. “Whether you’re in a charter school, a correspondence school or your neighborhood public school, a BSA increase will provide much-needed support to teachers and faculty and to our students in the school system. And we need to increase the BSA by a substantial amount.”

On the other hand, Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, said she sides with the governor that the focus should be on outcomes instead of just funding.

“I fully agree with what the governor was speaking about — we need to stop talking about money and [instead] outcomes,” Allard said. “I’m looking forward to SB 140 passing, you know, the governor is not going let it go past his desk if it has nothing in it. So we need to make sure that we all support each other and we make sure we move forward with our education system.”

A spokesman in the governor’s office said Dunleavy is not opposed to increasing the BSA but stands by his comment that he wants to see a comprehensive education package.

The governor’s spokesperson also said Dunleavy will not comment on a BSA dollar amount until he sees the final bill on his desk.

Source link

Alaska

Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Limits Increased

Published

2 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Limits Increased

Spawning Coho. Image-BLM

(Soldotna) – To allow anglers additional harvest opportunity of Kasilof River sockeye salmon, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is increasing the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, to six fish per day and twelve fish in possession; however, no more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon, in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing. These provisions are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 26 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2026.

The biological escapement goal on the Kasilof River is 140,000-320,000 sockeye salmon. Through June 23, a total of 117,665 sockeye salmon have passed the Kasilof River sonar site. The current escapement of sockeye salmon into the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate that is projected to exceed the biological escapement goal.

In addition to increasing the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, ADF&G issued emergency order 2-RS-1-32-26 expanding the area open to the personal use dip net fishery on the Kasilof River.

For additional information, please contact the Soldotna ADF&G office at (907) 262-9368.

Source link

Alaska

Crews continue making progress on Delta Fires

Published

12 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Crews continue making progress on Delta Fires

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on June 24, 2026

A White Mountain Crewmember feels for any remaining heat along the Rapeseed Fire (#275) outside of Delta Junction on June 24 2026. Photo/ Sam Porter

#222 Granite Fire– The Clackamas Crew joined the Southwest Type 1 Crew and TCC Squad A on the Granite Fire today. The fire is now 85% contained.
A thermal detection drone was flown over the fire to identify any remaining heat. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place and will continue tomorrow, meaning aircraft and drones that are not supporting firefighting operations are prohibited from flying over or near the incident.
Crews are also checking windrows for remaining heat. Windrows are rows of trees left standing to reduce wind erosion on farmland. Firefighters will pile and burn dead or downed trees, as well as hazard trees with burned roots.

#257 Barley 2 Fire– All personnel have been demobilized from the Barley 2 Fire after it was declared contained and controlled. The fire will remain in monitor status. This will be the last update for this fire unless significant changes occur.

#268 Moosehead Fire– A boat is transporting TCC Squad C to the Moosehead Fire, where they are gridding the interior and checking for any remaining heat.

#275 Rapeseed Fire- The Rapeseed Fire is 80% contained. The White Mountain Type 2 Initial Attack Crew is constructing sawline and cold trailing the fire’s edge to locate and extinguish any remaining heat.
A Nodwell continues to provide an effective way to transport personnel, equipment, supplies, and water through the remote, sensitive terrain while supporting suppression efforts.

#223 Pogo and #226 Shaw Fires continue to be in monitor status.

‹ More Firefighters Heading to Ambler for Jade Fire

Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Alaska DNR – Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP)

Tags: #FireYear2026 #2026AKFIRESEASON, 2026 Alaska Fire Season, Delta, Granite Fire, Moosehead Fire, Pogo Fire, Rapeseed Fire, Shaw Fire

Source link

Alaska

Characteristics of Leadership: Recklessness – Alaska Business Magazine

Published

22 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Characteristics of Leadership: Recklessness – Alaska Business Magazine

Picture it: an 800-mile engineering marvel traversing Alaska’s rugged wilderness. An immense zinc mine powering Northwest Alaska’s economy. World-class sustainable harvests feeding global markets with seafood.

The Trans Alaska Pipeline System, Red Dog mine, and the Alaska fishing industry: These massive ventures represent high-stakes investments in infrastructure and resources that have transformed Alaska into a powerhouse of global energy, minerals, and food. Today, we call these ventures inspired, but that label masks a fundamental nuance and common misconception: there is a distinction between the risky and the reckless.

That line between bold visionary and reckless gambler is usually written in ink only after the dust settles and the checks clear. Winners are often labeled as geniuses while thousands of leaders who made similar bets but went bust are ignored. When you see any winner in the marketplace, their strategy can look like a guaranteed blueprint for success. This is survivorship bias in action, obsessing over the front-runners while ignoring the graveyard of those who made the same choices. Recklessness is a classic leadership trap, in part, because it is very easy to mistake good luck for repeatable strategy. Our brains are wired to find patterns in chaos, even when they don’t exist, and when a gamble pays off, it is easy to invent a story to explain why it worked. This explains, in part, why high-risk behavior is often rebranded as “visionary” in the business world.

Understanding the mechanics of recklessness can help a leader spot the difference between a smart move and a predictable bad one. It is the contrast between a high-wire artist using a safety net and having practiced the route, versus one who just hopes they don’t fall. The first one is making calculated moves, and the second is wishing for the best.

Source link