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From left: Alaska House Reps. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak; Bill Elam, R-Nikiski; Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna; and Sarah Vance, R-Homer, take the oath of office at the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

News

Ruffridge, Vance, Elam oppose stripped down education funding bill

The Senate passed a modified HB 69 on Friday that removed everything from House bill but a $1,000…

The Alaska State Senate meets Thursday, where a bill boosting per-student education funding by $1,000 was introduced on the floor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Education bill with $1,000 BSA hike — and nothing else — gets to Senate floor; veto by Dunleavy expected

Senate president says action on lower per-student education funding increase likely if veto override fails.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a town hall meeting hosted by three Kenai Peninsula legislators in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Chambers in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Education hot topic at legislative town hall

More than 100 people attended a three-hour meeting where 46 spoke.

Rep. Sarah Vance, who represents State House District 6, participates in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Vance introduces bill to enshrine anti-trafficking council

The council was originally established in 2021 through an administrative order issued by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich holds a telephone town hall on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Screenshot from the Facebook page of U.S. Rep. Nick Begich)

News

Murkowski, Begich host telephone town halls to address constituent concerns

Both events were inaccessible to some, who grew frustrated at technical problems

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes takes questions during the Homer budget development meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the Mariner Theatre at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

News

‘The fight has to be with Juneau’: Homer reacts to potential school closures

The community gathered Tuesday for budget conversation after announcement of potential school closures.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III holds a telephone town hall on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Screenshot from the Facebook page of U.S. Rep. Nick Begich)

News

‘This is no town hall. This is propaganda’; Begich takes heat at first virtual constituent forum

Congressman set to deliver his first joint address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education member Penny Vadla and student representative Emerson Kapp speak to the joint Alaska House and Senate education committees in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy Gavel Alaska/KTOO)

News

KPBSD representatives press for funding during in-person testimony to Legislature

Districts spotlighted programs already lost over years of stagnant funding that hasn’t met inflationary pressure.

Kate Sheehan (left foreground), director of the Alaska Division of Personnel and Labor Relations, and Paula Vrana, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, discuss an ongoing statewide salary study during a House State Affairs Committee meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Dunleavy’s delay in releasing state salary study frustrates legislators, union leaders

Draft report to assess competitiveness completed last June, but not released publicly.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers his State of the State speech at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, with Senate President Gary Stevens, at left, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, at right, in the background. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

News

Gov. Dunleavy takes victory lap with selective portrayal of Alaska in second-to-last State of the State

Some legislators criticize “mixed messages” about cooperation, omission of problems needing work.

From left: Alaska House Reps. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak; Bill Elam, R-Nikiski; Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna; and Sarah Vance, R-Homer; take the oath of office at the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

News

Peninsula legislators take oaths of office

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman and Reps. Justin Ruffridge, Bill Elam and Sarah Vance were among those sworn in.

Opinion

Opinion: Our north star aligns with values Alaskans hold dear

We have vision and practical solutions.

Rep. Sarah Vance, candidate for State House District 6, participates in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Vance prefiles 2 bills targeting tech

Both bills are intended to safeguard children and maintain “societal integrity” in the face of rapidly advancing technologies.