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The Alaska Beacon is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government. Our journalists fairly and fearlessly report on the people and interests that determine state policy.
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4 days ago · U.S. House Republicans seeking to settle debt limit alongside border, taxes BY: Jennifer Shutt - January 7, 2025 WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday his “intention” is to address the country’s debt limit through the reconciliation process, pushing aside the possibility of negotiating a bipartisan compromise with Democrats.
State lawmakers plan to continue to focus on the need for new …
1 day ago · “You’re not going to see that sort of subsidy. But I think there’s more that we can do,” he said. Along with a new look at royalty relief, which he said “is surely going to continue to be a topic, front and center, for both chambers,” lawmakers could try to do something to address what has been the lack of Cook Inlet producers’ ready access to a jack-up rig.
Biden extends oil and gas leasing ban in Alaska’s Northern Bering …
4 days ago · The entire Northern Bering Sea is now off-limits to oil and gas leasing, under a presidential directive announced on Monday.. President Joe Biden invoked his authority under a federal law to withdraw about 44 million acres of the Northern Bering Sea and other federal offshore areas from the Department of the Interior’s oil and gas leasing program.. An earlier action by President Barack Obama ...
Alaska voters favor minimum wage hike, sick leave mandate, with …
Nov 6, 2024 · Alaska voters favored a ballot measure backed by labor unions by a margin of 12.46 percentage points with roughly 70% of the ballots counted early Wednesday.
Construction and oil expected to lead job growth in Alaska this year
Jan 3, 2025 · Construction workers attend to outdoor tasks on Dec. 17, 2024, at a residential project being built in downtown Anchorage. Alaska is expected to gain 1,500 construction jobs this year, according to the annual forecast published by state Department of Labor and Workforce Development economists.
Slight increase in Alaska’s minimum wage coming ahead of larger, …
Nov 28, 2024 · Alaska’s minimum wage workers will get a tiny bump in pay starting on Jan. 1 before a larger increase becomes effective six months later. The state’s minimum wage will increase by 18 cents to $11.91 an hour at the start of the new year, the result of a ballot measure passed 10 years ago, the Alaska Department of Labor and …
Alaska election results are official: Here are 5 takeaways
Nov 30, 2024 · Alaska’s election results were made official on Saturday, after the state review board finished certifying the results. Here are five takeaways from the final results: There were no changes in the outcomes, but the margin defeating ranked choice repeal grew
Wages for Alaska workers are up, but total jobs remain lower than …
Dec 3, 2024 · The average hourly wage in Alaska was $33.60 in 2023, putting the state in 11 th place among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The median hourly wage – which is calculated in a way that reduces the influence of the highest and lowest numbers – was $26.99.
Scores of Alaskans face another eye-watering spike in their health …
Dec 24, 2024 · Health; Commentary Scores of Alaskans face another eye-watering spike in their health care costs next year Premiums for Alaska health insurance plans on the federal marketplace have spiked more than 50% over the past three years.