Legislature

Lawmakers antsy for progress on pipeline

There's been no reportable progress toward reaching agreements in the year since TransCanada Corp. announced that it had received bids from "major industry players and others" interested in using its proposed pipeline to transport natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to market.

More on natural gas pipelines

Parnell slices $400 million from Legislature's capital spending

Gov. Sean Parnell vetoed spending on energy projects, weatherization and rural school construction Wednesday but left the entire $34 million in state spending for the new UAA sports arena and $1.5 million to help the struggling Great Alaska Shootout basketball tournament.

How did Anchorage projects fare?

PDF: Approved and vetoed projects

Parnell budget vetoes coming this afternoon

Gov. Sean Parnell plans to make at least $400 million in budget vetoes this afternoon. Interest groups from around the state have been lobbying the governor's office in an attempt to protect their stuff from getting cut.

House votes down bill to save coastal management program

House votes down bill to save coastal management program

The Alaska House on Tuesday defeated a measure that would have extended the state's coastal management program, a surprising end to a special session called to try to save it.

Senate approves coastal plan, adjourns; House yet to act

The Alaska Senate passed a measure intended to save the state's coastal management program, then abruptly adjourned Monday, even though the House had yet to gavel in for the second special session and no hearings had been held on the plan.

Anchorage lawmaker Doogan back in Seattle hospital

More Alaska Legislature coverage

ALASKA POLITICS BLOG

Anchorage lawmaker Doogan back in Seattle hospital

Anchorage Rep. Mike Doogan is in Seattle for treatment related to his brain tumor surgery last year and isn't going to attend the special session on coastal management.

Lawmakers work to round up votes on coastal program

With another special session looming Monday, Senate leaders worked to rally the votes needed for a compromise to keep Alaska's coastal management program alive.

More Alaska Legislature coverage

Special session is set to start Monday

The Legislature expects to go into special session in Juneau on Monday in a last-minute effort to save the state coastal management program.

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Governor signs measure making synthetic marijuana illegal

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has signed into law a bill that bans synthetic cannabinoids.

2011 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Governor signs bill making synthetic marijuana illegal

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has signed into law a bill that bans synthetic cannabinoids. The law criminalizes possession of less than 12 grams of the drug as a misdemeanor and possession of more than that as a felony.

Governor signs bill targeting child abuse, exploitation

Alaska Democrats mull options on legislative redistricting

Parnell says he is going to cut budget by $400 million

Alaska Democrats mull options on legislative redistricting

Alaska Democrats aren't ruling out a lawsuit over the state's new redistricting plan, which they say is partisan and raises questions about how well Alaskans will be represented.

Governor signs bill targeting child abuse, exploitation

Gov. Sean Parnell has signed legislation aimed at cracking down on the abuse of children and child exploitation.

2011 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Legislative leaders make final try to save coastal program

House and Senate leaders are seeking a compromise to save Alaska's coastal management program. Speaker Mike Chenault said attorneys are drafting language that "may or may not" give comfort to lawmakers as they mull another special session.

State Senate seeks special session

Associates recall Grussendorf as mentor, friend, role model

Flags were lowered to half-staff Tuesday in honor of longtime Alaska state Rep. Ben Grussendorf, who died Friday at the age of 69. A celebration of life is planned for July 8 in Sitka.

State to fund overseas travel by several legislators

Alaska legislators have a busy summer of international state-paid travel coming up, with Sen. Lesil McGuire and Rep. Bob Lynn headed to Greece this week for the Special Olympics and other lawmakers planning a Norway trip in August.

Alaska House rejects special session on coastal management

Speaker Mike Chenault said Monday that he polled the state House and there's not enough support for a special session to keep the coastal zone management program alive for another year.

Coastal zone program staffers begin looking for new jobs

State flags to fly at half staff in memory of former legislator

Alaska state flags will fly at half-staff today in memory of former House Speaker Ben Grussendorf.

Longtime state representative Grussendorf dies at 69

Coastal zone program staffers begin looking for new jobs

Employees of the Alaska's coastal management program are looking for jobs as prospects for the program's survival grow dimmer in the Legislature.

With no deal in works, coastal zone program appears dead

State Senate seeks special session

The Alaska Senate is calling for a special session to keep the state's coastal zone management program from dissolving on June 30. But it's not clear whether the House will go along.

More on the Legislature

New Alaska legislative map forces early Senate elections

All Alaska state senators except one will have to run for re-election in 2012, even if their terms aren't supposed to be up until 2014, a state panel charged with drawing new legislative lines decided Monday.

PDF: Redistricting concept plan

Governor gets budgets for review

Gov. Sean Parnell has until July 1 to review the state capital budget.