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2005 Stories

Tuesday, December 27
Sponsors cover the state as initiative deadline nears

Friday, December 23
Wilken proposes dividends for city governments

Thursday, December 22
Senate rejects attempt to open ANWR
Bill to prohibit mixing zones in freshwater
Sen. Seekins to back off on run for governor

Wednesday, December 21
Dems vow to obstruct ANWR drilling

Tuesday, December 20
House paves the way for ANWR drilling
Former legislator Binkley to run for governor

Monday, December 19
Pipeline talks suspended until January

Friday, December 16
Murkowski outlines plan for controversial bridges
Governor: Spend surplus on education

Thursday, December 15
Ketchikan Republican battles critics, cancer

Monday, December 12
Gov. Murkowski's re-election chances difficult to predict
The Legislature's quiet guy: Kookesh

Friday, December 9
Governor set to push anti-marijuana legislation again

Friday, December 2
Fight expected over hike in school funds
Plans to help cities headed to Legislature

Thursday, December 1
Speaker fined for misuse of contributions

Wednesday, November 30
Third try for gambling initiative thrown out
Regs set to control costs of home care
State in a dither over road funding

Sunday, November 27
Permafund hits new high

Thursday, November 17
Building priorities may be up for grabs

Friday, November 11
Governor: Tap permafund for cities

Friday, October 28
State responds to Irwin's questions
Panel defeats plan to share ANWR profits with other Native corporations

Monday, October 17
Limits on gun toting loosen
Lawmakers: Too late to call special session for pipeline

Wednesday, October 12
Sen. Murkowski bill would divvy up 9th Circuit

Tuesday, October 11
Suit over legislative staff bonuses settled

Tuesday, September 29
Activists push to send pork money for hurricane relief

Sunday, September 18
State considers new Ketchikan-Prince Rupert shuttle ferry

Wednesday, September 15
Alaska lawmakers seek tax breaks on fuel
Gov. Murkowski delivers gas terms to producers

Monday, September 12
UA cites heating cost as one reason for requested increase

Thursday, September 8
Lawmaker calls for audit into state's pension retirement systems

Monday, August 29
All-Alaska natural gas pipeline fans step up their efforts

Friday, August 26
Murkowski heads to pipeline talks

Thursday, August 25
Oil prices help boost Alaska spending

Tuesday, August 16
Alaska court decision approves joint primaries

Tuesday, August 16
Alaska court decision approves joint primaries

Sunday, August 14
Legislator floats gas-line dividend

Friday, August 12
Ted Stevens lends hand to lawmaker son in dispute over highway money

Thursday, August 4
Backers get OK to collect names for gas tax

Wednesday, August 3
Pipeline group presents offer to Gov. Murkowski

Sunday, July 31
Initiative sponsors work to conform to new rule

Friday, July 29
State delves into how to pay for pipeline

Port authority aims to buy state's share to push pipeline ahead

Thursday, July 28
Gov. signs pension changes into law

Friday, July 22
Legal opinion: Governor can't tie strings to budget

Lawmaker wants to double jail time for drunken driving

Monday, July 18
Big oil profits prompt talk of revised tax structure in state

Wednesday, July 13
State to tighten regs on home-care program

Tuesday, July 12
Azerbaijanis study state's permanent fund

Thursday, July 7
Prop would cut session to 90 days
Short sessions would take toll on Juneau businesses

Tuesday, June 28
Bill for landless Natives back on the table

Wednesday, June 15
Berkowitz to run for governor in 2006

Tuesday, June 14
Senate bill seeks to boost reserves of dwindling federal oil-spill fund

Monday, June 13
Legislator is shunned by her party

Tuesday, June 7
AG may suspend medical marijuana registration in Alaska
Gov. Murkowski predicts pipeline contracts by fall

Friday, June 3
Sen. Seekins eyes governor's seat

Wednesday, June 1
Administration builds case against pot

Monday, May 30
New workers' comp statute likely to see court challenge
Harris weighs future after session

Friday, May 27
Murkowski: Media not focusing on achievements
Governor claims success with PERS, budget

Thursday, May 26
Lawmakers scram as session ends

Wednesday, May 25
Committee approves bonds for virology lab and schools
End is near for session

Tuesday, May 24
House puts an end to battle on retirement bill
Doctors OK language on state abortion Web site

Monday, May 23
House OKs workers' comp revamp

Friday, May 20
Alaska Senators seek a delay in closing of base
Workers' comp, retirement to resurface in special session

Thursday, May 19
House spending tamed at $2.28 billion

Wednesday, May 18
Senate OKs $2.4 billion for projects
Senate funds base-closure panel
U.S. senators OK funding for roads
Legislative deadlock breaks although important issues remain unresolved

Tuesday, May 17
House approves university land transfer bill

Monday, May 16
Capital budget may become next battle
State works to nail fish mislabelers
Gas line hopes fizzle, but summer may bring plan

Friday, May 13
Governor's approval rating near nation's worst
No movement on retirement bill

Thursday, May 12
Gov. adds 4 bills to session
Legislation on hold until 2006
Capital budget proposal nearly $2.6 billion

Wednesday, May 11
Senate approves governor's raise
Lawmakers focus on three bills
University land grants in limbo until next session

Tuesday, May 10
Legislature into extra innings
Panel can't agree to retirement trade-off
House vote trounces statewide cruise ship tax

Friday, May 6
Measure would prevent talk of ethics complaints
House drops funding for road to Skagway
Malpractice cap bill passes House
Murkowski's workers compensation bill stuck in House committee

Thursday, May 5
Retirement plan won't be optional
House OKs poker rooms; municipalities would let voters have final say

Wednesday, May 4
House approves road bond bill
House votes to make retirement rewrite temporary

Tuesday, May 3
Retirement rewrite bill may get final vote on Wednesday
Panel releases draft budget
Senate approves bill to end groundfish derbies

Monday, May 2
Retirement plan goes to floor
Web site to include anti-abortion message

Friday, April 29
Measure trims medical costs for public employers
House may give future governors 46% raise
Bill: All strangulation assaults are felonies

Thursday, April 28
Pipeline talks nearly done
School funding changes added to bill
Senate OKs state control over wastewater permits
House OK's short-term licenses

Tuesday, April 26
Amendment requires that budget be balanced
Legislature in gridlock over schools
Capital budget, schools lead a big list of state projects

Monday, April 25
Fishermen in snit over take by hatcheries

Frdiday, April 22
Mayors: Cities on verge of disaster
Senate approves new fees to cover costs of hatcheries around state
House approves bill on university lands
Governor tries a third time for state jet

Thursday, April 21
Mayor halts his plans to build capitol
Attempt to change university land grant bill fails
House OKs ANWR drilling

Wednesday, April 20
Senator wants to legalize poker rooms
House OKs ability to choose fund investments

Tuesday, April 19
Bill sends state jobs into private sector
Bill guts Dems' budget leverage

Friday, April 15
City to return state money for capitol
U.S. House Resources Committee backs drilling in ANWR
Union: Teacher layoffs loom without more funding

Thursday, April 14
Governor asks city to return capitol money
Senate taps $344 million of permafund for schools
Senate passes workers' comp overhaul bill

Wednesday, April 13
Public radio works to hang onto funds
State grant for capitol design steams Gatto
Panel sends lands bill to floor

Tuesday, April 12
Alaska asserting rights to old trails under federal law
Committee gives OK to workers' comp bill
Senate OKs retirement reform bill

Monday, April 11
Legislature eyes school harassment

Friday, April 8
Mat-su eyes its own site for session
Legislators aim to kill daylight savings
Croft's bill offers incentives to schools with small classes

Thursday, April 7
House OKs $2.6 billion state budget
Sen. Murkowski objects to proposed passport requirement
Senate committee kills coastal bill
Retirement overhaul legislation heads to the full Senate

Wednesday, April 6
Cruise lines threaten suit
House panel bill makes dividend fraud a felony

Tuesday, April 5
Oil prices will fall off, state predicts
Stevens wants fund earnings for school budgets
Bill allows mental health patients to choose nurse gender
Measure grants state powers of quarantine

Friday, April 1
House committee slashes money for public television
Marquez chosen as new attorney general

Thursday, March 31
Murkowski: State needs to rely on less aid
House rejects bill linking student funding to retirement reform

Wednesday, March 30
Bill would distribute PFDs in quarterly payments
Lawmaker: $50 cruise tax is no big deal

Monday, March 28
Knowles was tops in Senate fund-raising

Friday, March 25
Oil companies appeal proposed tax increase
Workers fear legislation denies medical service

Thursday, March 24
Measure would halt corporate income tax cuts
White House expert: Pot is dangerous

Wednesday, March 23
Panel reaches compromise on spending bill

Tuesday, March 22
House, Senate give road thumbs up
Senate moves education funding bill

Monday, March 21
Groups in opposition to ANWR drilling continue their grass-roots campaign
State asserts more reasons to dismiss school suit

Friday, March 18
Lawsuit says staff bonuses unethical

Thursday, March 17
Senate approves ANWR drilling

Wednesday, March 16
Lie detectors eyed to curb sex offenders
Senate remains split on ANWR

Tuesday, March 15
Ruling has lawmakers rethinking commercial fishing fees
Communities ask Legislature for delay on coastal program overhaul

Monday, March 14
Legislature debates public employee 'double-dipping'

Friday, March 11
Highway bill bolsters Alaska projects
Bill seeks end to fishing 'derbies' in Gulf of Alaska

Thursday, March 10
Advocates rally for breast cancer screening program
Schools beg senators for more funds
Resolution opposing fish farms passes

Wednesday, March 09
Ethics board passes on ex-AG Renkes
Voters may decide on cash for cities
Fairweather settlement is near

Tuesday, March 08
Fund's earnings tagged for gas line
Committee considers renewing rehire plan

Monday, March 07
Declining bids leave some questioning ANWR projections
Lands bill advances, with some deletions

Friday, March 04
Bill would send millions to beleaguered cities
Cities seek funds to buoy up harbors
Proposal taps permanent fund for gas pipeline
Bill would send fish tax back to communities

Thursday, March 03
House passes $70M boost to education
House committee approves $284 billion highway bill
Holm wants to cut public radio funding
Lawmakers: UA lands bill needs work

Wednesday, March 02
Leaders eye new legal line for ethics
Republicans ready to push arctic refuge drilling

Tuesday, March 01
Bill would tap permanent fund for construction
Bill aims to stop drivers from watching DVDs
Workers' salaries targeted to bridge gap in retirement funds

Monday, February 28
Threat to pull out of coast plan

Friday, February 25
Sen. Stevens: State must stave off pipeline delays
Lawmakers OK funds for division after last election empties its coffers
Senator surprises some with support for fish farms

Thursday, February 24
Alaska Supreme Court chief justice addresses Legislature, calls on it to raise judges' salaries

Wednesday, February 22
Taylor named ferry chief
Senator wants to make dividend fraud a felony
Committee looks at ballot initiative bill

Tuesday, February 22
State to check out people who take care of elderly, disabled

Friday, February 18
Rep. DeLay: ANWR will be included in energy bill
ASMI revamps its mission, focuses more on advertising
Bill caps legal fees for suits in the public interest
Governor floats plan for wastewater permits

Thursday, February 17
Medicaid cuts could cost state millions
Ethics committee put on hold by Legislature

Wednesday, February 16
Senator proposes electing AG
House panel to hold off on university lands bill
Bill in House committee hikes school funding

Tuesday, February 15
Salvage, cleanup of Aleutian wreck halts for season
Finance co-chair criticizes energy assistance program
Tenakee eyes solutions to its fiscal crisis
Lands bill hits boiling point in Legislature

Monday, February 14
Bill would open up child custody
Bush budget calls for deep cuts in rural Alaska

Friday, February 11
Governor hikes budget request to $141 million
Lawmakers eye boost in per-student funding

Thursday, February 10
Interim attorney general named
Bill would make steroids without prescription illegal

Wednesday, February 9
Bill rebukes slavers, but business will go on

Tuesday, February 8
Renkes' departure put on hold
Groups appeal mine approval

Friday, February 4
UA requests $2.5 million for research
Bill lets cities pick special election dates.
Legislators aim to head off gas monopoly

Thursday, February 3
Plan would use permafund to cover deficits
Arctic wildlife refuge defenders fear time is up.
Bill proposes a big-game board

Wednesday, February 2
Study shows high profits for state oil
New cost estimate for Ketchikan bridges up 37 percent

Tuesday, February 1
Republicans: Budget plans too expensive

Monday, January 31
Oil industry cries foul at tax hike - or is it crying wolf?

Friday, January 28
All-Alaska gas line gains momentum

Thursday, January 27
Murkowski to reprimand atty. general
Lawmakers agree state ethics laws fall short
Gov. Murkowski bill raises recount costs
ANWR lobby group asks state for $1.1 million
Commission recommends incentives to organize Alaska

Wednesday, January 26
Ethics probe clears Renkes, governor says
AG's purchase of 7,000 Coeur shares questioned
Ballot reprint costs state more than $243,000

Tuesday, January 25
Road study goes online for review
Legislature fast tracks prison bill
Bill funds tsunami warning fix

Monday, January 24
Record tracks Renkes moves
Bill bans automated calls from campaigns

Friday, January 21
Bill cuts parties out of absentee ballot requests
Tax legislation would boost revenue for fishing towns

Thursday, January 20
Labor spat grounds fast ferry
Bill would fund Alaska legal services Corp.
New rules proposed for state food handlers

Wednesday, January 19
Cruise group sues state

Monday, January 17
Tax change steams oil companies

Monday, January 16
Income estimate from oil windfall dips $187 million

Wednesday, January 12
Legislators hear gas-line orientation
Ex-U.S. attorney: Renkes may have broken conduct rules
Dems tout oil-tax structure

Tuesday, January 11
Lawmakers eye gas line, weigh surplus
Getting here from there

Monday, January 10
Legislators start session
Measure requires voter approval of Capitol move costs

Thursday, January 6
Top Republican on energy makes ANWR first priority

Wednesday, January 5
State to sue feds over water rights

Tuesday, January 4
Labor spat could tie up Fairweather