February-Issue-3 2012

Construction spending for the schools gets another boost this year, and there are several projects to account for it.

A shortage of available drilling rigs on the North Slope has caused some explorers to delay their work this winter, sources in industry and state officials say.

Alaska’s Supreme Court held a hearing Feb. 8 on one aspect of a complex lawsuit over state oil and gas leases at Point Thomson, a large gas and condensate discovery east of Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope. It will be some time before the court renders a decision, however.

The state of Alaska has issued a key permit to allow a mothballed 50-megawatt coal power plant in Interior Alaska to restart, officials with Golden Valley Electric Association, the Interior Alaska electric cooperative, said Feb. 6.

NEW YORK (AP) — You thought you found your one true love online, but now you’ve been dumped by text or defriended on Facebook without a peep of explanation. Hours of bad TV in your bathrobe haven’t helped. Your friends are tired of your whining.

CHICAGO (AP) — Teens don’t tweet, will never tweet – too public, too many older users. Not cool.

State lawmakers are grappling with oil taxes, a $10-billion-plus pension liability, a $10 billion-plus budget, school funding and gas pipeline issues as the 2012 legislative session nears the 30-day mark in its scheduled 90-day session.

Alaska has three branches of state government: Executive, headed by Gov. Sean Parnell; legislative headed by Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Mike Chenault, and judicial, headed by Chief Justice Walter Carpenetti, who is one of five members of the Alaska Supreme Court.

Alaska has three branches of state government: Executive, headed by Gov. Sean Parnell; legislative headed by Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Mike Chenault, and judicial, headed by Chief Justice Walter Carpenetti, who is one of five members of the Alaska Supreme Court.

Alaskans were surprised to learn that there is a new and very different mission statement posted by the Department of Natural Resources on the State of Alaska website.

You had to go, so you did – kicking and screaming.

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education is teaming up with the Institute of Social and Economic Research to learn more about students. Specifically, to keep learning about them once they get to college.

Hospital operators in the state are sharply critical of a state consultant’s report highlighting profit margins at large private hospitals as a factor in driving up costs of medical care in the state.

SEATTLE – The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is targeting a final action in April to amend the rebuilding plan for Pribilof Island blue king crab.

Movers & Shakers 02/12/12

Bulletins 02/12/12

SEATTLE — Less than a year after telling the public Gulf of Alaska halibut bycatch would be reduced in 2012, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council has bowed to a variety of pressures from bureaucratic to biological, and cuts won’t take effect until at least 2014.

The prospect of paying fishermen higher prices has processors protesting the new rockfish program.

Alaskans were surprised to learn that there is a new and very different mission statement posted by the Department of Natural Resources on the State of Alaska website.

CHICAGO (AP) — Teens don’t tweet, will never tweet – too public, too many older users. Not cool.