Sorted by date Results 276 - 291 of 291
From the beginning of this legislative session, everyone knew the $3.5 billion budget deficit would be the driving force behind nearly all legislative considerations. With oil tax revenue making up over 90% of all state revenue, and oil prices dropping from an average of $110 a barrel to approximately $50 a barrel, there was no escaping the necessity of making some extremely difficult budget reductions. The decisions made in each legislative committee resulted in budget cuts across the board to all regions of the state. However, because of the...
As legislators in Juneau prepare a budget for the state's next fiscal year, Alaska residents have been urged to contribute their say as cuts are considered. Since the Legislative session began on Jan. 20, lawmakers have been weighted with the task of finding ways to address a more than $3.6 billion deficit. To that end, the State House was looking at making a nearly 10 percent, or about $240 million, cut from state spending over the previous fiscal year. Among areas affected by the cuts would be capital improvements, education, transportation,...
As the fisheries industry continues to expand and Wrangell's Marine Service Center's services demand increases, I believe Wrangell's economy has nowhere to go but up. However, to accommodate this growth, the state must maintain their services in Wrangell. I am particularly concerned about the conservation of state jobs in Wrangell. Several years ago, Wrangell lost its social worker and its fisheries biologist. Now, the loss of the Wrangell trooper and the potential of reduced funding to the city...
Wrangell’s unit of the Salvation Army is looking for community support in preventing homelessness. In an open letter, Major Scott Nicloy pointed out that among the cuts being made across the board in dealing with Alaska’s financial difficulties, funding for the state’s Basic Homeless Assistance Program has been cut from next year’s budget. This grant is administered locally, and as part of its administration of the grant, the Salvation Army has helped applicants fill out the 15-page form needed to receive assistance. The state division of the...
Kicking things off with a new borough manager in Jeff Jabusch, 2014 for Wrangell was not only a period of changes, but also one of building and continued development. Pavement was poured at the Marine Service Center, a number of roads were resurfaced or due to eventually see improvement, and the city was able to showcase itself to other regional communities by hosting several prolific functions. January Wrangell Cooperative Association collected 210 registrations for Tlingit-Haida members at...
Recently-elected Alaska House District 36 Representative Dan Ortiz paid Wrangell a visit Tuesday, meeting with Mayor David Jack and Borough Manager Jeff Jabusch at City Hall that afternoon. Since the Nov. 4 election, Ortiz explained he has been connecting with his constituent communities, and gathering input for setting goals for the next legislative session when it starts in January. As Wrangell's future representative, he said three local projects stood out. The first was final phasing for the Wrangell Marine Service Center, which is...
After about three weeks of tallying, Alaska’s general election results were finally certified by Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell on Nov. 26. Turnout in the state was the third-highest turnout of any state, with 284,925 of the 509,011 registered voters participating. High-profile races and a trio of contentious ballot measures may explain the figures: as a result of the election Alaska has become the fourth state to legalize recreational marijuana use and will tout one of the highest minimum wage levels in the country. Some of the s...
The definitions of Alaska's political landscape are soon to be settled following the 2014 midterm elections on Nov. 4. As the last votes are counted, concessions have begun coming in. Since Election Day, Alaska's Division of Elections officials in 441 precincts across the state have been tallying around 48,000 absentee, early and questioned votes in the hope of determining the winners of the Nov. 4 general election. In Southeast, it was a particularly close race for the State House seat for...
With a number of closely-contested initial results for the general elections on Nov. 4, voters and candidates alike may be holding their breath as Alaska’s Division of Elections began counting absentee and early votes Tuesday. The margins for several races remain slim. For a seat in the Senate, initial polling saw Republican challenger Dan Sullivan hold an 8,149-vote lead over Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Begich. In the gubernatorial race, a mere 3,165 votes separate incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell from Independent challenger Bill Walker, w...
Wrangell voters joined millions of other Americans Tuesday to cast their say into the electoral boxes. Nationally, evening results indicated the Republican Party had made gains in both the House and Senate, securing its hold on one and capturing the other. Unofficial results had the Borough's District 36 residents voting along Republican lines. For its Alaska House representative, Wrangell chose Chere Klein by 471 votes to the 273 of non-affiliated candidate Dan Ortiz. For governor, Wrangell...
Candidates for Alaska House District 36 met in Wrangell Thursday evening for an on-air forum hosted by radio station KSTK. Republican candidate Chere Klein and Independent Dan Ortiz – both from Ketchikan – are running in the Nov. 4 election to represent the district's communities in the State Legislature. KSTK's director Cindy Sweat acted as the evening's moderator. Candidates were given five minutes apiece for opening statements, alternating who got to answer questions posed by the public fir...
As 180 delegates converge on Wrangell this week for the 56th annual Southeast Conference, Alaska State House hopefuls have likewise paid a visit in order to meet some of the people one will eventually represent after November's election. Independent candidate Dan Ortiz and Republican Chere Klein are competing for the District 36 seat, which was created during 2011 redistricting and includes Ketchikan, Saxman, Wrangell, Metlakatla and Hydaburg. The incumbent, Rep. Peggy Wilson, is stepping down this year after serving 14 years in the Alaska...
Wrangell voters gave their say during Tuesday's primary, picking Chere Klein to run as the Republican candidate in November for the Alaska State House District 36 seat and voting "no" on the ballot measure by 246 to 184, according to the evening's unofficial tally. Some 438 votes were counted after the polls closed at 8 p.m., with an additional 18 votes and about 50 absentee ballots left to hand-count. Absentee voting for the primary had begun Aug. 4. For the Republican Party, Klein ran against...
Absentee voting began Monday for the 2014 Alaska primary election. This year’s District 36 candidates are Republicans Chere Klein, Patti Mackey and Agnes Moran. The incumbent, Rep. Peggy Wilson, announced her decision not to run again back in April. The winner of the primary will run against non-affiliated candidate Dan Ortiz for the seat in November’s general election. Voters can also weigh in on the first of four ballot measures to be decided in the state this year, with the remaining three up for vote in November. Ballot measure number one...
To the Editor: I’d like to tell you why I am endorsing Chere Klein for our next District 36 House of Representative and why it’s very important that you vote for her August 19 over all the other candidates currently running. First and foremost consider her experience and understanding of our local Wrangell community. Chere and her husband Loren Enright have actually operated businesses here for the past 15 years. They hire and purchase locally and are contributors to our economy. Secondly, and almost as important, is her experience working for...
Candidates for the newly renumbered State Representative District 36 say jobs and connections were among the key issues for Southeast. Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly member Agnes Moran, Wilson legislative aide and small business owner Chere Klein, and Ketchikan Visitors Bureau president and CEO Patti Mackey will all appear on the ballot for the Aug. 19 Republican primary. The victor will face independent candidate Dan Ortiz in the Nov. 4 general election. Retiring legislator Peggy Wilson (R...