NEWS: Alaska House of Representatives Urges 24 Hour a Day Access to the Border Between Hyder, Alaska and Stewart, British Columbia
JUNEAU – Monday, the Alaska House of Representatives voted unanimously for a resolution urging the Canadian government to keep the border open 24 hours a day between Hyder, Alaska and Stewart, British Columbia. House Joint Resolution 22 is sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan). Earlier this month the Canadian Border Services Agency implemented a closure of the border crossing from midnight to 8 am.
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NEWS: Sen. Wielechowski and Rep. Kawasaki Introduce Legislation to Bolster Public Trust in Elected Officials
JUNEAU – Senator Bill Wielechowski (D–Anchorage) and Representative Scott Kawasaki (D–Fairbanks) will introduce legislation Monday to strengthen rules governing when legislators with a significant financial stake in a particular issue can vote.
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NEWS: House Passes Legislation to Reduce the Number of Reports Printed by Government Agencies
JUNEAU—Today, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 68: Paper Reduction Act. The bill enjoys bipartisan sponsorship and builds on previous efforts to reduce the estimated $585,000 a year the state spends on designing, printing, and publishing agency reports.
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NEWS: Ten Days Left in Session - Still No Erin’s Law
JUNEAU – There are now 10 days left in the first session of the 29th Alaska Legislature but there is still no movement on legislation to implement Erin’s Law in Alaska. Erin’s Law has been proven in many other states to prevent child sexual abuse by requiring public school districts to offer prevention curriculum.
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NEWS: Lawmakers Write to Oppose Dredging of Prized Salmon Stream
JUNEAU—Today, Representatives Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) called on the State to prevent the destruction of wild salmon spawning and rearing waters on the prized Chuitna River near Tyonek. The Canadian company PacRim Coal proposes to dredge and dewater an 11 mile stretch of the Middle Fork of the Chuitna River. PacRim Coal plans to sell the coal from the Chuitna River streambed to China.
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