RED AT THE ROUNDABOUT – More than 200 demonstrators rally at the roundabout Wednesday afternoon in support of raising the state’s contribution to public schools. The Sitka School District faces a shortfall of $1.5 million to $3.2 million in the 2025 budget, depending on the amount the Legislature finally approves. The School Board is obligated to submit a budget to the Sitka Assembly by next Wednesday. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Decked out in matching red T-shirts and waving signs c [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
As the Alaska Senate prepared on Wednesday to launch a legislativ [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
Late Wednesday night, the Alaska House of Representatives advance [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 23
Three vehicles at Se [ ... ]
School Budget
To be Discussed
Members of the Sitka School Board will hold a community hearing and budg [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly its regular meeting Tuesday approved dou [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
“We want to hear from the public, what they value i [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Sitka schools were notified at around noon today that the city administrator had re [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s track and field athletes faced off aga [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
Alaska is getting an infusion of nearly $125 million to build and [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
The Alaska Senate voted unanimously on Monday to make it easier f [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
The Alaska House’s Rules Committee has eliminated, at least temporaril [ ... ]
By DAVID A. LIEB
The Associated Press
A conservative quest to limit diversity, equity and inclusion in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Alaska’s three-member, bipartisan congressional delegation is sid [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 23
At 3:14 a.m. a downtown bar report [ ... ]
Vaughn Blankenship
Dies at Age 91
Vaughn Blankenship, a longtime Sitka resident, died Tuesday at SEARH [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
With about a month left before the end of the regular [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city will hold a public meeting Wednesday for pub [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
With only days to go before the statewide Native Yout [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Daily Sitka Sentinel and KCAW-FM Raven Radio won awards Saturday at the [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
To address a surge in mental health problems among young Alaskans [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill passed Thursday by the Alaska House of Representatives wou [ ... ]
City to Conduct
Relay Testing
The city electric department is conducting systemwide relay testing th [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Lawsuit Filed Over Gov’s Plan for Virus Relief Aid
By BECKY BOHRER
The Associated Press
JUNEAU (AP) — An Alaska resident is challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s plans to distribute federal coronavirus relief aid.
Eric Forrer said the process used to approve the spending was improper.
The lawsuit was filed in state court Thursday, days after a legislative committee signed off on the most recent list of requests. The lawsuit names the state and Revenue Commissioner Lucinda Mahoney as defendants.
Department of Law spokesperson Maria Bahr said by email that the department will review the case and respond “in the appropriate time.”
Dunleavy submitted his plans for distributing federal aid dollars to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee under a process set out in law. That process allows a governor to submit to the committee plans to accept and spend additional federal or other program funds on a budget item. It delays for 45 days use of the funds unless the committee earlier agrees.
The committee, composed of House and Senate members, has agreed to more than $1 billion in spending plans. It agreed to a large tranche of requests Monday despite concerns about whether the process could appropriately be used for some of the items. Some legislators have argued the Legislature — which is in recess — should convene to address those items.
Legislative Legal Services Director Megan Wallace, in a May 5 memo to Rep. Chris Tuck, the committee’s chair, said if the committee agreed to items that had been flagged as problematic, she would recommend the Legislature ratify the expenditures if it supports them.
The lawsuit points out as problematic plans for community, small business and fisheries aid.
Forrer said he knows communities are hurting. “But breaking the constitutional structure is not the answer,” he said.
Forrer, a former member of the state Board of Regents, sued the state under Dunleavy’s predecessor over plans to use bonding to pay off the state’s oil and gas tax credit obligations. A Superior Court judge dismissed the case, a decision that was appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.
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20 YEARS AGO
April 2004
Photo caption: Luke Johnson helps Kathy Fournier as she removes trash from Swan Lake Saturday.
The Citywide Spring Cleanup this year included the lake cleanup by volunteers and was organized by Parks and Recreation Coordinator Lynne McGowan.
50 YEARS AGO
April 1974
A 12-hour dance marathon sponsored by Sheldon Jackson College students will be held Saturday at Blatchley Junior High. .... Added attractions include twist and limbo contests. The city curfew will be extended until 1 a.m.