Responding to financial crisis, University of Alaska floats proposals to merge, integrate more services

The university plans to consider merging the University of Alaska Southeast with Anchorage or Fairbanks or merging the community campuses into the Juneau university.

Dermot ColeMay 21, 2020 Comments

University of Alaska faces dire financial situation, fight for survival

To continue to serve its essential function for Alaskans, the university must be transformed. There is no time to waste.

Dermot ColeMay 19, 2020 Comments

AIDEA won't seek competitive bids for firm to hand out $290 million in grants to Alaska’s smallest businesses

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority is moving ahead with plans to hand out $290 million in grants to thousands of the smallest businesses in Alaska, but it will not seek competitive bids to hire a financial institution to run the program.

Dermot ColeMay 18, 2020 Comments

State slow to develop plan to combat teacher turnover

The focus on retention is not like other items in the State of the State speech that went nowhere—such as the state lottery, exchanging Permanent Fund dividend certificates for state land, and the idea of creating an inspector general to deal with waste, fraud and abuse.

Dermot ColeMay 15, 2020 Comments

Dunleavy's political distancing reinforces the need for the recall

The state is going to have to cut its budget. It is also going to have to cut the dividend and raise taxes. The longer that Dunleavy distances himself from these difficult decisions, the more we need the recall to continue.

Dermot ColeMay 14, 2020 Comments

State plan to give $150 million a month in grants needs full disclosure

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s handling of the plan to give $290 million in federal grants to Alaska's smallest businesses needs to be transparent, especially because the proposed pace and volume is unbelievable.

Dermot ColeMay 12, 2020Comment

For safety's sake, masks required in White House, but not in Alaska stores

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has backtracked on face coverings in Alaska stores, following the political lead created by Trump and the right-wing media.

Dermot ColeMay 11, 2020 Comments

Greenup Day in Fairbanks: Here’s to compulsive scientists

Elsewhere in America the change is a good deal more gradual, but here it’s as if someone flipped a light switch. Hillsides of aspen and birch that were brown on Saturday morning underwent a metamorphosis by Sunday.

Dermot ColeMay 10, 2020 Comments

Alaska needs to start planning to rebuild from four giant earthquakes of 2020

The governor and Legislature can set up a structure that would allow Alaskans to prepare for the most difficult rebuilding challenge in Alaska’s history.

Dermot ColeMay 9, 2020 Comments

Supreme Court rejects state stalling on Dunleavy recall campaign

On Friday, the Alaska Supreme Court unanimously rejected Attorney General Kevin Clarkson’s convoluted claims and said the Dunleavy administration was wrong to block the recall campaign.

Dermot ColeMay 8, 2020 Comments