Dunleavy goes on TV to praise Trump, while state services collapse around him

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has plenty of time to opine on why Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees deserve prompt approval by the U.S. Senate and he has plenty of time to go on Fox News and praise the wisdom of Donald Trump.

But the Alaska governor won’t take the time to explain to Alaskans what he has done—if anything—about the critical collapse in operations under his watch at the Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits.

Read More
Dermot Cole Comments
Fairbanks school district could face $8 million to $32 million deficit next fiscal year, layoffs, school closures

As predicted last spring before the tax cap election, the Fairbanks school district faces the prospect of major cuts in the next fiscal year of anywhere from $8 million to $32 million, the school board heard Tuesday night.

The financial environment for public education in Alaska is not stable, largely because of inaction at the state level and the lack of leadership from Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Read More
Dermot Cole Comments
'One of the most brilliant things,' Sullivan says of plan to have Elon Musk slash the federal government

Elon Musk, temporarily on good terms with Donald Trump after spending more than $100 million to help him win, warns that “everyone’s taking a haircut here” and there will be “temporary hardship” if he has his way.

Sen. Dan Sullivan will not say what haircuts and temporary hardships can be expected in Alaska if more than $2 trillion is cut from the federal budget.

But asking Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the way is exactly what the nation needs, according to Sullivan, referring to it as “reinventing government.”

“I mean to me that’s probably one of the most brilliant things I’ve seen that’s come out of the announcements from the incoming administration,” Sullivan told Neil Cavuto of Fox News last week.

Read More
Dermot Cole Comments