New Laws, New Bills and Alaska's Natural Gas supply

Local First News (News of the North)

Alaska ranks fourth in the nation for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. To address the crisis, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Senate Bill 151 into law on September 3. The law, effective January 1, creates a commission to review unsolved cases and mandates cultural training for new officers. It also requires an assessment of law enforcement resources for MMIP cases.

The Juneau Assembly has approved $3 million in local funding for a $6 million flood mitigation study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This follows rapidly rising water levels at Suicide Basin, which could lead to another major flood. Efforts are underway to secure additional funding to reimburse the general fund used for the project.

Anchorage has seen six pedestrian deaths in September, pushing the city's fatality count to 13 for the year. Assembly members are advocating for improved lighting and lower speed limits in high-risk areas. The mayor's office and state authorities will play key roles in implementing traffic-calming measures to reduce fatalities.

Juneau International Airport has completed parking lot improvements and introduced a new payment system. Drivers can now pay for parking using contactless options like Apple and Google Pay. In-terminal kiosks accept cash and cards, and parking rates have not increased.

A natural gas shortage in Southcentral Alaska is driving increased demand for coal-fired power, despite environmental concerns. With Cook Inlet’s gas supply dwindling, coal is expected to play a key role in powering Anchorage and surrounding areas. Alaska’s only coal mine will see steady demand through the decade’s end, despite global trends moving away from coal.