In this Issue:

Efforts stall to reform medical “80th-percentile” rule
State regulation blamed for helping drive up health costs
Nome health cost sticker shock
Providence contract with nurses

Economy:
Walker proposes Permanent Fund support for economic development

Transportation:
Maersk plans test Arctic voyage

Politics:
Dunleavy may have edge in three-way governor’s race
Walker picks up endorsements from labor and teachers

Petroleum:
West Sak costs now cut 45%
Higher GMT-2 production estimate
Oil Search ups resource estimate
New report touts slope potential
BOEM: Final EIS for Liberty oil

Fisheries:
Salmon catch passes 100 million
Pink harvest in Sound, Kodiak
Walker signs mariculture bill
Warm water in north Bering Sea
Norton Sound small catch is good

Minerals:
Mining employment up this year

Business Intelligence
Job losses continue to slow as economy steadies
Air Force plans $150 million expansion at JBER in Anchorage
With state ferries completion, Vigor’s ship work in Ketchikan slows
As Alaskans visit, Chinese hackers get to work
PenAir sale pending?
Marad ordered to turn over Anchorage port study
Short of school buses, Bethel School hires taxis
Project to remove unused Eklutna Dam is completed
Anchorage now has ban on plastic bags, state’s most restrictive
Despite tight market, new housing construction in Anchorage is down
Despite recession, Alaska home values are resilient
What’s behind stability amid recession? Most laid-off workers get jobs