March 28, 2019

In this Issue:

Economy perks up; now budget hits raise worry
First employment increase in three years; may decline again
Businesses fret over Anchorage port modernization

Infrastructure
Mat-Su transportation grant 

Energy
Railbelt utilities at odds, again
Lower water levels in Southeast

Health care
New hospital planned for Sitka

If governor prevails on budget, huge adverse impacts

Petroleum, construction lead rise in statewide employment

Health care growth slowed in February; Medicaid cuts will slow it further 

Business Intelligence
Despite austere times, state nurtures strategic developments 
Permanent fund now surpasses oil in contribution to state budget
Anchorage will spend $33.6 million in repairing quake-damaged schools
Rural school district to send students to anchorage for tech-ed
Despite uncertainty, mat-su steps up emergency response
Juneau’s dispute with cruise companies is settled
Juneau studies supplying power to more cruise ships
National parks see a new record in visitors
Dubious first? Alaska allows on-site marijuana use
New battle over an independent power producer in the interior
State regulatory commissioner orders Prudhoe wells plugged

Petroleum
State: Costs appear to be rising for new North Slope projects
AGDC, BP and ExxonMobil set meetings on Alaska LNG

Fisheries
Trade war Alaska’s China sales
2019 Halibut fishing now underway
Winter crab fishery in Sound

Minerals
AIDEA’s mine-access projects
$30 million in project fundings