Print article JUNEAU Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proposed establishing a new board to help devise plans for the Alaska ferry system, with a goal of providing greater stability and reliability for the system. Dunleavy’s bill would repeal an existing advisory board and establish a new Alaska Marine Highway Systems Operation and Planning Board. The new board would be expected to work on short- and long-range system plans that would be submitted to lawmakers. Reports also would be made to the governor. Dunleavy, a Republican who has used veto powers to cut system spending, said addressing long-term operations and finances are important amid restructuring efforts.
Print article JUNEAU An Alaska Department of Law investigation found “no violations of state law or regulations” after a state-owned corporation awarded a sole-source contract to the grandson of a major contributor to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s 2018 election campaign. The department’s conclusions were outlined in a Jan. 29 memo from Attorney General-designee Treg Taylor to Dunleavy’s chief of staff, Ben Stevens. The memo reviewed the contract with Clark Penney, grandson of developer Bob Penney, who gave more than $350,000 to a political group that supported Dunleavy’s election in 2018. The memo was released after a public records request from the Daily News.