News & Announcements
Press Releases for the Office of the Governor
Governor Signs Rural Education Legislation
June 18, 2013, Kotzebue, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today signed two pieces of legislation aimed at improving education in rural Alaska. Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator John Coghill, eliminates the sunset provision for providing stipends for residential education facilities. The bill also expands the stipend program to include residential schools started after 2005 and magnet schools. Full Story »
Flags to be Lowered for Former Representative
June 17, 2013, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell has ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, June 18, in honor and memory of former Representative John (Jack) G. Fuller. Representative Fuller died June 11 in Wasilla. He was 91. Full Story »
Governor Announces Appointments to Boards
June 17, 2013, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today announced appointments to the Alaska Commission on Aging, Alaska Mental Health Board, Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board, Aviation Advisory Board, and State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors. Full Story »
Gov. Requests Federal Declaration for Floods
June 14, 2013, Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sean Parnell today requested a federal disaster declaration for the 2013 spring floods along the Yukon River and its tributaries. The floods resulted from a rapid thaw after an extended, colder-than-average spring. This caused serious ice jam flooding and high water from snow melt runoff in the Alaska Gateway, Yukon-Flats, Yukon Koyukuk, Lower Yukon and Copper River Regional Educational Attendance Areas. Full Story »
Governor Announces Appointments to Boards
June 14, 2013, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today announced appointments to the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee, University of Alaska Board of Regents student seat, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, and Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Full Story »
Our Flag and Freedom
On this Flag Day, we must restore Old Glory to her rightful place, flying over a free people, empowered and emboldened. The red, white, and blue cannot become synonymous with federal policies that invade our privacy and unreasonably search us through unbridled data collection. America’s flag should not be left to hang limply over an IRS that would target us for our political viewpoints; a Department of Justice that would criminalize journalism; nor can it be raised proudly above a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that mandates health coverage over tenets of one’s religious faith. Full Story »
Disaster Declaration Amended for 2013 Floods
June 12, 2013, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today amended the declaration of disaster emergency for the 2013 spring floods to include more communities affected by flooding. The amendment will extend the disaster area to the Lower Yukon Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), including the communities of Emmonak and Alakanuk. Full Story »
Governor Signs Bill Naming North Pole Bridges
June 11, 2013, Fairbanks, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today signed legislation in North Pole naming two Chena River bridges and a road corridor in Wasilla after notable Alaskans. House Bill 94, sponsored by Representative Doug Isaacson, names the southbound and northbound Chena Flood Channel bridges after two of North Pole’s most notable residents, Conrad “Con” Miller and Nellie Miller. Full Story »
Gov. Signs Vital Legislation at Flint Hills
June 11, 2013, Fairbanks, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today visited Flint Hills Refinery in North Pole where he signed a package of bills including Senate Bill 86 which extends the State’s contract for royalty oil with Flint Hills Refinery. The governor also signed Senate Bill 65 which updates Alaska’s trust and estate laws. Full Story »
Governor’s Crime Bill Signed into Law
June 11, 2013, Fairbanks, Alaska – With the goal of ending the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska, Governor Sean Parnell today signed into law Senate Bill 22, the governor’s comprehensive crime bill that enhances protections for victims and survivors. The bill toughens penalties for sex trafficking crimes, improves investigative tools, and creates stronger sentencing provisions. Full Story »
Governor’s North Star Award Winners Announced
June 7, 2013, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today announced the winners of the 2013 Governor's North Star Awards for International Excellence. Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell presented the awards at the annual Export Alaska luncheon in Anchorage. Full Story »
Speech: Juneau World Affairs Council
During the debate and testimony this past session over oil tax changes, our State’s independent experts testified in the abstract from finely-tuned economic models about how under the More Alaska Production Act we should expect increased investment, more production, and more opportunity for Alaskans. But I wanted to see an area about five years after the fact — for how tax changes played out over that time in the real world – not just for the economy in the abstract, but for the people who live in those economies. The North Sea turned out to be the place. Full Story »
