Lawmakers float ‘irresponsible’ earnings draw to pay full dividend

And: Alaska gets stern warning from U.S. Education Department over state’s distribution of money to local schools ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Good afternoon. It’s Friday, March 29. In today's newsletter: - Alaska budget crafters [considered an $800 million draw from the Permanent Fund earnings account]( to pay a full statutory dividend, despite warnings that overdrawing the account could jeopardize future revenue used for both dividends and state operations. - The U.S. Department of Education [designated Alaska as “a high-risk grantee”]( because it said the state failed to provide adequate funding for low-income schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. - As dog mushing's marquee events in Alaska are facing tough headwinds, [a new race]( with a slower approach and emphasis on community and mentorship might be coming along at the perfect time. As spring approaches in full, there are plenty of things happening in Anchorage: a travel showcase, an abundance of musical options and even the debut of a play. Here’s a[look at some highlights](. In the mood to try something new? Food writer Mara Severin rates [Mei’s Kitchen in Midtown]( as one of the eateries leading Anchorage’s flourishing Asian food scene. Anchorage weather It's cloudy today with a slight chance of snow and a high near 40 degrees. Saturday will bring a strong chance of rain mixed with snow, and there's also[a high wind watch in place]( for Anchorage and the Mat-Su this weekend. Daytime temperatures will start to drop off into the 30s by early next week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Lawmakers float ‘irresponsible’ draw from Permanent Fund earnings to pay full dividend →]( The House Finance Committee ultimately voted against the idea of expanding the dividend, but the proposal underscored the intractability of the annual debate on the size of the Permanent Fund dividend. • See also: [Internal friction hampers Alaska’s influential Bush Caucus]( ADVERTISEMENT [Alaska’s newest sled dog race breaks an alternative trail →]( The Tanana Valley Sled Dog Races, or T-Dog, is the brainchild of Tekla Butcher-Monson, daughter of four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher. With its slower pace and community vibe, it just might be the future of mushing. [Alaska gets stern warning from US Education Department over state’s distribution of money to local schools →]( [The "high-risk" designation could jeopardize substantial federal grant funding for Alaska schools this year, senators said.]( The Alaska Department of Education is pushing back. [Anchorage Assembly activates subpoena powers in dispute over Eklutna dam mitigation project →]( In an extraordinary step, the Anchorage Assembly authorized its chair to subpoena the Bronson administration and three utilities that own the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project for documents related to the ongoing historic and legally required effort to restore water flow to the long-dammed Eklutna River. [Redpolls, feisty songbirds of the Alaska winter, are flocking to feeders this season →]( This winter, an explosion of the little scarlet-capped finches in Anchorage and throughout the region is crowding backyard feeders, sending bird food flying off shelves — and prompting even some bird lovers to wonder about a redpoll takeover. [ADN Politics podcast: What to know about the Anchorage mayor’s election →]( Anchorage voters will soon decide a hugely consequential mayor’s race. After three tumultuous years, incumbent Mayor Dave Bronson faces nine opponents who promise to lead the city in very different ways. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Anchorage mayoral and school board candidates speak directly to Gen Z →]( [No arrests made in separate Anchorage shootings Thursday →]( [Why did more than 1,000 people die after police subdued them with force that isn’t meant to kill? →]( [Peaking at the right time, Anchorage Wolverines are poised to make some noise in the season’s final stretch →]( [Alaska among Republican states suing to scrap Biden student loan repayment plan →]( [Which airlines pay pilots the most? →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States