Gov. Dunleavy to introduce Alaska sales tax proposal

Plus: Department of Health sued over cash assistance delays for blind, disabled and elderly Alaskans ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's Sponsor: Matson]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, April 19. In today's newsletter: - Amid concern over a looming budget deficit, Gov. Mike Dunleavy is preparing to introduce a state sales tax proposal with less than a month until the end of the legislative session, according to lawmakers. - The Anchorage Assembly has called for the formation of two task forces to pursue short-term and longer-term homelessness solutions, with emergency winter shelters set to close at the end of the month. - As the state begins reviewing Medicaid eligibility for thousands of people, we've put together a guide for Alaskans who may be wondering what’s changing and what to do if they’re dropped from the program. Alaska has a long history with maritime exploration — and maritime disasters. In 1918, more than 350 people were aboard the Princess Sophia steamship when it pulled out of Skagway headed for Juneau, but only a Chesapeake Bay retriever made it back to shore alive. In his latest column, historian David Reamer tells [the story of Alaska’s most deadly maritime disaster](. Anchorage weather It's mostly sunny with a high of 46 degrees today, and tonight's low temperature will be around 28 degrees. More sun is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday, before clouds and a chance of snow roll in over the weekend. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Gov. Dunleavy set to introduce sales tax proposal in final weeks of legislative session]( Dunleavy, who in the past has said any new broad-based taxes should go to an advisory vote before adoption, told lawmakers on Tuesday that he would introduce legislation to levy a sales tax amid a looming budget deficit. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT [New Anchorage task force will assess possibility of sanctioned camps or shelter villages for the homeless]( One group will address how to best meet immediate needs of people with complex behavioral health issues as shelters close this spring. The other will explore the possibility of setting up sanctioned camps, including code changes needed for shelter villages of prefabricated tiny homes or other modular structures. [Read More]( [Q&A: Thousands of Alaskans on Medicaid could lose coverage in the coming months. Here’s what to know.]( Alaska this month resumed its annual reviews of Medicaid eligibility for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The process could result in thousands of Alaskans being dropped from the program over the next 12 months, though exactly how many isn’t yet clear. [Read More]( [State Department of Health sued over cash assistance delays for blind, disabled and elderly Alaskans]( An Anchorage civil rights law firm filed a class-action lawsuit against the state Department of Health, over delays processing applications for a program that provides assistance for thousands of vulnerable Alaskans. [Read More]( [Advocates make an economic-development case for improving Alaska trails]( Trails are places for people to relax, exercise and have fun outdoors. Now their advocates in Alaska are increasingly promoting another aspect of trails: their contributions to the economy. (Via Alaska Beacon) [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [➡ AIDEA paid $63,500 to settle ex-spokesman’s wrongful termination lawsuit]( [➡ Supreme Court extends access to abortion pill until at least Friday]( [➡ Fight at Anchorage middle school led to attack on officer, police say]( [➡ Alaska’s Washington, DC office unstaffed as Gov. Dunleavy searches for a new director]( [➡ Book review: A mountain misadventure grounds a larger story about climbing culture and risk-taking]( [➡ Facebook users may be able to get part of privacy settlement cash]( The ADN relies on readers like you. [Get digital access to the ADN for as low as $1.99 for the first month]( and help us cover the news that matters most here in Alaska. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States