Alaska House unveils education package stacked with Republican priorities

Plus: Alaska House committee advances legislation to repeal ranked choice voting ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Thursday, January 18. In today's newsletter: - House Republicans [unveiled a package of education-related legislation]( that they framed as a response to growing calls to increase Alaska school funding. Educators say it falls short of what is needed. - The Alaska House Judiciary Committee has voted to advance a bill that [would repeal the state's ranked choice voting]( and open primaries. The measure is unlikely to advance in the Senate. - The Anchorage Assembly approved a pair of measures [reforming city zoning and building rules]( for tri- and fourplex housing, intending to remove some red tape and help spur more housing development. A lot of Anchorage residents were sad to see Fire Island Bakery [close its South Anchorage location]( in 2022. But it’s a lot easier to say goodbye to something when something delightful takes its place. [A new taqueria]( which filled the space left by Fire Island is a fast-casual restaurant elevated by authentic flavors and the availability of Mexican beer, says food writer Mara Severin. Anchorage weather It's sunny again today with a high near 20 degrees. Clear skies and cold weather will continue through the weekend, with daytime temperatures dropping to the single digits by Sunday. A chance of snow returns to the forecast early next week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Alaska House unveils education package stacked with Republican priorities →]( The proposal is estimated to cost around $190 million per year and includes $77 million for the state’s school funding formula — but that is far less than the more than $350 million annually that educators say is needed to make up for inflation since 2017, when the formula was last significantly changed. ADVERTISEMENT [House Judiciary Committee advances legislation to repeal ranked choice voting →]( The bill has yet to be considered in the Senate and is likely to face headwinds there, where members of the majority have said they oppose efforts to repeal the voting method. [Anchorage Assembly changes zoning and building rules for tri- and fourplexes, aiming to spur more housing →]( The legislation comes as Anchorage grapples with a housing shortage, with rental and home prices skyrocketing. [Peter Pan plant in King Cove will stay closed this winter as fishing industry turmoil spreads →]( In a major hit to Southwest Alaska’s fishing industry, Peter Pan Seafood Co. will keep its huge plant in the village of King Cove shuttered this winter. (via Northern Journal) [FAA reviews data from preliminary inspections of Boeing 737 Max 9 →]( The Federal Aviation Administration has begun reviewing data from 40 preliminary inspections of Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, potentially a small step toward returning the aircraft to service. (via The Seattle Times) ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Owner of three Alaska newspapers files for creditor protection →]( [Costco tests membership card scanners at store entrances →]( [Congress votes to avert shutdown and keep government funded through early March →]( [Mat-Su assembly and mayor will serve 4-year terms →]( [Canadians broke an 1850 promise to First Nations. They could now owe billions. →]( [Human remains set for moon memorial to instead burn in Earth’s atmosphere →]( 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