Alaska

Some Alaska officials, facing persistent low oil prices that could threaten the state’s triple-A rating, say it needs to change the way it does business, which may include new taxes and changes to the way it handles its large financial reserves.

The Alaska legislature has passed legislation appropriating almost $150 million for a gas pipeline project that Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has said will be key to closing the state's $3.5 billion budget deficit gap.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker announced Monday that he has accepted financial support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program to address damage caused by an August storm in the North Slope Borough.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker said he will not introduce a bill to impose a property tax on natural gas leases in major reserve areas after receiving written assurances from two industry giants that they will make available their share of Alaska’s North Slope gas to a future gas pipeline project.