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The Alaska Memo

Hi! The Alaska Memo is a political newsletter by me, Matt Acuña Buxton, focused on Alaska politics with a dash of Anchorage and a smattering of everywhere else. At the heart of it, my mission is to explain not just what happened but why it matters, bringing in the context and background that I’ve amassed in more than a decade of reporting in Alaska.

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Deep Dive: The flaws in Dunleavy's two-tier education system

The governor's proposals would leave most students out in the cold in educational environments that are both figuratively — and literally — condemned.

Deep Dive: The flaws in Dunleavy's two-tier education system
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Deep dive: Let's be honest about Dunleavy's two-tier education system.

Behind all the rhetoric that neighborhood schools must do the impossible with less, what Dunleavy is proposing is a system that funnels what little funding he will support to the few — while leaving everyone else to fight over the scraps.

Deep dive: Let's be honest about Dunleavy's two-tier education system.
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New Year, New Platform and a New Session of Hope

A new home for a new year.

New Year, New Platform and a New Session of Hope

Recent Posts

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Dan Sullivan's safe space

It's Monday, Alaska! After a weekend filled with hockey, let's catch up on last week. In this edition: Alaska U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan gave his annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, delivering a full-throated defense of President Donald Trump's first two

Dan Sullivan's safe space
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'Funding is a policy.'

It's Tuesday, Alaska. In this edition: The education bill had its first hearing in front of the Senate Education Committee on Monday, setting the stage for the next steps for the bill. Going by the senators' questions on the bill, it seems that there's very

'Funding is a policy.'
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What's next for education funding in Alaska?

It's Monday, Alaska. I'm just finally feeling on the upswing after a week of meds. In this edition: The House has passed another landmark education bill, but is it destined for the same fate as last year's landmark education bill? The much-needed lifeline of

What's next for education funding in Alaska?
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House GOP pushes expanded use of force in the classroom, because of course

Because of course.

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Senate rolls out more than just a concept of a fiscal plan

It's Wednesday, Alaska! In this edition: The Senate took a big step towards a fiscal plan today with the introduction of a pair of bills aimed at pulling the state out of its interminable financial quagmire through the largely foreign concept of taking proactive steps to raise revenue

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So, what the heck happened last week?!?

Education bills, town halls and complying in advance, oh my.

So, what the heck happened last week?!?
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Trump's mass firings will bring 'a whole lot of hurt' to Alaska

The continued fallout of Trump's mass firings has many worrying about fires and tourism this summer.

Trump's mass firings will bring 'a whole lot of hurt' to Alaska