Sean Parnell

Gov. Sean Parnell has named Anchorage lawyer Michael C. Geraghty to serve as Alaska's newest attorney general. Geraghty, a partner with DeLisio, Moran, Geraghty & Zobel, P.C., takes over from John Burns, who was confirmed last April but announced his resignation in November and stepped down Jan. 2. “Mr. Geraghty is an accomplished attorney, and, as a lifelong Alaska resident, is dedicated to Alaska's interests,” Parnell said in a statement Thursday. “He brings a wealth of experience and sound judgment to the Department of Law.” “It's both an honor and a privilege to accept this appointment to lead the Department of Law and represent the State of Alaska,” Geraghty said.

Gov. Sean Parnell has removed oil taxes from his call for a special session Wednesday, leaving the Legislature to consider only bills for the possible construction of a small-diameter natural gas pipeline. Parnell's supplemental proclamation removes oil and gas production taxes as a topic for the Legislature's consideration during the special session. In his announcement, made on the Channel 2 Newshour, Parnell cited the irreconcilable positions of some members of the state Senate, who have opposed Parnell's efforts to extend a 30-percent tax break to both existing oil fields as well as new production.

Alaska State Troopers arrested a man in Ambler Monday after he allegedly went to the local airfield and randomly fired a gun, causing Gov. Sean Parnell to delay a scheduled visit to the community. According to AST spokesperson Megan Peters, a trooper responded to a local home for a reported domestic-violence shooting incident at 9 a.m. Monday. The trooper was conducting an interview with a woman at the scene when the man drove by in a vehicle, then headed to the airfield and began firing his weapon.

Gov. Sean Parnell says a state Senate education proposal lacks accountability, firing the latest salvo this week in a fight over education funding at the State Capitol. The debate centers on how much money the state gives school districts for each student they have. Parnell spoke in response to the Senate's passage of a bill that would increase student funding for school districts across the state for the next three school years.  “They have just spent half a billion dollars more on education and they have not required any results or anything transformational to occur within the system,” Parnell said.

The annual State of the State address was given by Gov. Sean Parnell before the state Legislature at the Capitol on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of increasing oil production on the North Slope. Parnell began by asking the Legislature to vote to reform oil industry taxes this session to encourage development on the North Slope. He said if lawmakers don't do so, private-sector jobs will continue to head to the Lower 48, along with the money that comes with them. "The question before us now is not whether we have enough oil reserves to meet our goals," Parnell said.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, July 24, 2009 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked whether or not they thought Sean Parnell will be a successful governor. Here is the official question and results of the 500 people who voted. Will Sean Parnell be a successful governor? Yes    67%                     No        33% All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.

by Channel 2 News staff Monday, April 5, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked if they support Gov. Sean Parnell's bill that would reduce Alaska's head tax on cruise ship passengers. Here is the official question and results of the 478 people who voted. Do you support Gov. Sean Parnell's bill that would reduce Alaska's head tax on cruise ship passengers? Yes 61.5 % No 38.5 % All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, May 14, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked if Gov. Sean Parnell is the strongest Republican candidate in the 2010 race for governor. Here is the official question and results of the 580 people who voted. Is Gov. Sean Parnell the strongest Republican candidate in the 2010 race for governor? No 65 % Yes 35 % All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.

by Channel 2 News staff Tuesday, July 28, 2009 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked if Gov. Sean Parnell would be significantly different from former Gov. Sarah Palin. Here is the official question and results of the 732 people who voted. Will Gov. Sean Parnell be significantly different from Gov. Sarah Palin? Yes 62 % No 38 % All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.

by Channel 2 News staff Wednesday, February 10, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked if they object to public service announcements featuring Gov. Sean Parnell, a 2010 candidate for governor. Here is the official question and results of the 289 people who voted. Do you object to public service announcements featuring Gov. Sean Parnell, a 2010 candidate for governor? Yes   24 % No 76 % All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.

March 29 will officially be known as Vietnam Veterans Day in Alaska. Gov. Sean Parnell signed House Bill 67 into law Wednesday, designating that day annually to acknowledge and commemorate the military service of American men and women in the Vietnam War. “Although Vietnam veterans were treated shamefully when they returned, these fine veterans became champions for the cause of all veterans, so that no other warrior would have to experience...

State flags were lowered to half-staff Thursday in remembrance of slain Manokotak village public safety officer Thomas Madole, as a memorial fund for his family was established for donations from the public. In a statement, Gov. Sean Parnell expressed his condolences to Madole's family, after Alaska State Troopers said he was shot by Leroy B. Dick Jr. while trying to speak with Dick Tuesday afternoon. “Sandy and I were saddened to learn of the tragic, senseless death of Officer Madole,” Parnell said.

Gov. Sean Parnell has ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff Thursday in honor of the late-state Rep. Martin “Marty” Farrell. Farrell died in January at the age of 85 in Portland, Oregon. “Representative Farrell was a fair person who will be remembered for his public service, not only as a U.S. Marine during the Korean War, but as a lawmaker during a critically-important era in our state's history,” Governor Parnell said. Farrell served a term in the State Legislature from 1971 to 1972.

The state House's Democratic minority is introducing a bill that would change part of Alaska's Base Student Allocation formula for education funding, which determines how much the state provides to teach every child in Alaska. The Legislative Research Service says that figure now stands at $5,680 per year, per student -- but House Bill 95 would increase the value to $5,966. "Fundamentally we need to keep pace with inflation, and we haven't done that for three years,” said Rep. Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage)

Gov. Sean Parnell opened the doors of the Governor's Mansion in Juneau Tuesday afternoon, as he and his wife Sandy hosted the annual Christmas and holiday open house. Staff prepared 24,000 cookies and 200 pounds of fudge for the annual tradition, which took place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors were also served hot cider and other holiday treats by members of the governor's cabinet. This year is the 100th anniversary of the mansion, which was built in 1912. The open house has happened in 98 of those years, after being skipped twice during World War II. “This open house is really our time to open up Alaska's house, enjoy meeting about 3,500 people as they come through to get cookies and treats, and hear some great music from some local artists and musicians,” Parnell said.

Gov. Sean Parnell has asked that all state flags be lowered to half-staff Friday to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day and to honor all the Americans who fought in World War II. "The attack on Pearl Harbor continues to serve as an important reminder that America must remain vigilant in the face of persistent threats to the United States and the American way of life," Parnell said in a Friday statement. "I urge Alaskans to remember those who fought and died on December 7, 1941, the date that President Franklin Roosevelt declared would forever 'live in infamy,' and to acknowledge the tremendous debt of gratitude all Americans owe to them and to all U.S. veterans, including those serving bravely now. " All federal, state, and public facilities across the nation will fly the United States flag at half-staff Friday in recognition of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The flags will return to full-staff on Saturday, Dec. 8. Contact Jessica Ridgway  

The Alaska Marine Highway System will pursue plans to build two smaller, less costly Alaska-class ferries rather than one large vessel, according to Gov. Sean Parnell. Parnell made the announcement in Ketchikan Tuesday, after it became clear that building a 350-foot ferry on budget wasn't possible. Parnell says by setting a new course, Alaskans can build two smaller ferries and stay on budget, while providing identical or improved service to travelers. The Legislature and Parnell had approved $120 million for the first Alaska-class ferry project.

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has opted not to create a state-run health insurance exchange and will instead rely on the federal government to run the program. Parnell made the decision months ago and said he was standing by that as the federal Nov. 15 federal deadline for states' choices looms. "I think the federal government should pay for its own requirements, rather than the state," Parnell said. A health insurance exchange is an online website where consumers can shop a variety of health insurance options.

The state Senate's expanding majority became a bipartisan body Friday, as Democratic Juneau Sen. Dennis Egan -- the only state legislator not on the ballot in Tuesday's elections -- joined all 13 Republican senators as its latest member. Egan, who was appointed in 2009 by then-Gov. Sarah Palin after a dispute with Democrats over a replacement for departing Sen. Kim Elton, will serve as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “Senator Egan has a very diverse background and a long family legacy that will enhance our ability to represent the interests of all Alaskans,” Sen. Kevin Meyer (R-Anchorage)

The state Senate's new Republican majority announced Thursday evening that Sen. Bert Stedman, the last of 13 Republicans currently in the chamber not to join it, will do so and serve as chair of the Senate Health and Social Services Committee. “After serving for six years as the Co-Chair for the Senate Finance Committee, I look forward to this opportunity to broaden my horizons and work on issues that will benefit all Alaskans,” Stedman said in a Thursday statement from the majority.