Sean Parnell

The Kodiak Launch Complex has been selected by Lockheed Martin as the aerospace and defense contractor's dedicated West Coast site for launches of its Athena III rocket, according to Gov. Sean Parnell's office. In a statement Friday, Parnell praised the decision by Lockheed Martin, which will utilize expanded medium-lift launch capabilities at the Kodiak complex to launch orbital payloads weighing nearly 13,000 pounds -- a nearly fourfold capacity increase over smaller rockets. “Lockheed Martin has been a great corporate partner with Alaska and we appreciate the ongoing commitment to our state,” Parnell said.

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 Alaska State Senate approved a three-year increase in per-student school funding on Friday. The proposal would increase the money given to each school district based on how many students they have -- known as the Base Student Allocation -- beginning in the 2012-13 school year, and continuing for two more years. Eighteen senators voted for the bill, and Sens. John Coghill (R-North Pole) and Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River) voted against it. Before voting for the bill, Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage)

Heavy snowfall in Southcentral Alaska Friday has caused Gov. Sean Parnell to order a staggered closure of most state offices in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, while the Municipality of Anchorage is allowing employees to go home early using personal leave. Sharon Leighow, a press secretary for Parnell, says the state office closures began at 2 p.m., with about a third of workers dismissed each hour until 4 p.m. Supervisors had discretion over who left when, but were asked to give preference to those with the longest commutes home.

Gov. Sean Parnell's proposal for oil tax cuts "will not be the vehicle" for oil tax reform this session, according to Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak). Stevens said a separate oil tax reform bill will be making its way out of the Senate within a couple of weeks, and will be heard by the Resources committee. Parnell has long-backed a different oil tax reduction proposal known as House Bill 110.  He -- along with several House Republicans -- has said that reducing oil taxes will spur oil company investment in the North Slope.

Gov. Sean Parnell took on critics in the state Legislature about his plans for both oil tax reform and education policies during a press conference on Thursday. Parnell once again urged the Legislature to pass oil tax reform in the form of the bill he backs: House Bill 110. He says reduced taxes for oil companies would spur development on the North Slope. The bill passed the House last year, but stalled in the Senate -- with some Democrats referring to the bill as an oil company giveaway.

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.

It's a relatively quiet Monday in the state Capitol. It's the day before the Legislature gavels in for the first time this year, and it's a holiday to boot. Much of the commotion from the Capitol hallways is coming from people tearing down boxes used to move supplies into lawmakers' offices -- part of the last-minute preparation for the 90-day session ahead. Even though the state's 60 lawmakers haven't begun their work in Juneau yet, some big debates loom ahead: Lawmakers have already filed 58 new proposed laws and resolutions.

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.

On Thursday, Alaska state flags will be flown at half-staff in honor and memory of former state Representative Edmund "Ed" Orbeck. Orbeck passed away at the age of 96 in Arizona last Friday. He served as labor commissioner under Gov. Jay Hammond's term for eight years and before that he represented Fairbanks in the state House for five terms and started by serving on the Fairbanks City Council. He is survived by his wife, Sherry, and two children. Gov. Sean Parnell said "His extensive service to our state and signature passion for football will be fondly remembered.”