JUNEAU - Gov. Sean Parnell on Tuesday signed into law an overhaul of Alaska's oil tax structure, hailing it as part of an historic legislative package aimed at moving the state forward.

Oil and other resource representatives, local politicians and a few Kenai Peninsula residents testified Monday at the first of 10 hearings on a ballot initiative that would re-establish a coastal zone management program in Alaska.

A U.S. Senate subcommittee on oceans will take a fresh look at the Law of the Sea Treaty early next year, said Sen. Mark Begich, chairman of the Commerce Committee's subcommittee on the topic. The treaty was negotiated and signed by the United States decades ago, but has yet to go into effect here because it hasn't been ratified by the United States Senate. "It's irresponsible for us to not be a party to the Law of the Sea," Begich told the Empire last week. "This is an important treaty that has huge opportunities for us, from Alaska's perspective," he said.

Snow ain't free. It costs a lot of money to remove and pile up the vast amounts of snow that Mother Nature has blessed (some would say cursed) much of Alaska with this winter. The state's and several cities' snow removal budgets are busted, tallying well above the usual costs set aside to keep up with nature's weather-related smack downs. The National Weather Service reports higher than normal snowfall for many areas throughout the state. Some storms have made national news, like when the snow reached the rooftops in Cordova.

Alaska's state government is expecting continued strong federal spending in the state over the next two years, according to the state's official revenue forecast for the coming years, released Friday.

Cutting the nation's growing budget deficits may have hit Alaska's budget, and may increase the state's own deficit, legislative leaders say.

...Alaskans, a Knowles administration spokeswoman said Tuesday. Annalee McConnell, director of the state's Office of Management and Budget, said a Republican resolution calling on the governor to enact a hiring freeze is unnecessary. ''I think...

Two events last week highlighted the in-congruent nature of Alaska's financial situation. Tuesday evening, residents gathered for a town meeting hosted by Rep. Ken Lancaster, R-Soldotna, to get information and suggest ways to bridge the state's $1 billion budget gap.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- A spokesman for the family of Ted Stevens says the former senator has died in a plane crash in Alaska.

Alaska may soon have to ween itself from the federal aid it's become accustomed to receiving.