Iris Samuels

Iris Samuels

Reporter

Iris Samuels is a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News focusing on state politics. She previously covered Montana for The AP and Report for America and wrote for the Kodiak Daily Mirror. Contact her at isamuels@adn.com.

Four Alaska school districts named in legal challenge over use of public funds to pay for private school tuition

The challenge could have implications for the roughly 23,000 correspondence students in Alaska.

Iris Samuels 3:01 AM

Spending on salaries for Alaska’s top officials increased more than 10% last year

Compensation for state executives topped $26 million for the first time.

Iris Samuels February 4, 2025

Lawmakers grill Dunleavy administration over delayed salary study

A nine-month delay in releasing the results of the study could affect compensation for thousands of state employees.

Iris Samuels February 1, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Anchorage School District proposes cutting teacher positions, middle school sports and more amid flat state funding

The budget proposal also calls for cutting librarian and school nurse positions, as well as a program serving gifted students.

Iris Samuels February 1, 2025

Gov. Dunleavy unveils education legislation that would boost Alaska homeschooling and charter schools, setting up a battle with lawmakers

The governor’s proposal would not increase the state’s school funding formula.

Iris Samuels, Sean Maguire January 31, 2025

Murkowski urges Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to boost public confidence in vaccines

Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski called the nominee an “influencer” and spoke about the importance of vaccines in Alaska.

Iris Samuels January 30, 2025

Panel recommends automatic salary adjustments for Alaska governor, cabinet, lawmakers

Legislative leaders said they didn’t think pay raises were needed.

Iris Samuels January 30, 2025

Ranked choice voting opponents fined $157K for repeated violations of campaign reporting requirements

Backers of an unsuccessful ballot measure owe the state more than $250,000 in fines.

Iris Samuels January 29, 2025

In ‘fourth-quarter’ State of the State address, Dunleavy paints optimistic picture

Legislative leaders criticized the lack of ideas to balance the state’s budget.

Iris Samuels, Sean Maguire January 29, 2025

A look back at Gov. Dunleavy’s annual speeches to the Legislature

Six years of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State addresses shows while some policy ideas he introduced have been embraced and adopted, many others have been resoundingly rejected.

Iris Samuels January 28, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT