JUNEAU, Alaska, Feb. 21 -- Gov. Mike Dunleavy, R-Alaska, issued the following news on Feb. 19, 2024: Today Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation to incentivize the private sector to make strategic investments that improve the cost of living in Alaska. The Alaska Affordability Act SB 237 will create a new tax credit. The legislation would allow a business to deduct fifty percent of eligible expenditures against its corporate income tax, up to a fifty percent tax reduction. The eligible   more

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2024: U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska announced her office's priority to prosecute white-collar and financial crimes committed in Alaska. One prong of this effort is the formal establishment of an interagency Covid-19 Fraud Task Force. "White-collar and other financial crimes devastate families, communities and organizations. This task f  more

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska issued the following news release on Feb. 19, 2024: A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment in October charging an Anchorage businessman with allegedly committing wire fraud related to his application for Covid-19 recovery funds. He was transferred from Texas to Alaska this month. According to court documents, Lloyd Pennebaker, 58, is the owner of The Pennebaker Group, an organization doing b  more

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska issued the following news release: The U.S. will collect over $350,000 in treble damages and penalties after a default judgement was ordered in the False Claims Act case of the former co-owner of Arm Rippin Toys, who made false statements on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application. Michael Hanzuk II, 31, of Anchorage, co-owned Arm Rippin Toys Inc. According to court documents, Hanzuk admitted i  more

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska, Feb. 21 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Alaska District issued the following news release: Lula Cole assumed duties as the equal employment opportunity manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District in December. In her new position, Cole provides leadership and direction in creating and sustaining a diverse workforce and an environment free of discrimination at the district. She will facilitate the goals of the district's EEO program  more

OAKLAND, California, Feb. 21 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2024: California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general urging Congress to pass legislation that will hold Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) accountable for their unfair and deceptive practices that drive up the costs of prescription drugs. PBMs act as middlemen between pharmacies, drug manufacturers, health insurance plans, and cons  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 21 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general, today called on Congress to take decisive action to reform the way pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) conduct business. A PBM is a third-party company that functions as an intermediary between insurance providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, ostensibly to reduce the cost of prescriptio  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 21 -- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2024: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is leading a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general in urging the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to engage in meaningful debate and reform of the current practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The bipartisan letter, authored by the Attorneys General of Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Arkansas, demands Congress take decisiv  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Feb. 21 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news: Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general in urging the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to engage in meaningful debate and reform of the current practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). "Pharmacy benefit managers are failing Tennessee families. Current PBM practices consistently hurt patients and pharmacists," Attor  more