The largest populated city in Alaska is still recovering from the hurricane-force winds that battered homes and infrastructure on Sunday, leaving thousands without power.

The Alaska House and Senate on Tuesday convened the two-year session with bipartisan majorities governing both legislative chambers. Leaders of the Democrat-dominated House and Senate majorities said their priorities include a permanent increase to education funding,

Alaska’s 60 legislators come from all corners of the state, and convened in Juneau on Tuesday as the 34th legislative session kicked off.

The Senate reelected Kodiak Republican Sen. Gary Stevens to serve as president of the Senate and leader of a bipartisan majority. Meanwhile, the Alaska House swung from a Republican-dominated majority to a bipartisan majority with the election of Dillingham independent Rep. Bryce Edgmon as speaker in a 21-19 vote.

Boston and the rest of New England have been dealing with well below-average temperatures, in some cases falling 20 degrees, as an expansive mass of Arctic air spreads across the eastern half of the United States. This cold surge is making our region this week feel colder than Anchorage, Alaska, which is topping out at 36 degrees.

The ski area, which hasn’t opened yet this season, had no specific news to share about when they'll welcome skiers and snowboarders, but was working towards an eventual opening. Due to disappointing snowfall,

House and Senate leaders say a bill that increases education funding is likely to be a first priority for the Legislature this year.

SkyTeam alliance member Delta Air Lines is pulling out of smaller Alaskan airports in favor of major ones, and Alaska Airlines is adding service to the contiguous U.S.

Alaska legislators on Friday unveiled a second batch of measures that were prefiled ahead of Tuesday's start to the legislative session. Eighty-one measures were announced last week. A further 20 bills were unveiled Friday — 10 are set to be introduced in the state Senate and 10 in the House.

NWS Alaska meteorologist Tim Markle said the warnings are designed to let community members know when the cold weather presents a risk to the community. However, the old system set wind chill warnings and advisories, which were statewide in scope, and only kicked in when there was a wind chill.

Money’s going to be tight, but a permanent education funding increase rather than another one-time increase is among the essential achievements needed this session, state Senate leaders said as the 34th Alaska State Legislature gaveled in Tuesday.