"When I first heard about the layoffs, I figured I might not be affected," said Diana Forslund, one of the 65 Agrium employees who lost their jobs in June. "But I prepared myself just in case."

What she decided to do was return to school using a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Investment Act to study to be a radiological technologist. Forslund said she learned about the grant when she met with state labor counselors at the Kenai Job Center.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10

(Juneau) - Governor Frank H. Murkowski has directed that the attached briefing paper be distributed to foster a better understanding of the administration's human resources enterprise integration project. This project will consolidate and integrate human resources managers and personnel functions under a single agency, the Division of Personnel within the Department of Administration.

"We appreciate the cooperation and hard work of our human resource managers in implementing this new system," said Murkowski." I would also like to recognize the professional conduct of all of those involved with these changes. Alaska is well served with public employees such as these."

A Ketchikan-based organization that helps struggling commercial fishermen obtain training for work in the maritime industry may be in dire straits due to decreased federal funding.

SEALink Inc. received $500,000 in federal Workforce Investment Act funds this year for its low-income adult dislocated worker program, compared with $1.78 million last year, said Ralph Mirsky, the group's executive director.

Here are the results of the DPA Food Stamp Accuracy Rate survey. The response from DPA staff was amazing and the suggestions are now being used to formulate strategies to lower the error rate.

This survey document has answers organized by question but otherwise it is a straightforward list of responses. Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer the survey.