Alaska
RSSAll news from Alaska
Regions
Kodiak Borough Lands Committee develops framework to streamline land disposal
The Kodiak Island Borough Lands Committee is creating standardized principles and screening criteria to make land disposal decisions more transparent and efficient, addressing workforce housing needs while protecting public interests.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
Tlingit & Haida building two education campuses on Prince of Wales
The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is constructing two early education campuses in Craig and Klawock to expand Head Start and childcare capacity while integrating Indigenous language instruction.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Juneau committee weighs limiting short-term rentals to one per owner
The Assembly Lands, Housing and Economic Development Committee reviewed a draft ordinance that would cap short-term rental ownership at one property per person, with members divided on whether the restriction addresses housing availability concerns.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Planning Commission accepts DOT concept for Tudor Road interchange redesign
The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission accepted a concept report for the Alaska Department of Transportation's plan to rebuild the Seward Highway and Tudor Road interchange with improved pedestrian safety features and a tight diamond design.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Fish and Game sets cleanup rules for herring pound structures
Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued rules for removing herring pound structures in Prince William Sound after spawn-on-kelp harvest to prevent disease and ensure orderly fishery closure.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska LNG Consultant Flags Potential 50% Return for Developers vs. $1B State Revenue
Legislative consultant Nick Fulford presented hastily-prepared analysis showing Alaska LNG midstream developers could earn roughly 50% annual returns by 2040-2050 while the state receives approximately $1 billion in combined taxes, raising questions about the proposed tax structure's fairness.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
Alaska lawmakers explore data center development as economic opportunity
National experts briefed Alaska House State Affairs Committee on data center economics, highlighting the state's potential advantages in cool climate and natural gas while noting growing national concerns about energy demands and tax incentives.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Borough proposes $580K budget with new staff, building upgrades
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviewed the FY 2027 budget proposal, which includes adding a construction management position, transitioning to electric heating, and planning ADA accessibility improvements to the borough building entrance.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
How to challenge your property assessment in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Property owners in Fairbanks North Star Borough have 30 days from the January assessment notice to appeal their property valuation, but must provide specific evidence and pay taxes on time even while the appeal is pending.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI
Zoning Board Approves Two Variances, Denies Girdwood Deck Request
The Anchorage Zoning Board approved variances for two Eagle River properties with setback violations but denied a Girdwood homeowner's request to legalize an elevated deck encroaching 5 feet into the front setback.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago4 min readAI
School Board Reverses Course on Calendar After Community Backlash
The Anchorage School Board voted 7-0 to restore the original August 19 start date for the 2026-27 school year after community outcry over an earlier proposal that moved the first day of school to mid-August, conflicting with subsistence activities and family traditions.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Commission Approves Explosives Storage Site for Avalanche Control
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing the Alaska Department of Transportation to build an explosives storage facility and heliport near Girdwood for avalanche mitigation operations along the Seward Highway.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Assembly postpones developer's land deadline amid mobile home park dispute
The Anchorage Assembly voted 7-3 to postpone a decision on extending a developer's land deadline until May 12 after emotional testimony from South Park Estates residents facing displacement.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAI
Willow Woman Charged After 25 Sled Dogs Found Dead on Property
A Willow woman faces 26 felony animal cruelty charges after 25 sled dogs were found starved to death on her property following months of ignored complaints to Mat-Su Animal Control.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAIHouse panel advances travel insurance consumer protection bill
The Alaska House Transportation Committee moved HB 302 forward Tuesday, legislation that would modernize the state's travel insurance regulations to align with national standards adopted by 42 other states.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAI
House Judiciary advances bill extending confidentiality to tribal advocates
The House Judiciary Committee moved forward legislation Monday that would extend confidentiality protections to tribal domestic violence and sexual assault advocates, closing a gap that leaves survivors served by tribal governments without the same privacy safeguards afforded to those served by other organizations.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska LNG Tax Bill Walks Tightrope Between Project Viability and Local Needs
House Resources Committee's revised tax structure for Alaska LNG reflects tension between competitive global positioning and community impact compensation that defines natural gas megaproject debates worldwide.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate panel advances two nominees to Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board
The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended two gubernatorial appointees — Anna Cometa seeking a second term and Joel Hard, a new nominee with 40 years in law enforcement — for confirmation to the Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board, which has seen a 32% increase in applications since 2022.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances property tax assessment cap bill
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee advanced legislation allowing municipalities to optionally cap annual property tax assessment increases between 3 and 10 percent, despite opposition from professional assessors who warned the measure would create long-term inequities.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska House panel hears retirement savings bill for small business workers
The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on HB 338, which would create an automatic IRA program for employees at Alaska businesses without retirement plans.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska's tribal school compact bill navigates sovereignty and public education law
Senate Bill 66 would authorize five-year pilot agreements allowing tribes to operate public schools under state funding while maintaining tribal governance, requiring new legislation to balance sovereignty with existing education statutes.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska LNG tax bill could swing state revenue by hundreds of millions
Department of Revenue warns that regulatory interpretations of Senate Bill 280's complex tax provisions could shift Alaska's annual revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars, with the bill creating new taxes while exempting the Alaska LNG project from property taxes.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Senate advances pension bill without updated actuarial analysis
The Alaska Senate advanced a retirement system overhaul to third reading despite lacking an updated actuarial analysis on the final version, relying on a legal opinion that last year's analysis meets statutory requirements.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
House Finance considers multi-year school funding averaging bill
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 261, which would shift Alaska's education funding to a three-year enrollment average instead of annual counts, giving districts earlier budget certainty but carrying a fiscal note approaching $1 billion over five years.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska moves to standardize wildfire evacuation alerts statewide
The Alaska House Community & Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony on legislation to codify a uniform 'Ready, Set, Go' color-coded evacuation system across the state, addressing confusion that arose during the 2022 Clear Fire when inconsistent local systems left residents uncertain about danger zones.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
House panel questions education fund proposal with no guaranteed revenue
Alaska House Finance Committee members raised concerns about a constitutional amendment that would create an education fund without any dedicated funding source or protections against future legislatures spending it down to zero.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
House Finance hears $8.4M in governor's budget amendments
The House Finance Committee heard presentations on two batches of budget amendments totaling $8.4 million in unrestricted general funds, including union contracts and transportation project allocations.
by Alaska News4mo ago8 min readAI
Valdez Fire Department Contains Late-Night House Fire on Gulkana Street
The Valdez Fire Department contained a late-night structure fire on Gulkana Street on April 27 with no reported injuries, though details on property damage and cause remain limited.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAIGalena School District Shows Early Learning Drives Math, Reading Gains
Galena City School District demonstrates how grant-funded early childhood programs starting at 8 months, combined with extended school days and intervention blocks, are producing above-national-average results in math and literacy for students in early grades.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Homer Council to Vote on HART Sales Tax Renewal for November Ballot
Homer City Council votes tonight on placing a 20-year renewal of the 0.75 percent HART sales tax before voters in November to fund road and trail maintenance.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAISenate Finance Advances Agricultural Leasing Reform After Farmer Cites $9,000 Annual Fee
The Senate Finance Committee moved forward with legislation to make state agricultural land more accessible through below-market leases and merit-based selection after hearing testimony about prohibitive appraisal costs.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska lawmakers hear warnings of rural fuel crisis, weigh loan program expansion
The House Energy Committee heard testimony about fuel supply challenges facing rural Alaska communities and discussed potential expansions to the state's Bulk Fuel Revolving Loan Fund.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
House panel hears confirmation for physician assistant to State Medical Board
The House Health and Social Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for Norman Walker, a physician assistant appointed to the State Medical Board, and received a presentation from UAA College of Health on workforce programs.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
Alaska expands background checks to all medical professionals
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee adopted changes requiring fingerprint-based criminal background checks for all physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, and physician assistants seeking Alaska licenses, not just those applying through interstate compacts.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel adopts changes to health care compact bill
The Senate Health and Social Services Committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 281 that removes PA scope language, adds background check requirements, and revises the rural health advisory council structure.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAI
Alaska Energy Survey Shows Strong Support for Renewables, Mixed Views on Nuclear
Researchers presented survey results showing Alaskans favor expanding hydroelectric, solar and wind power while opinions on nuclear energy remain divided, with support for a natural gas pipeline dropping when tied to higher costs.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI
House panel debates $113M education funding formula shift
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on a bill that would change how Alaska calculates school funding, using a three-year enrollment average instead of a single October count.
by Alaska News4mo ago6 min readAI
Senate panel hears workforce plan for Alaska LNG pipeline
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee received a presentation on workforce needs for the Alaska LNG pipeline project, with consultants warning the state must act immediately to prepare workers for construction that could begin as soon as 2027.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
Municipal League urges local control in Alaska LNG tax negotiations
Alaska Municipal League Executive Director Nils Andreassen testified that local governments want the ability to negotiate individually with the Alaska LNG project developer rather than accept a one-size-fits-all tax structure.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min readAI
House panel hears bill requiring disclosure of out-of-state campaign funding
The House State Affairs Committee held an introductory hearing on HB 371, which would require independent expenditure groups funded primarily by non-Alaskans to disclose that fact in political communications and maintain Alaska addresses or registered agents.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAI