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Wednesday, May 20
Begich cites $163M Alaska oil lease sale as proof federal certainty drives investment
Rep. Nick Begich cited a record $163 million Alaska oil lease sale as evidence that federal policy certainty drives energy investment, and called for faster permitting to unlock Alaska's oil, gas, and geothermal resources for national security.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska's environmental chief calls EPA partnership under Trump the best of his career
Alaska's environmental chief says the Trump administration EPA is the most collaborative federal partner he has seen in 25 years, citing streamlined permitting and respect for state expertise over federal review.
by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska targets 18-25 age group as substance use escalates after 25
Alaska launched the Next Move campaign May 20 targeting ages 18 to 25, when state data shows substance use escalates, offering mental health resources and coping strategies at NextMove.alaska.gov.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska seeks control of hazardous waste program as rural areas face shift
EPA tentatively approved Alaska taking over hazardous waste oversight from federal control by August 2026. • Public comment period runs through July 2, 2026 on the shift. • Rural communities and tribes worry state agency may not enforce rules as strictly as EPA did. • Businesses may see faster permitting but face uncertainty during transition to state standards.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Launches Mobile Benefits App in State With Spotty Rural Internet
Alaska launched a mobile app May 20 for residents to apply for eight public assistance programs including Medicaid and SNAP, though paper and phone options remain available for those without reliable internet access.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska EMS agencies can now check pediatric readiness with new online tool
Alaska EMS and fire-rescue agencies can now use a free online tool at EMSpedsReady.org to assess how ready they are to handle pediatric emergencies and identify gaps in their preparedness.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Alaska districts face June 30 deadline for federal education funds
Alaska school districts must submit federal education grant applications in substantially approvable form by June 30, 2026, to receive funding starting July 1, or face delays.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate Passes Education Bill With 4% Property Tax Cap
Senate passed education bill with 4% cap on required local contribution growth, limiting property value increases that shift school funding from state to local governments. • Bill includes energy grants for schools and teacher loan repayment up to $5,000 yearly for STEM and special education teachers. • Cap could cost state $41.6 million by 2035 but prevents districts from losing millions in revenue.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
More from Alaska
Alaska House passes tobacco age increase, vape tax, cigar lounge exemption
Alaska House passed bill raising tobacco and vape purchase age from 19 to 21, matching federal law. • New statewide tax on vaping products will fund smoking education programs. • Bill includes exemption for premium cigar lounges meeting strict requirements. • Penalties for underage possession lowered to $100 with no court appearance required.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
Tuesday, May 19
Murkowski presses federal law enforcement on Alaska trafficking, missing Indigenous people
Murkowski pressed FBI on Alaska's missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis, 229 missing with 75 percent Alaska Native. • FBI launching tribal lands operation with Starlink communications for investigations. • DEA opening two Canada offices, intercepted 10 kilos of fentanyl bound for Alaska. • Murkowski raised Alaska's need for federal detention facility, Marshals director agreed to review.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska House passes commercial-code update for digital assets
Alaska House passed SB 252 unanimously Wednesday, updating state commercial law to cover digital assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs with clearer rules on ownership and collateral.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min readAlaska Senate adopts final operating, mental health and capital budgets
Alaska Senate passed fiscal year 2027 operating budget on 17-3 vote, balanced at $75 per barrel oil without drawing from savings. • Mental health budget approved 20-0, adding $3.5 million for behavioral health treatment and $500,000 for crisis call center. • Capital budget concurred 18-2, including $32.5 million for University of Alaska deferred maintenance and school and port projects.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Home Care Agencies to Fund Workers
Alaska Legislature passed House Bill 96 on May 18, requiring home care agencies to allocate funding to Personal Care Assistants, with the Senate voting 19 to 1. The bill now goes to Governor Dunleavy.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Constituent complaint drives classic car import law through Legislature
Alaska House passed a bill updating classic car import rules to match federal standards, allowing cars 25 years old or older to be registered instead of only pre-1981 models, after a constituent could not register a federally legal vehicle.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Officials Hail 'Night and Day' Shift Under Trump Energy Policies
Governor Dunleavy and Senator Sullivan said Trump reversed Biden restrictions on Alaska resource projects. • Willow and Pitcairn oil fields are now producing, generating 80,000 barrels per day. • State legislature must act on a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes proposal for the natural gas pipeline. • Federal government created a Western Alaska energy task force for rural diesel supply issues.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago5 min read
Alaska Senate panel hears gas line bill with $900M annual tax break
Alaska Senate reviewed gas pipeline bill cutting annual taxes from $1 billion to $74 million. • Developer could earn $5 billion yearly while consumers face gas prices more than double current rates. • Bill includes $50 million construction fund and requires Fairbanks spur line. • Senators questioned if impact funds adequately address community needs.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Coming up
Interior Department and Marine Minerals Administration Regional Tribal Meeting
Alaska
Meeting
Alaska LNG ROW Lease Conversion Public Hearing (Virtual)
Hearing
2027 Statewide Summer Reading Program Registration Deadline
Public notice
GMU 2 Wolf Trapping Season Opens
Public notice
Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office Sealed Bid Deadline
Public notice
About Alaska
Alaska is a United States state spanning Arctic, subarctic and coastal regions. Its communities range from Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau to Kodiak, the North Slope and villages such as McGrath and Adak that sit off the road system.
The Legislature, the governor's office and state agencies set policy on oil and gas, fisheries, transportation and public lands, and state boards such as the Board of Fisheries and the AIDEA board decide on catch rules, loans and investments. Cities and boroughs keep their own budgets, taxes, liquor licenses and planning decisions.
Questions that recur across the state include local budgets and tax rates, fishery catch limits, air service and ports for remote communities, and decisions on state land. Federal agencies and courts also shape life in Alaska, from air service contracts for rural towns to the certification of statewide election results.
More from Alaska
Senator's Mother Scammed: Personal Loss Drives Crypto Kiosk Bill
Alaska passed SB 249 unanimously to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks after Senator Tilton's mother was scammed. The bill requires fraud warnings, licensing, transaction limits, fee caps, and refunds for proven fraud victims.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Dunleavy to Call Special Session on Gas Line Property Tax Within Hour of Adjournment
Dunleavy calls special session within one hour of adjournment to cut property taxes on Alaska's gas pipeline project. • Current law imposes roughly one billion dollars in annual taxes, making the project uncompetitive. • Federal support depends on Alaska restructuring its tax system to make the project viable. • Municipalities must accept lower taxes to help finance the project.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
Alaska Legislature fell seven votes short of overriding the governor's veto of a bill that would have restored pension options for public employees and teachers, voting 33-27 when 40 votes were needed.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference explores future of statewide energy systems
Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference opened May 19 in Anchorage with nearly 1,000 energy leaders from 35 states and 10 countries. • Alaska signed a memorandum with National Laboratory of the Rockies on mineral supply and remote energy reliability. • Alaska and Yukon renewed an accord creating working groups on Arctic dialogue and transportation.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Federal program offers Alaska SUD workers up to $250,000 in loan repayment
Federal program offers Alaska substance use disorder workers up to $250,000 in student loan repayment for a six-year service commitment, with applications due June 23.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min readJuneau Assembly Finance Committee votes 6-3 to end gondola project, repay Goldbelt
Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted 6-3 to end the Eagle Crest gondola project and repay Goldbelt's $12 million loan after construction costs jumped from $7 million to $27 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
House Passes Civics Education Bill After Decade-Long Push
Alaska House passed a civics education bill 37-3 Tuesday, requiring high school students to take a social studies course and pass a civics exam to graduate.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Public Commenter Blames Management Turmoil for $12M Gondola Cost Surge
A Juneau resident told the Assembly that management failures and procurement delays have driven the Eagle Crest gondola project cost up by $12 million, warning taxpayers could face that shutdown bill.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Alaska LNG Pipeline Gains Momentum with Federal Support, Asian Demand
Alaska LNG pipeline gains federal backing and strong Asian demand, with officials calling it the state's best chance to move forward on a $50 billion project.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
Lake Hood tenant secures 55-year lease at 12 cents per square foot
The state proposes a 55-year lease for Lake Hood Air Harbor at 12 cents per square foot. Public comments are due by June 18.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readAlaska Senate advances sweeping public safety bill with AI child abuse provisions
Alaska Senate unanimously approved an 80-page public safety bill that criminalizes AI child abuse material and raises age of consent to 18. • The bill expands the parole board from five to seven members and creates new crimes including mail theft and airbag fraud. • It costs $413,400 in startup and ongoing funding and now returns to the House for final approval.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
Crews battle South Anchorage vegetation fire near 100th Avenue and C Street
Firefighters battled a 5-acre vegetation fire Tuesday afternoon near 100th Avenue and C Street in South Anchorage, with no evacuations ordered as of early afternoon.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
House Finance Committee advances PFD restoration for wrongfully convicted
House Finance Committee advanced a bill to restore Permanent Fund Dividends to Alaskans whose convictions were wrongfully vacated, with a two-year deadline to apply after exoneration.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readAlaska House Passes Baby Box Bill 35-5
Alaska House passed SB 9 on May 19 with a 35-to-5 vote, authorizing baby boxes at hospitals and fire stations where parents can anonymously surrender infants 21 days or younger without legal penalty.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFormer Senator Kyrsten Sinema Identifies Alaska as Prime AI Data Center Location
Former Senator Kyrsten Sinema told an Alaska energy conference that the state is positioned to become a major hub for AI data center development, citing natural resources and engaged state leadership as key advantages.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Alaska LNG Project Targets 2029 Gas Delivery as Developer Reports Major Contract Awards
Alaska LNG project targets 2029 gas delivery after awarding major construction contracts, but needs legislative approval of a 6 cent per MCF tax rate within three weeks to reach final financing.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Federal Officials Push Permitting Reform to Unlock Alaska's Critical Minerals
Federal officials said Alaska holds 95 percent of U.S. critical minerals but permitting timelines of 15 to 18 years block production needed for national security.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Joint committee forwards $16M school bond with flood mitigation funds
Juneau's Joint Assembly-School District committee approved a $16 million school bond that includes $300,000 for flood mitigation at school properties, following the 2023 Mendenhall River flooding.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Dunleavy vetoes public pension bill, leaving override as long shot
Governor Dunleavy vetoed legislation that would have reopened a defined benefit pension option for Alaska public employees and teachers, citing fiscal and legal concerns.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Thorne Bay certifies mayoral election with 47 percent turnout
Thorne Bay certified its May 12 mayoral election on May 18 with 235 ballots cast, a 47 percent turnout of 500 registered voters.
by Alaska News5mo ago1 min read
Alaska lawmakers review paid parental leave bill funded by payroll taxes
Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 193, which would create 8 to 12 weeks of paid parental leave funded by payroll taxes, with benefits starting January 1, 2030.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Seven Anchorage patients develop rare heart infection from gonorrhea
Seven Anchorage patients developed a rare, life-threatening heart infection from gonorrhea between December 2024 and March 2026, and one died.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Craig, Klawock Anglers Face New Ban on Filleting Fish at Sea
Anglers returning to Craig and Klawock must keep lingcod, rockfish, and king or coho salmon whole until docking, a new rule aimed at helping state biologists collect better data on fish populations.
by Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min readChiniak Highway hit with 50% weight limit, toughest in Kodiak area
Chiniak Highway gets Kodiak's toughest seasonal weight limit starting Monday, cutting trucks to half their legal load on a six-mile stretch.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
