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Tuesday, May 5
Rural Alaska faces fuel crisis as prices surge, shortages loom
Rural Alaska fuel prices could double this year, with gas hitting $17.50 per gallon in some villages and diesel potentially reaching $6 per gallon, threatening heating and power during winter.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readFrom Alaska House bill to ban polystyrene food containers moves to Senate
Alaska House Bill 25, which would ban polystyrene foam food containers statewide, advanced to the Senate after testimony Tuesday on cost versus pollution concerns.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House committee advances resolution backing military infrastructure push
Alaska House committee advanced a resolution supporting military infrastructure development, with $23 billion in federal funding expected if the state shows it's a collaborative partner.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Aurora Borealis Lights Up Kodiak and Interior Alaska Skies
Aurora borealis lit up Kodiak and Interior Alaska skies on April 18, visible for hours under clear conditions during the ongoing solar maximum.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readFrom ConocoPhillips Cuts 12.5% of North Slope Workforce as Oil Prices Fall
ConocoPhillips laid off 12.5% of its North Slope workforce in September following its merger with Marathon Oil, affecting workers at Kuparuk, Alpine, and Willow fields as oil prices fell.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readFrom Vivid Northern Lights Draw Fairbanks Viewers to Night Sky
Vivid green auroras lit up Fairbanks and North Pole skies on April 19, matching forecasts and marking part of a solar cycle expected to bring frequent displays for another one to two years.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min readFrom 
Recent High School Graduate Appointed to Alaska State Medical Board
A 19-year-old high school graduate with no medical background was appointed to Alaska's State Medical Board, which licenses physicians.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House panel advances daylight saving time bill with Western Alaska carve-out
Alaska House panel advanced a bill to stop clock changes starting March 2028, but would split Western Alaska into a separate time zone if the state moves to Pacific Standard Time.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
More from Alaska
19-year-old homeschool graduate appointed to State Medical Board
Alaska Senate committee questioned 19-year-old Hannah Milkey's qualifications to serve on the State Medical Board, noting she has no medical training, CPR certification, or investigative experience.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance forwards Anchorage attorney to State Assessment Review Board
Senate Finance Committee advanced Anchorage attorney Jana Welsheen's nomination to the State Assessment Review Board to a joint legislative session for confirmation.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
The House Finance Committee advanced a school funding bill costing $130 million annually to stabilize district budgets.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Ice Jam Near Kalskag Threatens Flooding Along Lower Kuskokwim River
An ice jam near Kalskag, 90 miles upriver from Bethel, threatens flooding along the lower Kuskokwim River through May 7, with water already cutting off roads and forcing school closures in the region.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readEngine Trouble Strands Columbia Ferry at Whittier Dock for Four Hours
Engine trouble stranded the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Columbia at Whittier for four hours on May 5, delaying hundreds of passengers and dozens of vehicles headed to Prince William Sound.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readSmoke from Boundary Fire Settles Over Tanana, Residents Report Health Impacts
Heavy smoke from the Boundary Fire settled over Tanana on May 4, forcing residents indoors and disrupting fishing and woodcutting as elders reported breathing difficulties.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readHouse panel holds wildfire evacuation bill over cost, scope concerns
House panel held a wildfire evacuation bill over concerns that maintaining roads and airports in fire-prone areas could cost over $100 million statewide.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
House advances expanded disability benefits for all public workers
Alaska House advanced a bill raising occupational disability benefits to 75 percent of salary and adding healthcare coverage for all public employees and teachers.
by Alaska News6mo 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
Alaska bill would require human operators in autonomous freight trucks
Alaska bill would require a human operator in commercial freight trucks over 10,000 pounds, effectively blocking fully driverless rigs from the state.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel proposes doubling Dalton Highway surcharge in gas line bill
Senate committee doubled the Dalton Highway maintenance surcharge to 30 cents per barrel in the gas pipeline bill, but questioned whether $1 billion in tax cuts justify the cost to Alaska.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Board of Fish Nominees Face Questions on Public Process Erosion
Three Board of Fisheries nominees pledged Tuesday to restore public trust after the board made an out-of-cycle Cook Inlet salmon gear decision despite 280 opposing comments.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readAlaska Legislature Staff Debate AI Use for Official Records
Alaska legislative staff are debating whether to use AI for official records, balancing efficiency against accuracy risks in documents that may be used in court.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature Falls Two Votes Short of Overriding Elections Bill Veto
Alaska Legislature fell two votes short of overriding Gov. Dunleavy's veto of a bill that would have let voters track ballots online and fix envelope errors before rejection.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
Alaska House panel is considering doubling the maximum bulk fuel loan for rural communities to $1.5 million as fuel prices surge up to 100 percent and western Alaska faces potential supply shortages.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel debates $1B tax break for Alaska LNG amid cost secrecy
Alaska Senate panel split on tax breaks for $46 billion LNG project, with one lawmaker refusing to vote without cost details and warning the state could lose $1 billion annually in taxes.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House panel hears tax proposal for Alaska LNG project
House panel heard a proposal to cut Alaska LNG's property tax burden from $750 million yearly by 2033 to about $200 million through a volumetric tax on gas volume.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances behavioral health crisis surcharge bill
Alaska Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would add a surcharge to phone bills to fund behavioral health crisis services, exempting discounted phones for low-income users.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min read
Monday, May 4
Dunleavy says Alaska gas pipeline depends on property tax overhaul
Governor Dunleavy demands the legislature pass a property tax overhaul within three weeks to make a $44 billion to $50 billion North Slope gas pipeline financially viable.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min read
House panel advances retirement savings program with PFD deposit option
Alaska House committee approved a retirement savings program for 105,000 workers without employer plans and expanded options to deposit Permanent Fund dividends into existing investment accounts.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
House Finance advances education fund amendment, rejects gas pipeline revenue tie
Alaska House Finance advanced a constitutional amendment to create a dedicated education fund but rejected tying it to future gas pipeline revenues that could bring $700 million yearly.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Senate panel doubles oil surcharge for Dalton Highway maintenance in gas pipeline bill
Alaska Senate panel doubled the oil surcharge for Dalton Highway maintenance to 30 cents per barrel, generating roughly $50 million yearly, while cutting local government tax revenue by 90 percent.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readAG nominee Cox faces criticism over grand jury access policies
Attorney General nominee Stephen Cox faced criticism Monday for blocking Alaskans from bringing complaints directly to grand juries, contradicting research he himself commissioned.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Alaska residential schools seek doubled stipends to cover rising costs
Senate Bill 257 would double state funding for Alaska residential schools to cover rising costs. The bill aims to fix a funding gap that has remained stagnant since 2014.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Attorney General Cox Defends 'Counter-China Initiative' Amid Jurisdiction Questions
Attorney General Cox defended a counter-China initiative at his confirmation hearing, but lawmakers questioned whether it strays into federal territory.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Alaska AG nominee Cox declines to commit to defending same-sex marriage
Alaska Attorney General nominee Stephen Cox declined to commit to defending same-sex marriage if challenged in court, drawing concern from LGBTQ lawmakers during a confirmation hearing Monday.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
House Finance cut $95 million for the West Susitna Access Road from the capital budget. Lawmakers fear the project will drain federal funds from other state needs.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances resolution urging federal reclassification of 911 dispatchers
Alaska Senate panel unanimously backed a resolution urging Congress to reclassify 911 dispatchers as protective service workers, giving them access to federal training and wellness benefits.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readLands committee advances KEA land transfer despite cost concerns
A committee voted to give 1,584 acres to Kodiak Electric Association for free. One member argued the borough should sell the land to fund local infrastructure.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska LNG project could tap Defense Production Act for federal support
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee is weighing federal aid for the $47 billion Alaska LNG project. Experts warn this could set a massive precedent for future infrastructure funding.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
Senate advances farm tax bill, carves out Anchorage exemption
Alaska Senate advanced a farm tax bill Monday that restores property tax breaks for S corporation farms, but exempts Anchorage from having to offer the deferral.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readHouse panel advances Alaska Native language task force bill
House panel advanced a bill to create a task force reviewing Alaska Native language preservation, with lawmakers calling the state's language situation a crisis.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Flash flood inundates Anderson home as water rises over 6 feet overnight
Flash flood swept through Anderson overnight May 3-4, raising water more than 6 feet and inundating at least one home in the remote Interior village of about 250 people.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
