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Week of Apr 20
State regulators extend review periods for Railbelt utility tariffs
Alaska regulators extended review timelines for rate changes from Chugach Electric and Enstar Natural Gas serving Southcentral Alaska.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readHouse panel advances seafood industry data-sharing bill
House committee advanced a bill allowing the University of Alaska and state labor department to share seafood industry data for research.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska Airlines Pilots Raise Concerns Over Hawaiian Merger Integration
Alaska Airlines pilots worry the Hawaiian merger will delay their access to widebody aircraft, as seniority list integration begins following Hawaiian's flight code retirement on April 22.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readHouse Military Committee Advances Joint Armed Services Overhaul
Alaska House panel voted to modernize a 27-year-old military-civilian committee by adding two new seats, requiring clearer appointment rules, and boosting minority representation.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Early construction work causes two-hour delays on Palmer commute
Construction crews on Palmer-area highways starting at 6 a.m. on April 23 caused two-hour commute delays, with no end date announced yet.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readState Opens Two-Day Geoduck Fishery in Kaigani Strait
Alaska opened a two-day commercial geoduck fishery in Kaigani Strait this week to harvest the final 7,000 pounds of the season's quota south of Ketchikan.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readValdez Planning and Zoning Commission Meets Tonight
Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission meets tonight at 7 PM in City Hall to review permits, variances, and subdivisions as part of an ongoing zoning code update.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min readPermafrost Thaw Releases Unexpected Methane in Alaska Uplands
Thawing permafrost in Alaska uplands releases methane three times faster than wetlands, surprising researchers. • Coastal erosion from warming threatens Alaska Native villages with relocation and subsistence disruption.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readMore from Alaska
Alaska mines release toxic metals into rivers, state data shows
Alaska's mines released over 450,000 pounds of mercury in 2018, the most in the nation, contaminating rivers that villages depend on for drinking water and subsistence fishing.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readRural Alaska Electricity Costs Run Three to Five Times Urban Rates
Rural Alaskans pay three to five times more for electricity than urban residents because remote villages rely on expensive diesel microgrids, despite state renewable energy plans.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Assembly rejects resolution seeking larger Basher Trailhead parking lot
Anchorage Assembly rejected a resolution to expand Basher Trailhead parking from 45 to 60 spaces, voting 5-6 over whether it should override the administration's design work.
by Walter AlaskaNews6mo ago3 min read
Week of Apr 13
Alaska Fishermen Report Salmon Declines Amid Bycatch, Management Concerns
Alaska fishermen and subsistence harvesters report salmon declines they blame on bottom trawler bycatch, though federal managers say bycatch stays within sustainable limits.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readInterior hunters report early black bear harvests as spring season begins
Interior hunters are reporting early black bear harvests as spring season opens, with the state tracking kills to manage predator populations and protect moose herds.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readFairbanks and Kodiak Residents Capture Last Aurora Displays Before Midnight Sun
Fairbanks and Kodiak residents caught vibrant northern lights on April 18 and 19, likely the last aurora views before the midnight sun eliminates darkness on April 21.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readAlaska residents share bear and moose encounters as spring wildlife season begins
Alaskans are posting spring bear and moose sightings on social media as animals emerge from winter across the Kenai Peninsula and Interior, following typical seasonal patterns.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readRemote Alaska villages pay $6.63 per gallon as fuel costs strain budgets
Remote Alaska villages paid an average of $6.63 per gallon for gasoline this winter, straining household budgets as barge transport and small order volumes drive costs far above road-connected areas.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readComing 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
Bristol Bay tribes fight to defend EPA veto of Pebble Mine in court
Bristol Bay tribes asked a federal court to defend the EPA's veto of the Pebble Mine, which would threaten the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery worth $2 billion annually.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readTwo Skiers Rescued After Avalanche Near Turnagain Pass
Two skiers were rescued by helicopter Thursday after an avalanche at Falls Creek Trail near Turnagain Pass, with both sustaining injuries requiring hospital transport.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readAssembly Approves Study of Wildfire Service Area for High-Risk Zones
Anchorage Assembly voted to study creating a wildfire service area funded by property taxes on high-risk zones to pay for dedicated fire protection where development meets wildland.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Alaska Lawmakers Propose Legislative Oversight of $80B Permanent Fund Board
Alaska lawmakers proposed legislative confirmation of Permanent Fund Corporation board members for the first time since 1982, as the $80 billion fund now covers over 60 percent of state spending.
by Alaska News7mo ago3 min readAlaska Overhauls School Construction Funding to Help Rural Districts Compete
Alaska is changing school construction funding to prioritize building safety over age. The new rules start for fiscal year 2028.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago4 min readAlaska considers ban on driverless commercial trucks amid safety debate
Alaska House committee heard testimony on HB 217, which would ban driverless commercial trucks and make Alaska the only state requiring human operators in all autonomous vehicles.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska School Funding System Favors Wealthy Districts, Senators Say
Alaska senators say the state's school construction funding system favors wealthy districts that can afford architects and engineers, leaving poorer communities waiting years for basic repairs.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago4 min readAlaska Tribes Removed 1.5M Pounds Marine Debris Despite Funding Barriers
Alaska tribes removed 1.5 million pounds of marine debris last summer but face barriers like grant complexity and equipment costs that threaten their ability to protect subsistence resources.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readSenate panel advances retirement bill despite $400M cost shift concern
Senate Finance Committee advanced a retirement bill that would shift nearly $400 million in unfunded costs from municipalities to the state, rejecting an amendment that would have prevented the shift.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska House debates school transportation funding amid rural-urban divide
Alaska House debated school transportation funding as diesel prices surge, but rural lawmakers worry the money would shortchange districts using student flights instead of buses.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska Rural Health Program Flooded with 'Surprising' Number of Quality Ideas
Alaska's rural health grant program has too many good ideas for its limited federal budget. The state is now hunting for private partners to fund the leftovers.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Panel Weighs Tougher Hit-and-Run Penalties
The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee is considering House Bill 239 to set four to seven year prison terms for fatal hit and run crashes.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska Senate Shelves Homemade Food Safety Bill After Complex Debate
Alaska Senate shelved a bill banning homemade foods in vacuum-sealed jars after lawmakers found the botulism-safety rules too complex to define clearly.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska House Rejects 30% Cut to Regional Jail Funding Despite Low Use
Alaska House rejected a proposal to cut a 30% regional jail funding increase, voting 16-24 against the amendment despite data showing many facilities operate at near-zero capacity.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska House Approves $2M for Talkeetna Trooper Post Using ANWR Funds
Alaska House approved $2 million from Arctic refuge revenues to restore a trooper post in Talkeetna, citing a 113-mile law enforcement gap and fentanyl trafficking on the Parks Highway.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min readAlaska OT Law Limits Patient Recovery, Licensing Board Says
Alaska's occupational therapy law limits therapists to helping patients cope with disabilities rather than recover function, a gap House Bill 110 would close to match federal standards.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readWeek of Apr 6
Alaska House Panel Advances Bill to Speed Up State Contract Payments
Alaska House panel voted to require state agencies to pay contractors as fast as private companies do, adding seven state jobs at over $1 million in costs but delaying implementation until 2027.
by Alaska News7mo ago2 min readAre You Kitten Me? Alaska’s Fish “Waste” Just Found Its Second Life
Alaska fish processors are turning salmon skins and other byproducts into pet food, converting waste that once cost money to dispose of into a new revenue stream.
by CamilleSutherland7mo ago2 min read
House Finance passes Mount Edgecombe funding bill, advances mail theft measure
House Finance passed a revised bill to fund Mount Edgecombe High School through rural education funds, and advanced a measure making mail theft a Class C felony with up to five years in prison.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readHouse committee advances special education funding resolution, CTE mobility bill
House Education Committee unanimously passed a resolution urging Congress to fully fund special education, which currently covers only 10 to 15 percent of costs in Alaska. • Committee advanced a bill allowing rural school districts to share career and technical education programs like welding and healthcare training. • Special Education Service Agency reported its first-ever waitlist, with nine students across seven districts waiting for services.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readHouse panel backs Alaska Native 8A program support resolution
House Resources Committee approved a resolution backing Alaska Native corporations' continued access to a federal small business program that generated $13.5 billion in revenue for the state in 2022.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readSenate panel considers tougher penalties for fatal hit-and-run crashes
Alaska Senate panel heard testimony on a bill that would increase prison time for fatal hit-and-run crashes, citing 15 fatal hit-and-runs in Anchorage in 2024.
by Alaska News7mo ago2 min readAlaska House committee reviews $759K in agency requests to fix payment delays
Alaska House committee heard requests for $759,200 to fix chronic late payments, as contractors report business closures from state agencies paying 30 to 65 days behind schedule.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min readAlaska Native Groups Push for Fishing Permit Reform After $7.5B Exodus
Alaska Federation of Natives told legislators that non-resident permit holders took $7.5 billion in salmon earnings since 1975, leaving rural villages with fishing participation down to 12%.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago2 min read
