Alaska

Fairbanks mayor's 2027 budget comes with a warning that revenue isn't keeping up

Fairbanks' mayor proposed a 2027 budget with a small surplus and no debt, and warned that property owners can't keep carrying the city alone.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Alaska would keep letting floating processors leave fish waste on the seafloor

Alaska would keep letting floating processors leave up to an acre of fish waste on the seafloor at each spot. The EPA has said no other state allows it.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Fairbanks school board member Tim Doran wins statewide governance award

Fairbanks school board member Tim Doran won a statewide award for board service. His board president's take: he asks more questions than anyone.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

South Tongass fire chief Steve Rydeen to retire Dec. 1, weeks after his station reopened

South Tongass Fire Chief Steve Rydeen retires Dec. 1, weeks after crews moved back into the station that burned in 2024. Wednesday's board meeting is his last.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Nome school board named Alaska's outstanding school board for 2026

Nome's school board was named Alaska's 2026 Outstanding School Board, with the state association pointing to reading gains among its youngest students.

by Maggie AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

MEA warns of power outages with freezing rain and wind forecast for the Mat Valley

MEA warns of outages with freezing rain and gusts to 50 mph forecast for parts of the Mat Valley overnight. Eagle River's hillsides could see 1 to 5 inches.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Winter storm watch warns of possible 70 mph gusts in Turnagain Arm and Whittier

A wet, windy storm is moving into Southcentral Alaska, with snow turning to freezing rain and rain. Turnagain Pass could see up to 10 inches.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Kenai Peninsula voters back school board term limits that won't bite until 2032

Kenai Peninsula voters backed school board term limits with about 89% of the vote. The Assembly certifies Tuesday, and the limit won't bite until 2032.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago1 min readFrom Nov 3

State takes comment on North Slope seismic survey and three airport lease extensions

The state is taking comments on a 205-square-mile North Slope seismic survey and on no-bid lease extensions at the Birchwood, Dillingham and Girdwood airports.

by Maggie AlaskaNews5d ago2 min readFrom Nov 4

Alaska takes a new look at the 705-foot Susitna dam as Cook Inlet gas runs short

AEA's board voted to take a new look at the shelved 705-foot Susitna dam, eyeing a 2033 tax-credit deadline as Cook Inlet gas runs short. No money to build yet.

by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago3 min readFrom Nov 5

Medicare's drug price negotiation program moves from guidance into federal regulation

Medicare's drug price haggling moves from agency guidance into federal regulation. Starting in 2029, Medicare can target up to 20 drugs a year.

by Alaska News5d ago1 min read

Analysis: Ranked-choice repeal trails, with less crossover voting than in 2024

The repeal trails by about 7,600 votes so far. About 1 in 8 Sullivan-first ballots voted "No", to keep ranked choice, and 1 in 12 Peltola-first ballots "Yes" to scrap it.

by Alaska News5d ago5 min read

Analysis: Most Alaska ballots so far went one of two ways at the top of the ticket

Most Alaska ballots counted so far went one of two ways at the top of the ticket. Those ranking Sullivan Jr. first split, and bullet voting varied by race.

by Alaska News5d ago4 min read

Alaska Supreme Court will weigh state search warrants for Metlakatla tribal property

A Ketchikan judge ruled state courts can't issue search warrants for Metlakatla tribal property. The Alaska Supreme Court hears the state's challenge Jan. 6.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago4 min read

Trump's new chief of staff has called Alaska's second Dan Sullivan an election 'attack'

Trump's new chief of staff, Stephen Miller, has called the second Dan Sullivan's candidacy an attack on election integrity. The race is still uncalled.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago4 min read

Tanner crab fishing stays closed around Kodiak, Chignik and South Peninsula in 2027

No Tanner crab season off Kodiak, Chignik or the South Peninsula this winter, the second in a row. Surveys found crab, just not enough to make a fishery.

by Bill AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readFrom Nov 2

Kodiak weighs selling a vacant city lot for a building with six apartments over six shops

A Kodiak company wants six apartments over six shops on an empty city lot by the airport. The council takes its first vote on the $200,000 sale Thursday.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Four in 10 Nome Elementary students are chronically absent so far this year

Nome Elementary counted 114 of its 281 students as chronically absent this year, including half of first graders, and is reaching out to affected families.

by Maggie AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

UAF men's and women's basketball teams each open with two 100-point wins

UAF's men's and women's basketball teams each opened with two 100-point wins, and the women forced 61 turnovers in one game. Next stop: Hawaii.

by Maggie AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Bettles had 39.6 inches of snow in October, the most since its records began in 1944

Bettles got 39.6 inches of snow in October, more than three feet and its snowiest October on record. Wiseman, near Coldfoot, wasn't far behind.

by Maggie AlaskaNews6d ago1 min read

Alaska psychology board proposes dropping its state law and ethics exam for new licensees

Alaska's psychology board wants to drop its state law and ethics exam for license applicants, calling it a barrier to licensure. Comments are due Dec. 10.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Troopers arrest Chugiak 16-year-old after 122 mph pursuit in Wasilla

Troopers say a 16-year-old Chugiak driver raced another car on Knik Goose Bay Road, then fled at up to 122 mph before being stopped. No injuries were reported.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Kotzebue and Nome draw two applicants each for their empty superior court seats

Kotzebue and Nome each drew two applicants for their empty superior court seats, and the council can't nominate fewer than two. Statewide, 16 attorneys applied.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago3 min readFrom Oct 30

Anchorage Assembly chair proposes conditional protest of Midtown hotel's liquor license

Anchorage Assembly Chair Anna Brawley proposes a conditional protest of a liquor license for Courtyard by Marriott Midtown. Assembly takes public testimony Nov. 17.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago1 min read

State closes Dalton Highway over Atigun Pass due to high avalanche activity

DOT closed the Dalton Highway at Atigun Pass Saturday after high winds, blowing snow and avalanche danger. Closures there can last about 48 hours, and the road can strand travelers for days.

by Maggie AlaskaNews6d ago1 min read

University of Alaska says 29 federal grants restored, 32 terminated since 2025

A tells regents 29 federal grants are restored and credits Sen. Dan Sullivan. A tracker still lists six as terminated, most for Indigenous or STEM work.

by Melinda Communities.News6d ago3 min read

Homer councilmember wants to put the city's health insurance broker back on a flat fee

Homer's health insurance broker earns more when the city's premiums go up. A councilmember wants to go back to the flat fee the city paid until 2021.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago3 min read

Outgoing Homer mayor proposes a new rule for how much money the city keeps in reserve

Homer's outgoing mayor wants the city to save three months of spending, not four months of revenue. She's bringing it the night her successor is sworn in.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Follows: Homer mayor proposes changing the rules for how the city writes its budget

Sitka harbors urge boat owners to secure vessels ahead of Monday wind warning

Sitka, check your dock lines. A high wind warning calls for gusts to 60 mph Monday, and two recent storms here both gusted past their forecasts.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago1 min read

Valdez schools superintendent warns health insurance could rise 40% in April

Valdez schools' health insurance could jump as much as 40% in April, the superintendent warned, adding about $1.5 million if claims stay high.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Northern lights possible in much of Alaska through Sunday night, if the clouds cooperate

A minor geomagnetic storm has northern lights possible across much of Alaska through Sunday night. The catch, as usual: clouds forecast over most of the state.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Up to a foot of snow possible on the upper Haines and Klondike highways Monday

Skagway gets a windy Saturday night, then a Monday storm that could drop 6 to 12 inches of snow on the upper reaches of the Haines and Klondike highways.

by Maggie AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read

Juneau must replace the software behind its payroll and billing by 2030

Juneau has to replace the software behind its payroll and billing before support for its current system ends in 2030. No price tag as of July.

by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min readFrom Jul 8

Prince William Sound salmon value falls 45% below average as pink harvest hits a 1970s low

Prince William Sound's salmon were worth just over half the usual this year. Seiners averaged $74,100, down from $223,000 last year, as pinks hit a 1970s low.

by Bill AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Fish and Game forecasts a strong 49 million sockeye run in Bristol Bay next summer

Fish and Game forecasts 49.3 million Bristol Bay sockeye for 2027, a "strong" run after this year's dip below 50 million. Its forecasts have run low on average.

by Bill AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly chair would cut crime victim grants to shift pre-K to alcohol tax

Anchorage's Assembly chair wants to move half of pre-K back onto the alcohol tax, paying for it by cutting crime victim grants. Vote is Nov. 17.

by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago3 min read

NANA company in line for $2.3 million grant to design hydro for three villages

NANA's public benefit company is in line for $2.3 million in federal money to design a hydro project and power line for Ambler, Shungnak and Kobuk.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Scientists recommend lower skate catch limit as Aleutian leopard skate declines

Scientists want a lower 2027 catch ceiling for Bering Sea skates and flag an Aleutian skate whose survey biomass has dropped 89% since 2010.

by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

AIDEA lets its director sign binding Ambler Road deals and move an estimated $86 million

AIDEA's board told its director to sign binding Ambler Road agreements and move an estimated $86 million more toward the road, weeks before Dunleavy leaves.

by Melinda Communities.News6d ago3 min readFrom Nov 4

GCI expects to close soon on its purchase of the Arctic coast's only fiber line

GCI expects to soon own the only fiber line to Alaska's Arctic coast, the same line its rivals buy capacity on. The FCC set price conditions. Rivals worry.

by Alaska News1w ago3 min read