Juneau
RSSNews from Juneau, Alaska
Same committee, same day, two close votes on Alaska LNG ratepayer protection — and they didn't go the same way
House Finance can't quite decide how much to protect Alaska ratepayers from LNG cost overruns — Tuesday's two votes split, with the same person providing the swing both times.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Juneau Assembly raises vehicle sales tax cap to $50,000
Juneau Assembly voted 6-3 to raise the vehicle sales tax cap to $50,000, allowing the city to collect more tax on car purchases as it works to close a $10 million to $12 million budget gap.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
All three major North Slope producers have signed Alaska LNG Phase 1 sale agreements — and they want their ownership to stop at the lease line
All three major North Slope producers have signed Alaska LNG Phase 1 sale agreements — and they want their ownership to stop at the lease line
by Alaska News3mo ago3 min read
Angoon youth dancers perform at Celebration following Navy apology
Angoon youth dancers performed at Celebration 2026 days after the U.S. Navy formally apologized for the 1882 bombardment that killed children and destroyed the Tlingit community's winter food stores, an apology the community had sought for decades.
by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Forest Service scraps Herbert Glacier cabin for mining claim
The Forest Service cancelled a planned cabin near Herbert Glacier in Juneau, citing mining claims and potential conflicts with mineral exploration by Canadian company Grande Portage Resources.
by Alaska News3mo ago3 min read
Navy SEAL returns to Southeast Alaska after 28 years
Retired Navy SEAL Command Master Chief Nathan Mitchell returned to Southeast Alaska after 28 years, completing a canoe journey with his son to Celebration 2026. • Mitchell spoke about Alaska Native military service, noting the demographic serves at five times the national average. • He addressed veteran mental health, urging those struggling with PTSD to seek support from fellow veterans.
by Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers honor late elder at Celebration 2026 performances
Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers honored late elder Margaret Roberts at Celebration 2026, performing traditional and newly written pieces that document ancestral knowledge and cultural revival across Alaska and Hawaii.
by Lucas Brownadded 3mo ago2 min read
Celebration 2026 opens in Juneau with canoe arrivals, cultural speeches
Sealaska Heritage Institute opened Celebration 2026 in Juneau on Wednesday with traditional canoe arrivals from eight Southeast Alaska communities and speeches centered on cultural resilience and overcoming external and internal challenges.
by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Alaska House schedules June 10 technical session
Alaska House scheduled a technical session for June 10 at 11 a.m. to handle procedural matters after the regular legislative session ended May 20.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Bartlett Regional Hospital posts 39 job openings in one week
Bartlett Regional Hospital posted 40 job openings in one week, about half of all Juneau-area listings, spanning nurses, doctors, support staff, and administrative roles as the hospital works to fill vacancies and expand housing for employees.
by Alaska News3mo ago1 min read
Alaska training academy graduates 24 officers after 17-week program
Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy graduated 24 officers Wednesday after completing 17 weeks of training in Sitka, with recruits joining the State Troopers, Wildlife Troopers, State Parks, and municipal police departments across the state.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Juneau gets clean audit despite control gaps, three-month delay
Juneau's audit passed but arrived three months late due to hospital delays and staff turnover, with auditors flagging two control gaps in debt review and harbor leases that finance staff have begun fixing.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Juneau arts council offers $2,000 for new logo design
Juneau Arts and Humanities Council is offering $2,000 for a new logo design, with submissions due July 1, 2026.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Alaska LNG tax bill ties $26.5B in revenue to volume, not value
Senate bill would tax Alaska LNG by volume instead of property value, generating $26.5 billion in state and local revenue. • The shift trades potentially higher property tax income for tax certainty to attract the project developer. • Mayors oppose the bill, saying municipalities would lose hundreds of millions in annual property tax revenue.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Haida fashion designer Dorothy Grant to sign career monograph at Alaska State Museum Friday
Haida fashion designer Dorothy Grant signs her career monograph at Alaska State Museum Friday from 4 to 5 pm during First Friday, with free museum admission from 4 to 7 pm.
by Melinda Communities.News3mo ago1 min read
Consultant warns Senate Finance that Alaska LNG faces megaproject risks
Consultant warns Senate Finance that Alaska LNG faces megaproject risks, citing data showing 67% of LNG projects exceed budgets by 70% on average.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
State library, archives, and museum mark ten years in shared Juneau building
Alaska's State Library, Archives, and Museum building in Juneau marks ten years since opening in 2016 with a free family fair on June 27.
by Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance hears $18 billion revenue trade-off for Alaska LNG tax break
Senate Finance heard the proposed Alaska LNG tax break would cut state and municipal revenues by $18 billion over 30 years, but the estimate rests on construction costs that may range from $45 billion to $90 billion.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Two Alaska clinics become the first under a new federal behavioral health funding model
Two Alaska clinics won federal certification for a four-year program that replaces per-visit Medicaid payments with predictable funding to stabilize behavioral health services.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
North Slope, Kenai mayors negotiate gas line property tax as House Finance delays bill deadline
North Slope Borough Mayor Patkotak and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Micciche negotiated property tax terms for the Alaska LNG project as the House Finance Committee delayed its amendment deadline to allow talks to continue.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance Committee: how do you analyze a $46.2 billion pipeline without the numbers?
Alaska Senate Finance Committee halted action on SB 2001 until the state gets the developer's actual cost data and gas sales contracts instead of relying on a model built on guesses.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska certifies first two behavioral health clinics under federal demonstration program
Alaska certified its first two behavioral health clinics under a federal program guaranteeing Medicaid funding for 24-hour crisis services and mental health treatment.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
ADF&G opens Juneau hatchery area to king salmon retention June 1
Alaska Fish and Game opens a saltwater hatchery area near Juneau to king salmon fishing June 1 through August 31, allowing anglers four fish per day while the rest of the region stays closed until June 15.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Huna Totem signs Juneau tideland lease for Oak Landing cruise dock
Huna Totem Corporation signed a tideland lease with Juneau in April for Oak Landing, a fifth downtown cruise dock expected to open in 2028 and reduce the 95 ships currently forced to anchor each summer.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min readDNR opens public comment on Greens Creek Mine reclamation plan renewal
Alaska's Department of Natural Resources opened public comment on Greens Creek Mine's plan to close and restore the underground mine on Admiralty Island near Juneau, governing how tailings and waste rock will be managed after mining ends.
by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min readAlaska LNG could cost $70 billion; state's 25% stake faces dilution
Alaska’s LNG project may have just gotten a $24 billion “whoops.” The state has been planning around a $46 billion price tag, but lawmakers were told the real number may be closer to $70 billion — which is less of a budget update and more of a financial jump scare.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Juneau mining industry warns sales tax cap removal could cost $5M yearly
Juneau is considering removing a $15,000 cap on sales tax per purchase. The Kensington Mine says eliminating it would cost the company $5 million yearly, nearly tripling its tax bill, and the city hasn't yet said how much revenue it would actually gain.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Energy consultant tells House Finance that property tax makes Alaska LNG unfinanceable
Energy consultant says property tax costs $600 million yearly, making Alaska LNG unfinanceable.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Sealaska Heritage Institute names seaweed contest winner at Celebration
Christina Weber won Sealaska Heritage Institute's seaweed contest at Celebration 2026 in Juneau, judged on freshness, color, taste, and texture as part of a traditional Native food competition.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Auto-IRA Bill Lets Workers Save PFD for Retirement
Alaska passed auto-IRA bill letting workers save Permanent Fund Dividend checks for retirement. • Program auto-enrolls private workers with paycheck deductions, costs employers nothing. • Targets half of Alaska workers without employer retirement plans. • Addresses senior poverty as Social Security falls short of Alaska living costs.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Juneau Assembly Finance Committee cuts $736,000 in recurring expenses, faces $687,000 deficit
Finance Committee cut $736,000 from city budget but Juneau still faces $687,000 deficit for 2027. Travel Juneau funding dropped $400,000, museum budget cut $261,500, and landscape budget trimmed $75,000. Committee rejected cuts to affordable housing and fire station lease that would raise insurance costs. Full Assembly votes on budget June 8.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Juneau Assembly Finance Committee cuts Travel Juneau budget in 5-4 vote
Finance Committee cuts Travel Juneau marketing budget by 400,000 dollars, dropping funding 31 percent to close city deficit. • Executive director warns cut will remove Juneau from visitor marketplace for two to three years. • Full Assembly votes on budget June 8, must decide by June 15.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
TCLL graduates first 8th grade class after years of Tlingit immersion
Juneau's Tlingit immersion program graduated 8th graders who delivered speeches in Tlingit after years of fluency growth. • Students moved from reluctant speakers to confident communicators in the language. • Program is free for all students and partners with Sealaska Heritage Institute. • Graduates received traditional headbands and advance to high school.
by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 4mo ago3 min read
Juneau Assembly votes 8-1 to end gondola deal, repay Goldbelt $12.2M
Juneau Assembly votes 8-1 to end gondola deal with Goldbelt. • City must repay $12.2 million, including $10 million principal plus interest. • Rising costs made the project financially infeasible with public funds. • City can still explore future partnerships with Goldbelt or others.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Juneau Assembly faces budget crisis with projected negative fund balance
Juneau faces $1 million budget shortfall by 2027 after tax cuts reduced revenue. • Assembly must cut services, close facilities, or raise property taxes before June 15 vote. • Residents pushed back Monday against closing recreation facilities like Eagle Crest. • City approved $12.2 million repayment for failed gondola project.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Allen Marine hiring 21 positions as Juneau gears up for cruise season
Allen Marine posted 21 jobs in Juneau across vessel operations, hospitality, and shore support ahead of cruise season, from entry-level deckhand roles to lodge manager and executive chef positions.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
Alaska gas line faces economic challenge even with tax breaks
Alaska LNG needs $8.48 to $9.07 per thousand cubic feet to break even, but global prices are $8 to $9. • Governor's tax plan cuts state revenue from $29.7 billion to $22.5 billion over the project's life. • Capital cost overruns and producer gas prices pose bigger risks than tax relief can fix. • State could invest $4.4 billion for a 25 percent equity stake.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
House Resources gas line bill would cost municipalities $13B under governor's plan
Governor's plan cuts municipal revenue by $13 billion, House Resources version cuts only $2 billion • Governor replaces property tax with volumetric tax statewide, House Resources keeps property tax on facilities • Both versions reduce state revenue, project remains economically challenged at current market prices
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House approves three day recess for Memorial Day weekend during gas line special session
Alaska House votes to recess two weeks during special session on gas line taxation, allowing members to leave for Memorial Day weekend. • Opponents warn the break could delay the gas line bill, which they call the state's most urgent issue. • House also approves carrying over two companion bills on natural gas pipeline property taxes into the special session.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
House suspends rules to carry gas pipeline bills into special session
Alaska House voted 28-10 to let two natural gas tax bills continue into special session alongside the governor's competing bill, overriding objections that lawmakers should focus only on the governor's proposal.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
