Second-most-populous borough in Alaska, home to Fairbanks, North Pole, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Covers 7,444 square miles of Interior Alaska under extreme continental climate.
Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK, USA
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Grier Hopkins
“That postage stamp rate language in the legislation also requires it to be approved by the RCA, making it— with acute conditions, making it a decision that is not, you know, your cost payer, cost— or cost cause or cost payer, because we're not directly causing the impact of this furlough. It was out of our control that it was created there.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026
Grier Hopkins
“There was an estimate in House Finance, I believe, during the regular session that Ua Wai'a Consultant estimated that spurline tariff addition on top of the entire line would be a 2-cent increase. So we're looking at fractions of the the overall tariff.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026
Kiel
“if we're talking about building the whole thing to have a viable project, why wouldn't the cost of a Fairbanks spur be spread across all purchasers of gas, including foreign LNG buyers?”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026
Grier Hopkins
“I would support that. I was looking at it from where I am, as my main concern is making sure we can get that, um, the most affordable gas to Alaskans.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026
Grier Hopkins
“ensuring that we're able to get those impacts monetarily supported to be able to support our roads, our fire service areas, and the ancillary impacts is what's important. And so the— I don't— we were not able to exactly calculate what those impacts would be to our community. Because we're not able to say this is what, how many accidents we would have or what an estimate would be. But we are able to look at the, how we can handle our trash and solid waste disposals, which would increase substantially. We have an enterprise system here where we are, we pay for what you bring across our landfill waste stations.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026
Grier Hopkins
“we here in the Fairbanks North Star Borough don't have road towers, but we have 103 different road service areas. So depending on where the developer and the contractors and the railroad agree to have an off— a pipe offload yard, it's going to be a big impact”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 9:00am · Jun 10, 2026
Fairbanks rezone would swap 50-foot river strip for 25-foot overlay
Dirk and Heather Richard of Dollhouse LLC want to cut a 50-foot Outdoor Recreation strip along the Chena River to a 25-foot Waterways Setback so they can build a campground and RV park. Five of seven Chena Riverfront Commission members recommended a stricter overlay instead. The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission takes testimony Aug. 25.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1d ago3 min readAI
Fairbanks borough voters to decide hand count and November election date Oct. 6
Fairbanks North Star Borough voters decide Oct. 6 on Proposition 3, a hand-count-only mandate, and Proposition 2, moving borough elections to November. Both would take effect in 2027. Borough Clerk April Trickey says a date change would end the borough's election partnership with Fairbanks and North Pole.
by Walter AlaskaNews22h ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly weighs hand-count pamphlet text
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly meets in special session Thursday, Aug. 20, to consider a seven-point factual summary of Proposition 3, the hand-count initiative, for the municipal election pamphlet. The measure goes to voters Oct. 6.
by Walter AlaskaNews22h ago3 min readAI
Fairbanks borough moves to study rural emergency coverage it flagged in 2018
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly Regional Emergency Services Advisory Committee meets Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. on a draft request for proposal for a comprehensive review of the borough's fire service areas and non-areawide medical services. It may recommend the Assembly fund the review.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago1 min readAI
A three-bite Fairbanks dog gets strict conditions instead of euthanasia
A Fairbanks dog declared dangerous after three bites can stay with its owner under strict conditions — a locked kennel, leashing, neutering, and a behaviorist plan.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAI
A Fairbanks street a sinkhole swallowed could vanish from the map
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Platting Board takes testimony Aug. 19 on vacating the 50-foot Delight Avenue right-of-way in Joy Subdivision, a street platted in 1975 and never built. Staff recommend approval with five conditions, and any borough citizen may testify.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Ben Eielson High lab rebuild is part of Eielson AFB's F-35-era buildout
Ben Eielson High science lab Phase 3 work is part of Eielson Air Force Base's broader F-35-era infrastructure buildout in Interior Alaska
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago3 min readAI
Fairbanks planners reject York Avenue duplexes over the road to the school
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission recommended denying a York Avenue rezone for up to eight duplexes, citing traffic safety near University Park Elementary.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAI
A Fox homeowner woke to thieves stealing his copper and fuel. Then the shooting started.
Two burglars stealing copper and fuel fired on a homeowner near Fox, north of Fairbanks, early June 28; the homeowner returned fire and the suspects fled. Troopers are investigating.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Fairbanks staff flag spot-zone risk ahead of Geist Road rezone vote
Borough planning staff recommend the Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission deny a request to rezone 3745 Geist Road from Light Commercial to General Commercial, warning the change could constitute spot zoning and add roughly 1,500 weekday vehicle trips. The commission holds its legislative hearing Tuesday, July 14.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks weighs doubling a rec area and shifting trail approvals to staff
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission will hold a public hearing July 28 on a rezone that would add 339.3 donated acres to the Isberg Recreation Area and replace conditional-use hearings with a simpler permit process for future trail development.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4w ago1 min readAI
Fairbanks homeowners can cut their property taxes — and many who qualify don't
Fairbanks North Star Borough homeowners can reduce their taxable property value by up to $50,000, with larger exemptions for seniors and disabled veterans. The deadline to apply is Feb 14.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks has 1,000 miles of trails and no rules for tour operators
The Fairbanks North Star Borough has no standards for commercial tour operators on its 1,000-plus miles of trails. A commission has recommended fees and reporting rules.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAI
A Fairbanks clinic wants to expand. Staff recommend denying the rezone it's seeking.
A Fairbanks medical clinic seeks to rezone its Geist Road property to expand, but borough staff recommend denial over reduced buffers for nearby homes. The assembly votes July 14.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
A reserve cap just cost Fairbanks schools $11.4M. Now officials are fighting it.
Fairbanks officials meet to reconsider the state cap on school district reserves after an audit clawed back $11.4 million, weighing planning needs against taxpayer protections.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Fairbanks trails commission to weigh commercial vehicle rules Monday
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Trails Advisory Commission meets Monday, July 27, to receive a staff update and hold a discussion on a letter of recommendation to the Mayor and Assembly on Resolution No. 2025-33, which concerns commercial vehicles on recreational trails. The meeting also covers trail grants and the Draft Regional Comprehensive Plan.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAI
Anchorage's mayor told Senate Finance LNG could cost "tens of millions of dollars"
Anchorage's mayor said LNG would cost "tens of millions." The Halcyon report shows $23M-$173M depending on housing supply. Her housing plan targets $23M.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Interior's First Big Smoke Event Drifts Toward Fairbanks
Smoke from the Starry Fire near Anderson has brought the Interior's first major wildfire smoke of 2026 and is drifting toward Fairbanks; here's how to protect your health.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Where Alaska's fire morels may pop next
Recent wildfires across Alaska's road system have created potential morel mushroom hunting grounds for spring 2026, with burns near Fairbanks, the Elliott Highway, Tok, and Southcentral offering foragers new places to search.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks Planning to take up metro boundary expansion June 17
The Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation Planning Policy Board meets June 17 to discuss expanding the Metropolitan Planning Area boundary, a decision that determines which roads and communities qualify for federal transportation funding.
by Alaska Newsadded 2mo ago1 min readAI
Gavora Mall, two other Fairbanks properties seek grandfather rights at July 16 hearing
Three Fairbanks properties built before modern zoning rules, including the 87,884-square-foot Gavora Mall, will go before a Fairbanks North Star Borough hearing officer on July 16 seeking formal grandfather status that would let them continue operating without conditional use permits.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
A Fairbanks medical campus wants room to grow. Its neighbors want the buffer.
A Geist Road rezone to expand a Fairbanks medical campus deadlocked the borough Planning Commission 3-3 over a residential buffer; the decision moves to Aug. 11.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAI
What Fairbanks wants from Juneau — and why it costs more up north
Fairbanks is finalizing its 2027 legislative agenda, pressing for a Fairbanks gas spur at equal rates, higher school funding, and a return to defined-benefit pensions.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Fairbanks spur line language added to Alaska LNG tax bill
Fairbanks North Star Borough secured developer agreement on spur line construction tied to tax breaks, with postage-stamp rate language now central to Senate Finance deliberations on SB 2001.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Interior Alaska Native groups set aside a day to repair elders' homes — and couldn't meet the demand
Tanana Chiefs Conference and five partner organizations held a live lottery drawing Thursday, selecting 20 Fairbanks-area Alaska Native elders across three project tiers for volunteer home-improvement assistance on July 13; the same-day coordination extends to rural Interior communities.
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago1 min readAI
Noel Wien Library brings Kids Literacy Farmers Market back to Weeks Field July 21
Noel Wien Library's 6th Annual Kids Literacy Farmers Market runs July 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Weeks Field, combining literacy activities and a children-focused farmers market as part of a busy summer programming season.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
A Fairbanks lot split turns up permit and floodway snags
A Fairbanks lot-line adjustment near Noyes Slough surfaced zoning and floodway issues, including an unpermitted garage and floodway rules on waterfront development.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min readAI
Fairbanks landowners can claim 50% reimbursement for salmon habitat
ADF&G is accepting proposals through July 14 for a cost-share program that reimburses up to half the cost of streambank rehabilitation projects in the Tanana Watershed, with limited funds available on a competitive basis.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Failed concrete keeps Fairbanks' Wescott Pool closed all summer, cost climbs
Fairbanks approved another $837,000 for Wescott Pool repairs after concrete failed under the deck, pushing the reopening to November and the total past $12 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
House panel ties Alaska gas line tax breaks to Fairbanks spur line
House Resources Committee advances substitute bill requiring Alaska LNG project to build spur line to Fairbanks North Star Borough as condition for receiving tax incentives, ensuring Interior residents pay same tariff as Southcentral customers.
by Alaska News3mo ago4 min readAI
DNR approves 800-cubic-yard gravel contract on Dalton Highway
The state will let North Star Construction pull gravel from milepost 154 to maintain the industrial corridor that serves North Slope oil operations. The volume triggers the formal contract process under state land law.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks gathering honors victims of unsolved homicides
A multi-organizational partnership held a public remembrance event Monday at Golden Heart Plaza in Fairbanks to honor victims of unsolved homicides and missing persons.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min readAI
A stranger's call got a weaving driver off the Steese
A citizen's REDDI report of a weaving truck on the Steese Highway led Alaska troopers to arrest a Fairbanks man on DUI, weapons, and release-violation charges.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
How to challenge your property assessment in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Property owners in Fairbanks North Star Borough have 30 days from the January assessment notice to appeal their property valuation, but must provide specific evidence and pay taxes on time even while the appeal is pending.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks subcommittee drafts new Chena River plan with freeze, salmon, and flood goals
The Fairbanks North Star Borough's Chena Riverfront Plan Subcommittee reviewed three draft chapters June 24 covering river function, floodplain management, and cultural history, with the draft proposing riparian buffers up to 300 feet or more and explicitly revisiting whether modified wastewater discharge could let the Chena freeze in winter.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
One Floodplain Study Stands Between Fairbanks and a Finished River Walk
The final segment of Fairbanks' Chena River Walk needs a floodplain analysis before it can be built; DOT&PF is taking public comments through July 7.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks Borough mails 2026 property assessment notices
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assessing Department sent annual property assessment notices to all property owners at the end of January, showing current and previous year values that may increase based on neighborhood sales prices.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago1 min readAI
North Slope, Fairbanks, Valdez sue over pipeline tax values
The North Slope Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough, and City of Valdez filed a joint administrative appeal June 22 challenging state property tax assessments on Trans-Alaska Pipeline infrastructure. The dispute directly threatens school and service budgets in all three communities.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAI
A vacant Fairbanks school's fall reopening hinges on a vote — and an unsigned charter
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly meets Wednesday at 6 p.m. to vote on a five-year lease of the closed Pearl Creek Elementary School to Pearl Creek STEAM charter school, with $268,000 in borough maintenance funds fully contingent on reimbursement from the lessee and on the school securing a final charter contract.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Fairbanks subdivision stuck in limbo since 2018 seeks fourth extension, citing owners' divorce
The Nalak Subdivision on Edsson Avenue has been in preliminary approval since August 2018 and is seeking a fourth two-year extension from the Fairbanks North Star Borough Platting Board, with owners Todd and Mary Groat citing an ongoing divorce proceeding that has frozen funds needed to finish road grading and surfacing.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 4w ago1 min readAI