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 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 AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
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 AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
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 3mo ago1 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
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 3mo ago2 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
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.News3mo ago1 min read
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.News3mo ago3 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
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 3mo ago1 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
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 AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
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 News3mo ago2 min read
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 4mo ago2 min read
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 4mo ago1 min read
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 News5mo ago4 min read
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 5mo ago2 min read