State of Alaska

State puts emergency erosion work on Talkeetna's only highway out to bid

The Susitna River has been chewing at the bank near the only highway into Talkeetna. The state wants erosion protection in place there by Dec. 15.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Oct 2

State seeks avalanche forecaster to watch the Klondike Highway above Skagway for up to five winters

Alaska is seeking an avalanche forecaster for the Klondike Highway above Skagway at a cost of up to $500,000 over five winters, with proposals due by Oct. 28 or 29.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Giessel says governor kept DNR commissioner from legislative hearing on AIDEA land transfers

Governor blocked the DNR commissioner from testifying at a legislative hearing on state land transfers to AIDEA, leaving lawmakers without answers on nearly 20,000 acres north of Houston.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Legislative attorneys say Houston land transfer to AIDEA may fail public-purpose test

Legislative attorneys say giving AIDEA 20,000 free acres near Houston may not pass the public-purpose test. AIDEA's director says state law already settles it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

State proposes giving 220 acres near Ester to AHFC for housing, drawing trail concerns

Alaska DNR is giving 220 acres near Ester to a housing corporation for free, but the land is now used for hunting, trapping, and trails, and a Senate committee says locals oppose it.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Federal managers close Central Gulf Pacific cod fishing to pot boats for the rest of 2026

High cod prices helped pull new boats into the Central Gulf pot fishery. Federal managers say the fleet's share is caught or about to be, so it's done for 2026.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Labor-backed committee pays $150,000 for Kreiss-Tomkins ticket ads

A labor-backed committee paid $150,000 for digital ads backing the Kreiss-Tomkins and Johnson gubernatorial ticket, with spending set to run through Election Day on Nov. 3.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Alaska Supreme Court hears Valdez redistricting fee dispute

Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday on whether Valdez and a resident can recover attorney's fees from their challenge to the state's 2021 redistricting plan.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

White House restates $150 million for Beluga-Healy line; source of $268 million share unclear

The White House says DOE "will invest $150 million" in the Beluga-Healy line; DOE said "up to." Who covers the other $268 million is still unclear.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago1 min read

Truck crash closes left outbound lane of Glenn Highway near mile 26 Thursday morning

A truck crash closed the left outbound lane of Glenn Highway near mile 26 early Thursday, Oct. 8, with closure expected to end by noon.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

NRA's political arm grades Alaska governor field, with A's for Bronson and Taylor

The NRA Political Victory Fund gave A grades to Republicans Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor, a C to Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, and an AQ to Republican Bernadette Wilson in Alaska's governor race.

by Alaska News1mo ago2 min read

Alaska DNR tightens rules for stream water reservations

Alaska's new water reservation rules require five years of data first, and tribes and nonprofits won't hold their own certificates anymore. DNR will.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Guard Black Hawk flies two stranded boaters and their dog to Kotzebue

Alaska Army National Guard Black Hawk crew rescued two boaters and their dog stranded 75 miles east of Kotzebue on Oct. 6 after their vessel became stuck in icy water.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Fish and Game reopens Baranof Island's Necker Bay goat zone after clerical error

Fish and Game reopened Necker Bay's mountain goat hunt zone Sept. 8 after discovering a clerical error had wrongly closed it, with zero goats actually harvested against a quota of two.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Sep 14

Southeast Alaska sea cucumber dive fishery opens with a 1.4 million-pound cap

Alaska opened its 2026/27 Southeast sea cucumber dive fishery Monday with a 1.4 million-pound cap, down 18% from last season, with weekly openings by area until March 31, 2027.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Follows: Chignik District red sea cucumber divers get first fishing period Sept. 30 to Oct. 7

Vehicle strikes and kills moose on Richardson Highway in North Pole

A moose lost its fight with a vehicle on the Richardson Highway in North Pole. The driver's fine, the car isn't, and troopers called a charity for the meat.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Hilcorp seeks to fill Beluga wetlands for gas storage pad under emergency review

Hilcorp seeks emergency permit to fill 2.35 acres of Beluga wetlands for a natural gas storage pad, with public comment open through early November.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State to give highway department 200,000 cubic yards from Parks, Alcan pits at no charge

Alaska Department of Natural Resources will give the transportation department 200,000 cubic yards of gravel from two Interior highway pits at no cost.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Anchorage Assembly member Zachary Johnson amends disclosure to adopt APOC staff recommendations

Anchorage Assembly member Zac Johnson amended his 2025 financial disclosure on Oct. 7 to name the Wiest Trust and change his Wild Air Farm role from partner to power of attorney, adopting recommendations from an APOC staff report.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Wasilla man, 71, faces five counts of possessing child sexual abuse material

Task Force Dawnbreaker arrested Dale Weeg, 71, of Wasilla on Oct. 6 on five counts of possessing child sexual abuse material.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska LNG lease filing lists state gasline corporation as 25 percent owner

8 Star Alaska filed financial documents to convert pipeline leases, with the state holding 25 percent through its gasline corporation and private developer Glenfarne holding 75 percent.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

State approves easement to rebuild Cordova's failing Eyak Lake weir, built in 1972

Cordova's 1972 Eyak Lake weir is leaking and leaning. The state just cleared the way to rebuild it, with construction slated to start this winter.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Railbelt-wide unified dispatch likely needs legislation, REAP analyst says

Running the Railbelt's power plants as one system would save money, a REAP analyst says, but it probably takes a policy push to make it happen.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min read

Former Anchorage defense attorney Justin Facey sentenced to 20 years for drug trafficking

A former Anchorage defense attorney got 20 years for drug trafficking, the full term prosecutors sought, after they detailed how he exploited clients.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Council advisers back Bering Sea crab ceilings after the state already set its catches

Federal advisers signed off on Bering Sea crab ceilings a day after the state set its catches. The unsettled part: what to do about hybrid crab.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Legislative committee hires Guidehouse for $650,000 corrections cost study

Lawmakers hired Guidehouse for up to $650,000 to find out what drives Alaska's corrections spending and where the state could save some money.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Testifiers oppose West Susitna road and bridge in state's draft transportation plan

Two testifiers urged Alaska to drop the West Susitna road from its draft transportation plan, citing cost and opposition, while the transportation commissioner defended it as access to state land.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Invasive pike may use Cook Inlet to reach new watersheds, ADF&G biologist says

Pike were thought to avoid salt water, but some appear to have crossed Cook Inlet. A state biologist explains how in Fish and Game's October podcast.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

State proposes 50-year Anchorage airport lease to Northstar Holdings

Alaska DOT posted two conflicting notices for a 50-year airport lease to Northstar Holdings, listing annual rent as either $30,771 or $44,447 and describing different permitted uses.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Cordova tests burn pile camera as violations could risk its permit

Cordova is testing a security camera at its burn pile after state regulators warned that continued violations of burning rules could shut down the facility.

by Alaska News1mo ago1 min read

Alaska school improvement grant reviews delayed by staff leave

Alaska Department of Education delayed School Improvement grant reviews due to staff leave, with applications needing approval by October 31 to avoid compliance violations.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

DNR proposes requiring permits for most shooting in the Matanuska Valley Moose Range

DNR wants a permit for most gunfire near Slipper Lake and across the Moose Range, and for burning cars. Hunters are exempt. Comments due Nov. 9.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Soldotna man, 33, dies after being found unresponsive in Sterling garage

A Soldotna man, 33, died and a second adult was hospitalized after both were found unresponsive in a Sterling-area garage Saturday. Foul play isn't suspected.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Bering Sea Tanner crab limit nearly triples as snow crab falls 45 percent

Alaska tripled the Bering Sea Tanner crab limit to 32.1 million pounds for winter 2026, while cutting snow crab 45% to 5.1 million pounds, with all three major crab fisheries opening Oct. 15.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: State reviews Bering Sea crab catch calculations Wednesday

Board of Fisheries committee to take up remote testimony and process changes Oct. 21

A Board of Fisheries committee meets Oct. 21 on remote testimony and process recommendations. Its chair has "struggled with" virtual participation.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Fire crews to burn debris piles on Interior Army training lands through Oct. 31

U.S. Wildland Fire Service and Army Garrison Alaska will burn woody debris piles on Interior training lands from Oct. 6 through Oct. 31, with smoke visible from Fort Wainwright and nearby roads.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Kreiss-Tomkins leads governor money race as outside groups raise $3.15 million

Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins raised $4.28 million for governor, more than triple the cash on hand of any Republican opponent, as outside groups poured $3.15 million into the race.

by Alaska News1mo ago4 min read

Peltola pledges to finish the Izembek road, a goal Sullivan shares

Peltola pledged to finish the Izembek road and fight Pebble on a Southwest swing. Sullivan backs the road and has been on the record opposing Pebble, though not EPA's action on it.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

APOC will require a paid-for-by line on every social media ad starting in 2027

Alaska Public Offices Commission will require every social media ad to carry its own paid-for-by label starting in 2027 elections, ending the practice of posting one disclaimer on a homepage.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Election Day across Alaska: Where voters choose local leaders, ballot questions

Alaskans vote Tuesday for local officials and ballot measures across 22 municipalities and regional school districts. • Juneau decides three tax propositions; North Slope Borough has 11 bond measures totaling $1.55 billion. • Polling times and methods vary by community; check your local clerk's office for details.

by Alaska News1mo ago5 min read