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State of Alaska

Alaska state government's executive branch, headed by the Governor and 15 cabinet departments. Oversees education, public safety, transportation, health, commerce, and natural resource management for the 49th state.

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Thursday, Jun 18

Dunleavy called a second special session over the unresolved LNG tax bill

Long Friday in Juneau: LNG tax bill stuck, second special session called, two vetoes overridden, three failed. Round three starts Saturday.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Dunleavy called a second special session over the unresolved LNG tax bill

Alaska banned billboards. Every election, candidates test whether the law means them too.

Sign, sign, everywhere, a sign. Blockin' out the scenery. Breakin' my mind

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska banned billboards. Every election, candidates test whether the law means them too.

Wisconsin man cited for lifting king salmon on Anchor River

Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited a 19-year-old Wisconsin man for lifting a king salmon from the Anchor River and releasing it, violating an active Emergency Order requiring all kings to stay in the water.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Anchor River, Alaska
Cover image for article: Wisconsin man cited for lifting king salmon on Anchor River

Alaska passed a federal check that keeps its school funding system intact

Alaska passed a federal school funding test. Translation: the state didn't have to come up with extra money it doesn't have.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska passed a federal check that keeps its school funding system intact

Tribal groups seek $1.1M in fees after beating Alaska on Kuskokwim fishing rights

Tribal groups AVCP and Alaska Federation of Natives seek $1.1 million combined in attorneys' fees after winning a federal case that gave the U.S. government control over Kuskokwim River gillnet salmon harvests instead of Alaska.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Tribal groups seek $1.1M in fees after beating Alaska on Kuskokwim fishing rights

An escaped campfire grew to 89 acres near Sterling — cutting power and closing a road

An unextinguished campfire near Sterling grew to 89 acres, cut power, and closed Swanson River Road. Put out your campfires.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: An escaped campfire grew to 89 acres near Sterling — cutting power and closing a road

Wednesday, Jun 17

The Grandview Fire has closed Swanson River Road and burned 30 acres near Sterling

The Grandview Fire is at 30 acres near Sterling. Swanson River Road is closed, the canoe route is offline, no evacuations yet.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: The Grandview Fire has closed Swanson River Road and burned 30 acres near Sterling

Juneau's federal court office keeps closing, with no end in sight

Alaska's capital has a federal court counter. Staffing it is apparently optional — closed again this month, with no word on when it reopens.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Juneau's federal court office keeps closing, with no end in sight

Federal fishery disaster relief of $99M headed to Alaska after years of waiting

Alaska took four of every five dollars in the nation's fishery-disaster aid — and none of it has reached anyone yet, with 13 more disasters still in line.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Federal fishery disaster relief of $99M headed to Alaska after years of waiting

State asks Kenai to join disease early-warning network

Kenai City Council approved joining a statewide wastewater monitoring network that tests sewage for disease outbreaks. The state covers all equipment costs and will sample Kenai's wastewater weekly.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: State asks Kenai to join disease early-warning network

Chugach and Glenfarne Alaska LNG signed a non-binding LOI — a step, not a contract

Chugach and Glenfarne signed a non-binding letter of intent. The pipeline still hasn't broken ground. One of many Chugach hedges.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Southcentral Alaska
Cover image for article: Chugach and Glenfarne Alaska LNG signed a non-binding LOI — a step, not a contract

Alaska Senate minority demands clean floor vote on LNG tax bill

Alaska Senate Republicans demanded a floor vote on HB 381, the LNG volumetric tax bill, without amendments. • The majority has not said whether it will attach an S-corporation tax provision the minority opposes. • Minority senators cited lower energy costs as the project's main public benefit for Alaskans.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska Senate minority demands clean floor vote on LNG tax bill

Chugach is pursuing four hydroelectric projects to hedge against Cook Inlet gas decline

Chugach's gas-to-renewables shift has its first concrete entries: four hydro projects on four Southcentral creeks, 52 MW total.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Southcentral Alaska
Cover image for article: Chugach is pursuing four hydroelectric projects to hedge against Cook Inlet gas decline

A new landfill permit for Russian Mission is one piece of a much bigger Y-K Delta solid waste story

Russian Mission's getting a new landfill. The Y-K Delta solid waste story is much bigger than one permit.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: A new landfill permit for Russian Mission is one piece of a much bigger Y-K Delta solid waste story

Alyeska Seeks Land to Armor the Pipeline Against Floods

Alyeska wants more North Slope land to wall the pipeline off from flooding — the same week the rivers are rising, and a year after the Sag took out the Dalton Highway for real.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Alyeska Seeks Land to Armor the Pipeline Against Floods

About State of Alaska

State of Alaska

Photo by Bernt Rostad, via Flickr · Photo source · CC BY 2.0

alaska.gov ↗Alaska

The State of Alaska is the executive branch of Alaska state government, headed by the Governor and organized into cabinet departments. Those departments oversee education, public safety, transportation, health, commerce and natural resource management across the state.

State agencies issue permits, leases and land decisions, regulate liquor licenses and utilities, plan highway projects and rank school construction requests. Its stories return to public comment on state proposals, from roundabouts and gravel sites to water rights and the statewide transportation plan, and to the work of the Alaska State Troopers.

Boards and authorities attached to the state, such as the Board of Fisheries, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, make many of its decisions. The state also runs statewide elections and works with tribal organizations on village public safety.

More from State of Alaska

Alaska was selected for the federal CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration

Alaska's joining a federal Medicaid demo for full-service behavioral health clinics. Long overdue, given the state's gaps.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska was selected for the federal CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration

Sag River nears bankfull, threatening Dalton Highway washout

Sagavanirktok River near bankfull on North Slope threatens Dalton Highway washouts between mileposts 310 and 340 through Thursday afternoon, with ice-blocked culverts posing particular risk to the primary road serving oil fields and communities.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Sag River nears bankfull, threatening Dalton Highway washout

Legal memo says Daniel J. Sullivan appears eligible for U.S. Senate ballot

A Legislative Legal Services memo says Daniel J. Sullivan meets U.S. Constitution requirements for Senate and that the lieutenant governor likely lacked authority to reject his candidacy filing, though elections officials still list him as denied.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Legal memo says Daniel J. Sullivan appears eligible for U.S. Senate ballot

Alaska rural health asks for $2.5B; federal program has $272M to give in this cycle

Alaska rural health: $2.5 billion in requests, $272 million available. The gap is the story.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska rural health asks for $2.5B; federal program has $272M to give in this cycle

Anchorage Assembly will vote June 23 on $214,684 for a pedestrian safety campaign

Anchorage is getting $214K in federal money for pedestrian safety outreach. The city's pedestrian fatality numbers say, maybe it's overdue?

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readFrom
Cover image for article: Anchorage Assembly will vote June 23 on $214,684 for a pedestrian safety campaign

Tuesday, Jun 16

Senate Finance presses Alaska LNG spur line: who builds, who pays, who regulates

Senate Finance gets into the numbers of the LNG line in a hot and spicy day of meetings

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Cover image for article: Senate Finance presses Alaska LNG spur line: who builds, who pays, who regulates

ADF&G issues Sand Point commercial salmon fishery advisory #05

Alaska's acting attorney general voided five South Peninsula salmon rules adopted in February over ethics violations before they took effect. • Sand Point seine fleet now fishes under older rules while the Board of Fisheries decides whether to readopt the restrictions. • The voided rules would have cut fishing time and area for seine and gillnet gear in the Shumagin Islands and South Unimak.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: ADF&G issues Sand Point commercial salmon fishery advisory #05

Russian River Sanctuary opens early June 18 for sockeye season

Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset. Quickly - swim the fish.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Russian River, Alaska
Cover image for article: Russian River Sanctuary opens early June 18 for sockeye season

A federal court said it can order states to fix foster care. Alaska's case looms.

A federal court said it can order Alaska to fix foster care. Alaska's AG said please don't. Lawsuit pending.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min read
Cover image for article: A federal court said it can order states to fix foster care. Alaska's case looms.

Bristol Bay Igushik set gillnet season opens June 15 with 15-hour blocks

Bristol Bay's Igushik set gillnet season opens June 15 with 15-hour fishing blocks, kicking off the summer sockeye harvest that generates most of the region's annual catch and revenue.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Bristol Bay Igushik set gillnet season opens June 15 with 15-hour blocks

ADF&G opens youth-only fishing events across Southcentral, Southwest Alaska

ADF&G is reserving specific Southcentral and Southwest salmon waters for youth anglers this summer. • Kids 15 and under can fish without a license during these designated event windows. • Events run from June through August at locations like Ship Creek and Homer Spit.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska
Cover image for article: ADF&G opens youth-only fishing events across Southcentral, Southwest Alaska

Blake Gettys Builds LG Bid Around Personal Survival Story

Getty tries to tell Alaskans about his bio. Hughes has not been shown in the top four in any publicly available poll.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Blake Gettys Builds LG Bid Around Personal Survival Story

Monday, Jun 15

Alaska State Parks reservation change puts deadline on gift certificates

Alaska State Parks switches to a new reservation system Oct. 1, 2026, and all Reserve America gift certificates expire Sept. 30 and must be used for stays before Jan. 1, 2027.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska State Parks reservation change puts deadline on gift certificates

Federal court bars respondents from moving detainee before June 17 hearing

A federal judge blocked Alaska officials from moving a detainee out of state before a June 17 hearing in Anchorage on a habeas petition.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Federal court bars respondents from moving detainee before June 17 hearing

Senate Finance demands Phase 1 pipeline math before Alaska LNG tax vote

Senator Stedman blocked a vote on a $750 million annual tax break for Alaska LNG's Phase 1 pipeline until the Department of Revenue shows whether the project actually needs the 2-mill property tax cut to work financially.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Senate Finance demands Phase 1 pipeline math before Alaska LNG tax vote

Alaska elections office denies Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate filing

Alaska election officials denied Petersburg resident Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate candidacy, finding his filing mimicked incumbent Dan S. Sullivan's name and campaign to confuse voters.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska elections office denies Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate filing

Archangel Road opens for summer access to Reed Lakes

Archangel Road in Hatcher Pass opened for summer, restoring vehicle access to Reed Lakes Trailhead and alpine hiking. Expect rough unpaved conditions, limited parking, and weekend crowds.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Archangel Road opens for summer access to Reed Lakes

DNR, Mental Health Trust finalize MEA easements for Wasilla utility corridor

DNR and the Alaska Mental Health Trust approved easements letting Matanuska Electric Association build and maintain power lines along Church Road and Shampine Lane in Wasilla.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: DNR, Mental Health Trust finalize MEA easements for Wasilla utility corridor

Parks Highway blasting, 24-hour pilot cars through Nenana Canyon

Alaska Department of Transportation is blasting rock cuts and running 24-hour pilot cars on Parks Highway between Nenana Canyon mileposts 319 and 325, creating extended delays on the main Anchorage-Fairbanks route.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Nenana Canyon, Alaska
Cover image for article: Parks Highway blasting, 24-hour pilot cars through Nenana Canyon

Alaska releases June summer meal bulletin with fraud warning

Alaska's Department of Education released a June bulletin warning that fraud in the state's rural summer meal program, which ships food to roadless communities, undermines public confidence and jeopardizes service to children who need it most.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Alaska releases June summer meal bulletin with fraud warning

Yukon River gillnet ban hits lower river villages through July 5

Alaska closed all gillnets in lower Yukon River villages from mid-June through early July to protect Chinook and summer chum salmon stocks forecast well below average. • Closure affects Chevak, Hooper Bay, Emmonak, Alakanuk, and other communities that rely on gillnet fishing for food. • Fishers may still use dip nets, beach seines, and other gear; Chinook and chum must be released alive if caught.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Yukon River gillnet ban hits lower river villages through July 5

Alaska Supreme Court upholds ICWA termination, clarifies standards

Alaska Supreme Court upheld termination of parental rights for two Native children, clarifying courts must meet criminal-level proof and show active efforts to preserve families under federal Indian Child Welfare Act rules.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom
Alaska
Cover image for article: Alaska Supreme Court upholds ICWA termination, clarifies standards

Man believed to be Portland hiker found dead near Ketchikan's Deer Mountain Trail

A Portland hiker who called Alaska State Troopers lost near Ketchikan's Deer Mountain Trail on June 14 was found dead the next morning at the bottom of a cliff during a helicopter search.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Cover image for article: Man believed to be Portland hiker found dead near Ketchikan's Deer Mountain Trail

Ketchikan warrant service leads to three arrests at one home

Alaska State Troopers arrested Teeka Edenshaw, 35, at a Ketchikan home June 12 after she was found hiding in the attic to evade felony probation warrants. • Murphy Charles was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution for helping Edenshaw climb into the attic. • Fred Reigard, 54, was arrested for first-degree failure to register as a sex offender, a charge he had a prior conviction for in 2023.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Cover image for article: Ketchikan warrant service leads to three arrests at one home