Government
RSSAlaska News tracks coverage of Alaska government including state legislature, municipal assemblies, and state agencies addressing public policy and community.
Fairbanks subcommittee drafts new Chena River plan with freeze, salmon, and flood goals
Fairbanks subcommittee drafted a Chena River plan aiming to restore winter ice, protect floodplain infrastructure, and address water quality threats including PFAS and invasive weeds.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Alaska's new ethics law puts legal teeth behind gift-travel rules
Alaska's rewritten ethics law took effect June 24 without Dunleavy's signature. Its big change: gift-funded travel now needs a documented purpose, or you repay it.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A refusal to explain a gift-funded trip exposed a hole in Alaska's ethics rules
A legislator and a staffer took a gift-funded Arctic Winter Games trip, then wouldn't explain why — exposing that the ethics committee had no power to make them.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska's ethics committee wants out of harassment training so it can get back to ethics
Alaska's ethics committee voted to hand off harassment training, saying it's crowded out real ethics instruction. The training continues — just not under them.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
An ethics panel found probable cause that Rep. Sarah Vance misused her office to pressure a newspaper
An ethics panel found probable cause Rep. Sarah Vance used state resources to pressure the Homer News, which then pulled the article and dropped the reporter's byline.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Departing Kodiak assemblyman warns: prepare for the Coast Guard boom
Kodiak Assemblyman Dave Johnson resigned with a warning to prepare for incoming Coast Guard icebreakers and fix housing. The Assembly will appoint his replacement July 16.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage approved three ice-arena contracts. The office that oversees them has one employee.
Anchorage approved three ice-arena contracts — then admitted the office overseeing them has one employee and no finalized policy. Audits had flagged the gap before.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
The Alaska State Museum throws a free 10th-birthday party
The building that holds Alaska's museum, library, and archives turns 10 — and Juneau's invited to the free birthday party Saturday, planetarium and cake included.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
A typo froze Sutton's wild rec area for eight years. Not anymore.
An eight-year-old wording error blocked any rules for Jonesville, Sutton's anything-goes rec area — born of a fatal shooting and bullets hitting homes. Alaska just fixed it.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A New El Green-Go's Is Coming to East Anchorage
East Anchorage is getting another El Green-Go's — the liquor license has cleared every hurdle, and only a quiet July 21 deadline stands in the way.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly unanimously passes veteran-owned business preference ordinance
Anchorage Assembly unanimously passed a veteran-owned business preference for city contracts, letting qualifying vets match the lowest bid rather than automatically winning at higher cost.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage mayor introduces two property tax incentive proposals to spur housing
Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance introduced two property tax breaks Tuesday to spur housing development in the city.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska judicial watchdog names new director after 37-year tenure ends
Alaska's judicial watchdog has a new director for the first time in 37 years, and the change affects how Alaskans file complaints against judges.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly members call on Martinez to resign after APOC ruling
Two Anchorage Assembly members called on George Martinez to resign after an APOC ruling found he willfully used campaign funds for personal benefit and lied under oath.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Alaska Charges 15 in $1.8 Million Medicaid Fraud Sweep
Alaska has charged 15 people in five Medicaid fraud cases totaling $1.8 million — though every count is, for now, an allegation no court has tested.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Supreme Court narrows damages path in prison religious-rights cases
SCOTUS just made it harder for prisoners to sue individual guards for money over blocked religious practice. Alaska settled under this law in 2019.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska's candidate withdrawal deadline is June 27. After Saturday, the August 18 primary ballot is largely set
Alaska's crowded 2026 governor race faces a June 27 withdrawal deadline. With 18 tickets filed and only four primary slots available, a divided Republican field could cost the right general-election slots even if conservative voters remain numerous.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska Lowers Its Flags for Susan Sullivan
Alaska honors Susan Sullivan — who at 28 became the youngest woman ever elected to its Legislature and helped lay the groundwork for the Permanent Fund that still pays every resident.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
What the Senate Changed in the Gas-Line Deal
The Senate's gas-line rewrite caps your gas price, leashes the state's pipeline agency, and lets the boroughs pocket most of the tax money for decades before the state takes its cut.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Lab tests found alcohol in O.P.M.S. kratom drinks, and unlicensed Alaska stores are being told to stop selling them
State lab tests found O.P.M.S. kratom drinks contain enough alcohol to be regulated like beer, and unlicensed retailers across Alaska are being told to stop selling them.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Alaska's liquor-license office is buried — and says it's worse than the numbers show
Alaska's liquor-license office has a 59-deep backlog, a 1,200-renewal pile, and a memo basically saying it's worse than that. Cheers.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Homer Holds Ocean Drive Loop Tax Steady at 1 Mill
Homer's Ocean Drive Loop district keeps its tax rate exactly where it was — a rare local-government act of leaving well enough alone.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Alaska Municipal League wants federal government to withdraw proposed grant overhaul
Alaska gets $11 billion in federal grants. Proposed federal rules would let agencies cancel them at will. AML wants the rule withdrawn.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Kodiak Set Its Taxes — Now It Has to Send the Bills
Kodiak Island Borough must send property tax bills by July 1 but its new Tyler Technologies system may not be ready, leaving staff ready to fall back to the old one.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
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.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Von Imhof Launches Anchorage Mayoral Bid With 'Fix and Grow' Platform
Former state senator Natasha Von Imhof launched a campaign for Anchorage mayor against incumbent Suzanne LaFrance. The election is scheduled for April 6, 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's hockey community moves to take over its own arenas for $10 a year
Anchorage hockey is buying back its own rinks for $10 a year — and inheriting the maintenance bill that comes with them.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly takes up wipes ban in city sewers June 23
Anchorage Assembly takes a first reading June 23 on an ordinance banning all disposable wipes from city sewers, with fines up to $1,000 per violation.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Juneau clerk certifies 1% seasonal sales tax petition, Assembly has 45 days to act
Juneau citizens got a 1% seasonal sales tax to the brink of the ballot. The Assembly has 45 days to pass it or let voters do it.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
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
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
AML urges OMB to withdraw proposed federal grant overhaul
Alaska Municipal League asked the federal Office of Management and Budget on June 9 to withdraw proposed changes to grant rules, warning the overhaul would increase costs and risks for Alaska cities and rural boroughs if finalized this fall.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
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.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly considers removing duplicative child care licensing rules
Anchorage is moving to repeal four child care licensing rules and amend three more, arguing they duplicate state standards or have not worked, in hopes of easing a chronic shortage of child care centers.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage commission to review mayor's salary for first time since 2020
Anchorage's Commission on Salaries and Emoluments voted Tuesday to review the mayor's $145,392 annual salary for the first time since 2020, after noting some unionized city employees now earn more than their boss.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
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.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago3 min read
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.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage raises veteran bid preference cap to $50,000
Anchorage Assembly approved a new veteran-owned business bid preference capped at $50,000 and simplified local bidder preferences, effective July 1, 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Both cranes on Cordova's Drive Down Dock are out of service at the height of Copper River salmon season
Bad timing for fishing season as Cordova Drive down dock crane is not up to snuff
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Alaska Senate race shifts to toss-up as Peltola challenges Sullivan
A nonpartisan forecaster moved Alaska's 2026 Senate race to toss-up, citing Democrat Mary Peltola's strong 2024 House showing and Republican Dan Sullivan's weak profile, though Alaska remains solidly Republican.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Homer Council picks partial HERC demolition over full cleanup
Homer City Council voted May 26 to demolish the smaller HERC 2 building at the city-owned Education and Recreation Complex but skip cleanup of the larger former high school building, using $126,917 already set aside for the demolition.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
