Government
RSSAlaska News tracks coverage of Alaska government including state legislature, municipal assemblies, and state agencies addressing public policy and community.
Mat-Su would sell a sinking public safety building for $13,176
Mat-Su would sell a condemned public safety building for $13,176. Repairing it is estimated at $139,150, and nobody has said who pays for that.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage may have paid the state's traffic-signal power bill for 20 years
For 20 years, Anchorage never tracked the power cost for state-owned traffic signals, so it may have covered the state's share. Auditors flagged it before.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Fairbanks preservation panel weighs federal rule limiting its role
A federal rewrite would end requirements that agencies notify the Fairbanks borough about projects affecting historic sites. Comment opens after review.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Kodiak takes its landfill bear problem behind closed doors
Kodiak's landfill can't keep bears out, the borough could be fined for feeding wildlife, and now the Assembly is taking the bear problem behind closed doors.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Army moves to end state review of ground work at two Alaska posts
The Army wants to end the state's sign-off on ground-disturbing work at Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely. The consultation window closed Aug. 21.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Alaska lawmakers weigh whether to keep boards licensing dentists and barbers
Alaska lawmakers are weighing whether to keep the boards licensing dentists, chiropractors and barbers, and released the audits that will guide that call.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaska moves to give up nearly 59,000 acres near Parks Highway for University of Alaska
Alaska is dropping its claim to nearly 59,000 acres near the Parks Highway so the university can have it. All 13 public comments opposed the move.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Alaska will give up 5 acres on Elrington Island despite unanimous opposition
Alaska will cede 5 acres on Elrington Island to the University of Alaska. All 13 public comments opposed it, citing lost hunting and subsistence access.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly committees would consolidate under a draft from the Rules chair
Anchorage Assembly committees would consolidate and meet less often under the Rules chair's draft. Members have said the current load is too many hours.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
As a crime center vote nears, Anchorage weighs whether its privacy limits should be policy or law
Anchorage votes Sept. 1 on $600K for its police crime center. The chief says it adds no surveillance; a pending ordinance would put its privacy limits into law.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago3 min read
Kusilvak unemployment hit 16.1% in May, six times Denali Borough's rate
About one in six people in the Kusilvak labor force was unemployed in May, the highest rate in Alaska. Every high-rate region is off the road system.
by Alaska News1mo ago2 min read
Homer weighs spending $6,000 to inform voters about a road-tax measure, near a line the law draws
Homer may spend $6,000 to inform voters about renewing its road-and-trail sales tax, though the ordinance's own title admits it "may influence" the vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage holds more property-appeal hearings, as hundreds of over-assessed homes get lower valuations
Anchorage holds six more property-appeal hearings next week, as about 660 over-assessed homes get lower valuations and the appeals board nearly doubles.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly tightens absence rule in 6-1 vote
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly lowered the absence threshold to 25 percent of meetings to forfeit a seat, down from 50 percent, and now counts work sessions in that total.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
Sitka Assembly takes up a public records appeal Tuesday
A Sitka resident is appealing a records determination to the Assembly Tuesday. The agenda doesn't say what records he asked for or what he was told.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Sitka is set to confirm a fire chief who's already been doing the job
Sitka's Assembly is set to confirm Brian McLaughlin as fire chief this week, a role he already appears to have been filling for the volunteer-heavy department.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
The Alaska House gavels in and out again, taking no action in the special session
The Alaska House gaveled in and out again Tuesday, taking no action in the governor's special session, as the Republican minority presses for full sessions.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Alaska's audit watchdog gets a new leader, inheriting a fisheries probe and a new power over the governor
Alaska's audit watchdog gets a new leader as Kris Curtis retires. Mark Lundahl inherits a Board of Fisheries probe and a new power over oil-tax records.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
An Anchorage marijuana grower has to pay its back taxes before it can keep growing
An Anchorage marijuana grower owes the city about $12,761 in back taxes — and until it pays and passes an inspection, it can't fully renew its grow license.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A decade after Alaskans legalized weed, the industry is thinning out
A decade after Alaska legalized weed, the industry is thinning out, with growers folding under a decade-old tax. License renewals are due at month's end.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Bethel weighs letting its manager file lawsuits without council approval
Bethel is weighing whether to let its manager file routine lawsuits without a council vote, moving some legal authority from the elected body to city staff.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaska's main power grid is getting its first mandatory cybersecurity rules, but not for years
Alaska's main power grid is finally getting mandatory cybersecurity rules, but none takes effect until 2027 at the earliest, phasing in slowly through 2029.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A Caterpillar dealer wants to fill nearly 20 acres of south Anchorage wetlands to build a new store
A Caterpillar dealer wants to fill nearly 20 acres of south Anchorage wetlands for a store, proposing no mitigation.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Alaska may let unlicensed eye-clinic staff do routine eye care, with no set training standard
Alaska may let unlicensed eye-clinic staff do routine eye care with no set training standard — an idea that drew patient-safety objections as the law passed.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Juneau's harbor fund is near its lowest point ever, and charter boats may be asked to help fill the gap
Juneau's harbor fund is near its lowest ever after the city cut $450,000 a year, and the port may charge charter boats more per passenger to fill the gap.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Fish and Game plans to cut about 50 of its own rules by year's end
Alaska Fish and Game plans to cut about 50 of its own regulations under a Dunleavy order that supporters call streamlining and critics call gutting oversight.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly to mark Women's Equality Day tonight
For the first time, the Alaska House is majority woman, with 21 of 40 seats, a milestone an Anchorage resolution marks tonight on Women's Equality Day.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Bethel wants a Louisiana firm to audit local businesses for unpaid sales tax, without bidding
Bethel wants a Louisiana firm to audit local businesses for unpaid sales tax, with no bidding. The $19,999 cap covers only part of the work.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Juneau Assembly votes 6-3 to sell old City Hall to Sealaska Heritage Institute for $1.5 million
Juneau voted to sell its old City Hall to Sealaska Heritage for $1.5 million — for a planned $40 million Northwest Coast art-glass building downtown.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Downtown Anchorage owners face $1.15 million in assessments for services the city doesn't cover
Downtown Anchorage property owners will pay about $1.15 million this year for their own snow removal, cleaning and security. Objections are heard Sept. 15.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
The state wants to renew a rent-free landfill lease for 55 years, on land it holds in trust for a village that never became a city
The state wants a 55-year, rent-free renewal of a landfill lease on land it holds in trust for South Naknek, a village that never became a city.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Sitka's sole finalist for city administrator is gone, and the Assembly is starting over
The sole finalist Sitka introduced for city administrator last month is gone, and the Assembly interviews two new candidates Friday, with no explanation given.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
The Mental Health Trust would give up $3.2M in rent to house a nonprofit serving its beneficiaries
The Alaska Mental Health Trust would give up $3.2M in rent over a decade to house a nonprofit serving its own beneficiaries, at 1% of market rate.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaska's associate counselor license takes effect Friday, though the board's notice says otherwise
Alaska's counseling board still tells graduates the associate license isn't available. The regulations creating it take effect Friday, 13 months late.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min read
Gas tax package still off the Senate floor as the special session nears its limit
Alaska Senate held a technical session Monday with no business and will not meet again until 2 p.m. Friday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
An Anchorage cannabis grower's license hinges on a $12,761 tax bill, with tonight the deadline
An Anchorage cannabis grower could lose its license over a $12,761 tax bill, with tonight the Assembly's last meeting before the deadline to settle up.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Two seats open on Utqiagvik scholarship committee, letters due Sept. 17
Utqiagvik is seeking two volunteers for its scholarship committee, with applications due Sept. 17.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage races a deadline to build a downtown library before a grant expires
Books are books are books are books; what one sees - where one looks. Construction stories have such hooks, but books in nooks are still just books.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage tore down the Big Timber, a downtown blight a decade in the making
Anchorage tore down the Big Timber Motel last week, ending a decade-plus saga over a vacant downtown building that drew first responders for years.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Kodiak Island Borough first-half property taxes due Monday, borough page still says Saturday
Kodiak Island Borough property taxes are due Monday, August 17, not Saturday as the borough's tax page still says. Miss the deadline and you owe a 10 percent penalty plus 1 percent monthly interest.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min read
