Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
IRS asked to Investigate Funder for SalmonState and Alaska Venture Fund
A watchdog group asked the IRS to investigate whether New Venture Fund's fiscal sponsorship of SalmonState and Alaska Venture Fund violates tax-exempt charity rules.
by AlaskaPolicyVoice1d ago3 min readAnchorage orders outside police use-of-force review after sixth officer-involved shooting this year
Anchorage will hire an outside investigator to review police use of force after an officer shot someone on Debarr Road, the sixth officer-involved shooting in the city this year.
by Walter AlaskaNews22h ago2 min readAI
Troopers arrest Charles Yingst in Big Lake on warrants topping $2 million
Alaska State Troopers arrested Charles Yingst in Big Lake on Wednesday on warrants totaling more than $2 million for fraud and escape charges.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago1 min readAI
Troopers arrest man in Glennallen on no-bail federal warrant from heroin case
Alaska State Troopers arrested Eric Lackey in Glennallen on a federal no-bail warrant for a probation violation tied to heroin sales.
by Walter AlaskaNews10h ago1 min readAI
The NRA gives Begich an F and three Republican tickets A+
The NRA's political arm gave the ticket of leading Alaska governor candidate Tom Begich an F and three Republican tickets A+ in its new primary grades.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Alaska 511 logs a fire investigation labeled EAGLE with coordinates near Juneau, not Eagle
Alaska 511 opened a wildfire investigation near Eagle on Thursday with no acreage or cause confirmed yet.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago1 min readAITroopers arrest Unalakleet man on child sexual abuse and burglary charges
Troopers arrested a 22-year-old Unalakleet man Monday on charges of child sexual abuse and burglary after residents found an unclothed minor in their home July 25. Bail is set at $200,000.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readAIWasilla woman charged in storage-unit burglary that netted stolen firearms
A Wasilla woman faces 14 counts in a December storage-unit burglary that took multiple firearms, troopers say — with an accomplice still at large.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago1 min readAI
Soldotna man arrested nearly two months after report he exposed himself to two minors
Alaska State Troopers arrested a 23-year-old Soldotna man Thursday, nearly two months after a report that he exposed himself to two minors.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
Kasilof man under sexual abuse investigation dies of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound
Alaska State Troopers said an adult male suspect in a July report of sexual abuse of a minor near Kasilof was found dead Thursday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, after confessing to a relative. He died before investigators arrived.
by Walter AlaskaNews22h ago1 min readAI
Troopers arrest nine on drug charges during Salmonfest in Ninilchik
Troopers arrested nine at Salmonfest, eight on felony drug distribution charges, though the dispatch names no one and gives no drug quantities.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Palmer man accused of DUI after forcing officer off Parks Highway
Alaska State Troopers arrested a Palmer man on a DUI charge after his vehicle forced a Wasilla police officer off the Parks Highway near Palmer on Tuesday night, August 11.
by Walter AlaskaNews1d ago1 min readAI
Smokejumpers contained the McCloud Fire at one acre, and found a lost person during the initial attack
Eight smokejumpers and two helicopters responded Wednesday to a half-acre fire burning 12.5 miles west of Fox, with no structures threatened.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2d ago1 min readAI
The AI money came first. The data center moratorium came Thursday.
Days after AI money turned up in his filings, Kreiss-Tomkins called for a data center moratorium — one a governor has no power to directly impose.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAI
Sullivan joins a national fight to strip California of its power to set tougher emissions rules
Sullivan has joined a national push to strip California of its power to set tougher emissions rules — a fight reaching 17 states, and one courts may decide.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readAI
Senate passes Russia sanctions bill 86-11; Murkowski and Sullivan vote yes
Senate passes Russia sanctions bill 86-11 with Murkowski and Sullivan voting yes, clearing the way for tariffs up to 500% on Russian goods and targeting energy sales to China and India.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Big Lake man arrested on seven sexual assault counts in Wasilla case
A 62-year-old Big Lake man was arrested Thursday on seven sexual assault counts stemming from a case first reported in May 2025, more than a year before the grand jury indictment.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
Two men found shot dead inside east Anchorage home; police not seeking more suspects
Anchorage police found two adult males dead from gunshot wounds inside a residence in the 8000 block of East 5th Avenue early Tuesday. APD says the shooting was isolated and detectives are not seeking additional suspects.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAI
Murkowski says she will vote against Blanche for attorney general
Sen. Lisa Murkowski will vote against Todd Blanche for attorney general, citing politicization of the Justice Department and concerns about a nearly 2 billion dollar fund.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Two arrested after reported armed robbery at Big Lake campground
Alaska State Troopers arrested two Anchorage residents after three campers were robbed at gunpoint at Northshore Campground in Big Lake early Wednesday, Aug. 12.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago1 min readAI
Tatlanika Fire smoke reaches Fairbanks, 39 miles away
Smoke from the Tatlanika Fire, burning 982 acres 39 miles southwest of Fairbanks, is now visible in Fairbanks and Nenana, though no structures are threatened in its limited-response zone.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Palmer man arrested on DUI, refusal and 2021 warrant after Palmer-Wasilla Highway report
State Troopers arrested a Palmer man on DUI and refusal charges after a swerving report on Palmer-Wasilla Highway, and also served a 2021 warrant for DUI and weapons misconduct.
by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago1 min readAI
Burn permits suspended in Fairbanks, Delta and Tok areas
Alaska Division of Forestry suspended burn permits in Fairbanks, Delta and Tok areas starting Wednesday due to critical fire conditions, with no end date set.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2d ago4 min readAI
Crews deploy to protect Native allotment near Tatlanika Fire
A remote Alaska fire left to burn has grown nearly 30-fold to 28,168 acres and now threatens a single Native allotment, drawing 14 firefighters to protect it.
by Maggie AlaskaNews6d ago1 min readAI
Big Lake man charged with 21 theft counts after Mat-Su traffic stop
Big Lake man Jonathan Meeks faces 25 criminal counts after troopers found stolen credit cards, IDs, checks and prescription drugs in his impounded vehicle.
by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago1 min readAI
Pollock fleet holds an Anchorage job fair days before a bycatch-shaped election
Days before the final vote, the Bering Sea pollock fleet holds an Anchorage job fair — as salmon bycatch, and a new mandatory chum cap, roil the 2026 campaign.
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago3 min readAI
Alaska's Senate race is on pace to shatter spending records — before a primary that decides nothing
Both certain to advance, Sullivan and Peltola are already spending at a record pace — because Alaska's seat could decide control of the U.S. Senate.
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Troopers arrest Big Lake driver after pursuit on Beaver Lake Road
State Troopers arrested Jonathan Ooten after he fled in a blue Ford Escape on Beaver Lake Road in Big Lake, running a stop sign at over 50 mph on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago1 min readAI
Senate panel advances Crow coal land swap 6-5, rejects four amendments
Senate panel voted 6-5 to advance a Montana coal land swap giving the Crow Tribe mineral rights in exchange for federal parcels, but skipping environmental review.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Peltola's campaign made a video game, not so subtle attack on Sullivan
Mary Peltola's campaign built a browser game where you play a salmon dodging trawler nets. Subtle it is not.
by Bill AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAI
Thirteen Iran war powers votes this year, thirteen noes from Sullivan, two weeks before his primary
VoteVets Action Fund plans to spend $225,000 on TV ads against Sen. Dan Sullivan over his votes against measures to limit Trump's authority on Iran, with Alaska's primary less than two weeks away.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readAI
Alaska's senators split as Senate confirms Blanche 50-49
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general 50-49 Saturday, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski voting no and Sen. Dan Sullivan voting yes.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min readAI
Sullivan files resolution to overturn EPA decision on California at-berth ship emissions
Sullivan filed a resolution to block California's at-berth ship emissions rule — one that could limit the state's power to set tougher emissions rules.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Bartlett hospital recruiting four directors at once among 29 openings
Bartlett Regional Hospital is recruiting four directors at once and 29 positions total, the most of any Juneau employer on the state's weekly job list.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
Blanche brought Alaska $180 million. He may need Murkowski's vote.
Todd Blanche handed Anchorage the biggest settlement in its history this month. Now he needs Senate votes, and Murkowski hasn't said where she stands.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAI
Kodiak woman, 71, arrested for DUI after crash into parked wildlife trooper vehicle
Uh-oh. I think there's a modest mouse song about this...'Float on' maybe?
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1w ago1 min readAI
Fairbanks man killed after trooper opens fire during early-morning pursuit
Alaska State Trooper shot and killed a man in Fairbanks early Monday after a 90-second vehicle pursuit ended on a dead-end street and the driver turned toward the officer. • This is the second officer-involved fatality in Fairbanks in two weeks. • The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation; the Office of Special Prosecutions will independently review findings.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Kodiak moves to bump standby pay for police as staffing runs tight
Kodiak would raise police standby pay from two hours to three, citing tight staffing and heavy reliance on officers staying on call. The council votes Thursday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
A man is charged with sexually abusing a minor near Soldotna in 2019
A man who once lived near Soldotna is charged with a 2019 sexual abuse of a minor, in a case troopers opened in 2025 after a report of past abuse.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAIMurkowski and Sullivan vote to advance an African trade bill
The Senate voted 89-4 Monday to advance a bill extending African trade benefits, with Alaska senators Murkowski and Sullivan both supporting it.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI