Politics & Government

Troopers say they suspect no foul play in death of 75-year-old Saxman woman

Ann McEachern, 75, died Saturday at her Saxman home after medics could not revive her. Alaska State Troopers say they do not suspect foul play.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Fairbanks panel upholds euthanasia order for a German shepherd reported 26 times

A Fairbanks panel voted 8-1 to uphold an order to euthanize Shadow, a German shepherd with years of complaints. The man he bit didn't want him put down.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Fairbanks borough commission to hear appeal for German shepherd ordered euthanized after bite

Petersburg spent $1,122 in public money promoting its sales tax cap proposition

Petersburg spent $1,122 in public money on ads for its own sales tax hike, which lost by 14 votes. State law sets a specific bar for that spending.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Judge fast-tracks Peltola campaign's bid to dismiss DOJ's Alaska Senate suit

A federal judge fast-tracked the Peltola campaign's bid to join and dismiss DOJ's Alaska Senate suit. She plans to rule Wednesday on who can join.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Peltola and voter groups move to fight DOJ's suit to block Alaska certification

JBER airmen spend 54 hours testing long-range radio in an international contest

JBER airmen spent 54 hours trying to raise bases as far off as Iraq and New Zealand, with no satellites or internet, in an international radio contest.

by Melinda Communities.News2w ago2 min readFrom Oct 20

Anchorage police seek missing 10-year-old twins last seen near East Northern Lights

Anchorage police are searching for missing 10 year old twins Josiah and Joshua Wright, last seen near East Northern Lights Boulevard Monday. Anyone with information is asked to call Dispatch at 311.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

DNR commissioner says governor's office worked 'very closely' on land transfers to AIDEA

DNR's commissioner says the governor's office worked "very closely" on land transfers, including 20,000 free acres for AIDEA, after sending redacted records.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Sitka to close downtown Lincoln Street for Halloween trick-or-treating

Sitka closes Lincoln Street downtown from 3 to 6 pm on Halloween for trick-or-treating. Cars left inside the closure stay put until the crowd clears.

by Alaska News2w ago1 min read

Kodiak council to discuss next steps in city manager hire with 27 applications in hand

Kodiak has 27 people wanting to be city manager and a looser rule on where they can live. Thursday, the council starts working out how to pick one.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Kodiak council splits over closed-door legal advice on how to hire next city manager

Unit 13 moose closure on BLM land takes effect Tuesday, six months after the vote

A closure of Unit 13 BLM land to moose hunters who aren't federally qualified takes effect Tuesday, six months after the vote and after this year's hunt.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Federal board declined to start Unit 13 moose closure early as rule stays unpublished

Troopers arrest Shungnak man after shooting puts the village on lockdown

Troopers arrested a Shungnak man, 23, on assault and weapons charges after a Sunday shooting put the village on lockdown. The injuries weren't life-threatening.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Anchorage administration tallies $31 million for shelter, outreach and crisis care

Anchorage's mayor tallies $31.26 million for shelter, outreach and crisis care next year. The Assembly chair says not all of that is homelessness spending.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago4 min read

Fairbanks adopts flood maps that take about 2,900 buildings out of the high-risk zone

Fairbanks adopted new flood maps that take about 2,900 buildings out of the high-risk zone and put about 540 in. Salcha comes out ahead; Moose Creek doesn't.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readFrom Oct 22

Troopers recover stolen snow machine, pickup and camper after Fairbanks burglary

Troopers recovered a stolen snow machine, pickup and camper worth $50,000 after a Fairbanks burglary Saturday. The case remains under investigation.

by Alaska News2w ago1 min read

New aging committee starts on Alaska's plan for Older Americans Act money

A new committee meets Nov. 2 to help guide Alaska's next four-year senior services plan, which divides Older Americans Act money. Juneau seniors speak Oct. 29.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: State aging commission asks Juneau seniors Oct. 29 what its next plan should prioritize

Kodiak commission will redo its vote on museums' lease plan for the Griffin building

Kodiak's preservation panel said two museums' plan fits its design intent for the old Griffin hospital. An alternate made the motion, so it's voting again.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Juneau manager seeks $7.4 million more for Bartlett hospital's finished budget year

Juneau's city manager wants another $7.4 million in spending authority for Bartlett hospital for a year that's already over, on top of $12 million in July.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Cook moves Alaska's U.S. House race to Lean Republican as a new poll shows a closer race

Cook Political Report moved Alaska's House race from Likely to Lean Republican. Begich is still favored, but a new poll has Hill within 2 in the final round.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

No on 2 spends $2.1 million in about 10 days as the ranked choice vote nears

The campaign to keep ranked choice voting spent $2.09 million in about 10 days, mostly on ads. The repeal side spent $242,000. Voters decide Nov. 3.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Palmer council may meet in closed session Tuesday on an ethics complaint

Palmer's council may close the doors Tuesday to discuss an ethics complaint. What it alleges, and about whom, isn't in the 212-page meeting packet.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Peltola taken to hospital after Anchorage crash; Fairbanks, Bethel stops moved

A driver rear-ended Mary Peltola's car Saturday as she headed to the AFN banquet. She and her family had minor injuries, and two campaign stops are being moved.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Review finds errors in about 1 in 4 Kodiak moorage charges it checked

Consultants found errors in about a quarter of the Kodiak moorage charges they checked, some too high, some too low. The harbor is focusing on credits.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Kodiak harbor board weighs requiring boat insurance after uninsured sinkings

Kodiak's harbor board keeps working Tuesday on making boats carry insurance, after uninsured sinkings left the city and other harbor users holding the bill.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Homer mayor's budget code proposal drops off Monday's council agendas

Homer's mayor has proposed changing the city's budget code. It isn't on either of Monday's final City Council agendas, and the agendas don't say why.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Draft paper argues against prorating part-time years for retiree health accounts

A draft paper before a state pension board committee argues part-time public workers' years shouldn't count as fractions toward keeping retiree health accounts.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Nome council votes Monday on asking Congress to restore harbor dredging money

Nome wants Congress to find 2027 money for dredging its harbor channel. Kawerak, meanwhile, wants the council's support for a seabed mining moratorium.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Haines would lease the old Mosquito Lake school to a nonprofit for $58.80 a year

The Haines Assembly is weighing leasing the old Mosquito Lake school to a nonprofit for $58.80 a year. The posted lease says $58.80 per square foot.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

DEC repeals rules for sanitation grants lawmakers stopped funding in 2017

Alaska DEC repealed the rules for a community sanitation grant program lawmakers stopped funding in 2017. The cut counts toward its rule-reduction goal.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readFrom Oct 21

Anchorage parks would trade 32 seasonal jobs for nine year-round positions

Anchorage Parks and Recreation would cut 32 seasonal jobs and add nine full-time positions in 2027, and move its Healthy Spaces camp cleanup crew onto its budget.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Douglas Island board was set to hear an update on restoring Lawson Creek cemeteries

A volunteer leader was set to update Juneau's Douglas Island board on restoring 9 Treadwell-era Lawson Creek cemeteries. The city says it lacks funds to maintain the 514 graves itself.

by Alaska News2w ago2 min readFrom Oct 21

University of Alaska draft budget seeks $31.4 million more and new student housing

A University of Alaska draft budget would ask the state for $31.4 million more to run its campuses, plus money for two new UAA dorms. Regents vote Nov. 6.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Alaska DEC proposes letting some construction start before air permits are issued

Alaska DEC proposed letting companies start building industrial sites before air permits are issued, aimed at short North Slope construction seasons. Public comments are due Dec. 11.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Trump calls Murkowski a disgrace and urges Alaskans to repeal ranked-choice voting

Trump called Murkowski a disgrace for knocking DOJ's Alaska lawsuit and told Alaskans to vote yes on repealing ranked choice.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Peltola and voter groups move to fight DOJ's suit to block Alaska certification

Peltola's campaign and voter groups want in on DOJ's Alaska certification suit. Blanche says DOJ isn't trying to stop certification. The suit says otherwise.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago4 min read

Follows: Justice Department sues to hold up Alaska Senate result if second Sullivan tips the race

Seward proposes a 6% summer-only sales tax and a property tax cut for fiscal 2028

Seward's proposed fiscal 2028 budget would swap the year-round 4% sales tax for 6% in summer, none in winter, and cut property tax by 1 mill.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Soldotna opens a student seat on its Planning and Zoning Commission

Soldotna wants a student on its Planning and Zoning Commission. The student gets a vote that's recorded but doesn't count, and can't make motions.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Huna Totem group and a global port operator bid to run Haines' cruise dock

A Huna Totem venture and a global port operator both want to run Haines' cruise dock. The Assembly decides Tuesday whether to take until January to weigh them.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Palmer council will vote on $960,509 more for new library's second floor and kitchen

Palmer's council votes Tuesday on $960,509 more to finish the new library's second floor and build a bigger kitchen. Shoppers already pay a library tax.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Juneau police become first Alaska agency in Georgetown peer-intervention program

Juneau police say they're first in Alaska to join Georgetown's ABLE program, training officers to step in on colleagues. Georgetown is testing whether it works.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Fairbanks advisory committee to elect seven, with Ambler no-hunting corridor on agenda

Fairbanks' fish and game advisory committee elects seven members Nov. 11, then turns to the Ambler Road no-hunting corridor it already voted 13-0 against.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read