Politics & Government
RSSPolitics & Government in Alaska is the activity of state and local elections, lawmaking and public administration. It covers campaigns, ballot measures, ethics and campaign finance, legislative and executive action, and municipal and borough council decisions across Alaska communities.
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Saturday, Oct 24
Alaska may drop 58 education rules, including a 90-day charter school deadline
The state school board wants comment on scrapping 58 education rules, including a 90-day charter school deadline and how library grants are split up.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readFrom 
Skeetawk gondola tops Mat-Su's $3.33 million list of community projects
A mile-long gondola at Hatcher Pass's Skeetawk ski area tops the community project list Mat-Su planners sent to the Assembly. Funding isn't promised.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min readFrom 
Murkowski says Justice Department shouldn't have sued over two Sullivans
Murkowski says the Justice Department never should have sued over Alaska's two Senate Sullivans. Alaskans can pick their own candidate, she says.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Three candidates for governor pledge tribal affairs offices or liaisons at AFN forum
Three governor candidates told AFN delegates they'd add tribal affairs offices, advisors or liaisons to state government. Bernadette Wilson didn't take part.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Kodiak school board names Damon Hargraves superintendent on one-year contract
Kodiak's school board gave acting superintendent Damon Hargraves the job Monday on a one-year contract. He's the third person to lead the district this year.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Bethel residents press for higher firefighter pay as union contract talks continue
Six Bethel residents asked the council to pay firefighters more, as union talks continue and the fire department prepares for staffing reductions.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readFrom 
Friday, Oct 23
Judge rules Dahlstrom couldn't override APOC on Tagle, a move she also made for Taylor
A judge ruled Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom couldn't override APOC's finding against Jose Tagle. She overrode its finding against Treg Taylor the very same day.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Alaskans can drop off unused prescription drugs Saturday at DEA take-back sites
DEA and Alaska troopers host a no questions asked prescription drug take back day Saturday 10am to 2pm at seven sites statewide.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
More from Politics & Government
Troopers arrest man, 52, after exhuming two stabbed dogs in Anchor Point
Troopers arrested a 52 year old Anchor Point man Friday after exhuming two buried dogs with stab wounds to the head and neck.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
State budget sends $24.3 million to fix up Mt. Edgecumbe's aging Sitka campus
Mt. Edgecumbe is getting $24.3 million in state money to fix up a Sitka campus whose dorms include World War II barracks, plus new mattresses and washers.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Valdez budget proposal sets aside $6.5 million for special litigation
Valdez's proposed 2027 budget sets aside $6.5 million for special litigation, out of $7.5 million for legal costs. The presentation doesn't say which cases.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Anchorage fire chief expects two recruit academies in 2027 as about 50 can retire
Anchorage's fire chief expects two recruit academies in 2027 as about 50 firefighters can retire. Even that may fall short, and a third costs about $2 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Anchorage budget office lists pool closures and bus cuts as possible options for 2028 gap
Anchorage budget office outlined cuts that could close a $15 to $30 million 2028 gap. • Options include closing 3 pools, cutting a bus route and axing 21 police community officer jobs. • None are in the 2027 budget. Assembly votes Nov. 17.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Nome loses power citywide during storm after generator shuts down with second unit offline
Nome lost power citywide during Friday's storm when one generator shut itself down while another was offline for maintenance. State offices let workers go.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Justice Department sues to hold up Alaska Senate result if second Sullivan tips the race
The Justice Department sued Alaska to hold up the Senate result if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and votes for the other Daniel Sullivan would have flipped it.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Sitka Assembly weighs asking voters for a summer sales tax bump to fund child care
Sitka may ask summer shoppers to chip in a nickel per $10 for child care, with voters deciding in February whether to raise the summer sales tax to 6.5%.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
About Politics & Government
Politics and government in Alaska takes in state and local elections, lawmaking and public administration. It covers campaigns, ballot measures, campaign finance, legislative and executive action, and decisions by municipal assemblies and borough and city councils.
Recurring questions include how campaigns are funded and who pays for outside spending and political messages, which candidates qualify for the ballot, and how state agencies write and repeal regulations. Local governments such as the Anchorage Assembly and the Ketchikan assembly weigh spending on roads, water systems and police programs.
The subject reaches across the Legislature, state agencies and municipal governments. Advisory boards and councils that take public comment on matters such as state parks and disability policy are part of it as well.
More from Politics & Government
Eric Forrer and former Rep. David Eastman sue Dunleavy and DNR in Juneau Superior Court
Eric Forrer and ex-Rep. David Eastman sued Dunleavy, the state and DNR in Juneau. What they want is anyone's guess; the complaint isn't online.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Justice Pate tells AFN he knows of no Alaska Native judge since Roy Madsen
Justice Jude Pate told AFN that, to his knowledge, Alaska hasn't had an Alaska Native judge since Roy Madsen, and laid out how the courts hope to change that.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read
Groups backing Bill Hill spend more than $400,000 urging Alaskans not to rank Eric Hafner
Two groups backing independent Bill Hill have spent nearly $400,000 on ads attacking Democrat Eric Hafner in Alaska's US House race.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Seward council takes up moving city elections to November, starting in 2027
Seward council holds a public hearing Monday on moving city elections to November, enabling a November 2027 vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Thursday, Oct 22
Palmer's budget plan holds taxes flat and skips a required capital transfer
Palmer's 2027 budget plan holds property taxes and utility rates flat. It also skips $943,402 for capital projects that city code says must be set aside.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Kodiak council splits over closed-door legal advice on how to hire next city manager
Kodiak's council argued over whether to talk privately with its lawyer about how to hire a city manager, after residents asked it to keep the talk public.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read
Fixes are out for serious flaws in software behind dozens of Alaska websites
PHP fixed two flaws that can let hackers take over web servers, no password needed. Dozens of Alaska websites use PHP. Whether they've patched isn't public.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
One person dies in a second-alarm fire at a gated Midtown Anchorage condo complex
One person died in a second-alarm fire at a gated Midtown Anchorage condo complex Thursday. Police evacuated residents door to door as 31 fire units responded.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Trump says his side weighs legal options to remove second Sullivan from Alaska ballot
Trump says he's weighing "powerful legal options" to pull the second Dan Sullivan off Alaska's Senate ballot. Alaskans are already voting on it.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read
Lieutenant governor candidates vow to carry out Ballot Measure 2, split on what comes next
Three lieutenant governor hopefuls promised to run Ballot Measure 2 whichever way it goes, then split on fixing rural voting and the first job they'd want.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago4 min read
Fairbanks state office building closes again, this time for a water shutoff
The state office building at 455 3rd Ave. in Fairbanks closed again Thursday, this time for a water shutoff. It's at least the fourth closure since December.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Anchorage approves $1.23 million for two fire tenders to replace aging trucks
Anchorage is buying two new water tenders for $1.23 million to replace trucks older than 25 years, though the new ones could take about 20 months to arrive.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Bethel council to consider backing AVCP plan for a regional emergency response system
Bethel's mayor wants the City Council to back AVCP's plan for a tribally led public safety and emergency response system for Western Alaska, hub in Bethel.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Bethel council to hear plan for statewide commission to collect taxes on platform sales
Bethel may hand a statewide commission the job of collecting its sales and bed taxes on lodging, delivery and travel sold through online platforms.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Anchorage superintendent says April school bond should stay under $60 million
Anchorage schools chief Jharrett Bryantt wants April's bond kept under $60 million, despite $136 million in identified projects. Voters rejected a $79 million bond last April.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
State aging commission asks Juneau seniors Oct. 29 what its next plan should prioritize
The state wants Juneau seniors to tell it what matters most before it writes its next senior services plan, and it's asking in person Oct. 29 in the Valley.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Wasilla council to vote Monday on a plan to fill Mayor Rubeo's old council seat
Wasilla's council votes Monday on how to fill the seat Mayor Alina Rubeo left behind. Applications would open Nov. 9, with interviews after Thanksgiving.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Wednesday, Oct 21
Federal judge convicts Brian Smith, serving time for two murders, of lying to get citizenship
A federal judge in Anchorage convicted Brian Smith, already serving 226 years for murdering two women, of lying on his citizenship bid.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Legal group drops deadline claim, asks judge to keep Judicial Council records suit alive
A D.C. legal group dropped the 10-day deadline its records suit against the Alaska Judicial Council leaned on, but told a judge the council still took too long.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Skagway draft budget would more than double the clinic's sales tax subsidy to $4.3 million
Skagway's manager would send the town clinic $4.3 million in sales tax next year, more than double, as temp provider costs climb and clinic revenue drops.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom 
Cordova council brings back $2 monthly 911 surcharge to help dispatchers find callers
Cordova is bringing back a $2 monthly charge per phone line to help 911 dispatchers find callers. For some low-income customers, that triples the bill.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read
Cordova council weighs charging nonprofits for city recreation facilities
Cordova lets nonprofits use about $45,000 a year in city facilities for free. The council talked about charging them Wednesday, then decided to keep thinking.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Cordova council backs carrying $1 million in unexpected revenue into 2027
Cordova got $1.6 million it never budgeted. The council wants to save about $1 million of it for 2027, when fish tax is expected to be "unprecedentedly low."
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Police find no bombs after threats to five Anchorage schools; three campuses evacuated
Bomb threats were called in to five Anchorage schools Wednesday, and three evacuated. Police found no evidence of a bomb and believe the threats are unfounded.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
