Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Driver unidentified after crash at Old Murphy Dome Road and Elliot Highway near Fairbanks
Driver unidentified after crash at Old Murphy Dome Road and Elliot Highway near Fairbanks
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Juneau's new flood evacuation maps were in use within a month
Juneau updated its Mendenhall Valley evacuation maps in July. By mid-August residents were being told to leave, as the river hit major flood stage again.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Alaska wants to change how it measures edible pot strength — and some legal products may not pass
Alaska wants to change how it measures edible pot strength — and the new math could push products legal today over the limit, without the products changing.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Troopers arrest two after 4-wheeler pursuit near Wasilla's Sage Road
Alaska State Troopers arrested two people after a four-wheeler fled near Wasilla on Wednesday night, one wanted on an outstanding warrant.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Before you head out this fall, tell someone where you are going
Leave a trip plan before you head out, Tanana Chiefs Conference says. Volunteer crews searching 235,000 square miles need to know where to look.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Alaska raised the age of consent, and school districts have new duties
Alaska raised the age of consent to 18 in July. School districts now must report such conduct to police, notify parents, and file with the state.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago2 min read
The Nulato Hills Crew fights fire with hand tools, from five villages
BLM awarded Nulato Hills Enterprises a second $495,000 contract to run a seasonal wildland fire crew through March 2031, drawing firefighters from five Interior villages.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Fourteen states weighed in on whether an Alaskan belonged on Alaska's ballot
Fourteen states, the Alaska GOP and a national election law group filed briefs against a Petersburg man's candidacy. Two Alaskans filed for him, on their own.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
A decade in, Alaska's marijuana industry is squeezed by taxes as the state rewrites the rules
A decade in, Alaska's marijuana industry is squeezed by taxes and falling prices. Operators owe millions in back taxes as the state rewrites the rules.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago3 min read
Alaska's smallest fire year since 1995 was also one of its most destructive
Alaska's quietest fire season in 30 years still took 50 homes at Tok, in a fire a climate specialist calls among the most destructive in state history.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago2 min read
Fifty homes destroyed at Tok in Alaska's lightest burn year since 1995
The Mukluk Fire destroyed more than 40 homes at Tok during Alaska's lightest burn year since 1995, making it one of the most destructive fires in state history despite record-low statewide acreage.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago2 min read
The Permanent Fund earned $8.2 billion and none of it went into protected principal
The Permanent Fund earned $8.2 billion last year and moved none of it into the part of the fund Alaskans cannot spend. That is two years running.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Juneau weighs taxing nonprofit sales to help close its budget gap
Juneau is weighing whether nonprofits should pay sales tax like small businesses — a move that could raise $3.3 million but squeeze groups like the symphony.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Kodiak's school board has met four times over something it will not name
Kodiak's school board has met four times in 18 days on a personnel matter identified only as "KAP," entirely in closed session, with no minutes published.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Anchorage's next mayor to earn about $183,000, a 26 percent raise
Anchorage's next mayor will make about $183,000, a 26 percent raise — though it won't take effect until whoever wins the April 2027 election.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago1 min read
Troopers search by air and ground for missing hunter near Halibut Cove
Alaska State Troopers are searching by air and ground near Halibut Cove for a solo hunter who stopped communicating with his wife Monday evening and has not been found.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Bethel council to take up a holiday rescheduling rule, in a code section that does not set meeting dates
Bethel's city council could reschedule meetings that fall on holidays under an ordinance introduced Tuesday, Sept. 8.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Wasilla man arrested at Anchorage courthouse on sexual abuse warrant
A 59-year-old Wasilla man was arrested Sept. 1 on an outstanding warrant and faces multiple counts of second- and third-degree sexual abuse of a minor.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
More than 200 turn out in Fairbanks to question Alaska's governor candidates
More than 200 people turned out in Fairbanks to grill Alaska's governor candidates at a nonpartisan Native Vote mixer ahead of the primary vote.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago1 min read
Unalaska raises the audit threshold for its nonprofit grant recipients
Unalaska has raised the audit threshold for nonprofit grantees to $40,000, after one grantee said audit costs ate roughly 13 percent of its city award.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago2 min read
Mat-Su explores building the troopers a new home and leasing it back
Mat-Su is exploring building troopers a $13 million facility and leasing it back. Troopers now work from six buildings never designed for police work.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Kodiak Assembly takes up its vacancy rewrite Thursday, with the public hearing Sept. 17
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly will introduce Thursday an ordinance that would start the clock for filling vacant seats the day a resignation is accepted and allow electronic applications.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Districts learned about $115 million after school had already started
Alaska school districts learned they were getting $115 million the day after school started, because the money depended on oil revenue counted Aug. 31.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago2 min read
Anchorage school district proposes splitting $32 million in one-time state money
Anchorage schools will split $32 million in one-time state money, spending more than half this year and saving the rest to shrink a $40 million deficit expected next summer.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Juneau Assembly votes 6-3 to sell old City Hall to Sealaska Heritage Institute
Juneau took Sealaska Heritage Institute's $1.5 million for its old City Hall instead of seeking bids at $2.5 million. Nobody has appraised the building.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Fifteen Anchorage Assembly members will have their spending accounts examined in a 9-2 vote
Fifteen Anchorage Assembly members will have their $24,000 spending accounts examined. Nobody will be required to answer the findings in writing.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Two candidates file on the last day for Kenai Peninsula Borough offices
Two more candidates filed on the last day for Kenai Peninsula Borough offices, including one seeking an Assembly seat that has been sitting vacant.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
Anchorage's surplus school buildings could bring in money, the district says
Anchorage school officials say surplus buildings could generate revenue, among them Campbell STEM, closed in February and the subject of a dismissed lawsuit.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Dunleavy vetoed a faculty seat on the board that governs the University of Alaska
Dunleavy vetoed a faculty seat on the University of Alaska's governing board, citing conflicts of interest. The board already seats a student.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago2 min read
Alaska child care providers must file rates under categories the state has not adopted
Child care providers accepting state subsidies must report all rates in Alaska's AKCCIS portal by Sept. 30 or lose their program standing.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Motorcyclist critically injured in Kalifornsky Beach Road crash near Kasilof
A motorcyclist struck a turning pickup truck on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kasilof on Monday and was flown to Seattle with life-threatening injuries.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
An Anchorage man will serve 20 years for abusing a 4-year-old relative
Judge Peterson sentenced Jose Dominguez Ballesteros to 20 years in prison Monday for sexually abusing a family member starting at age 4, with lifetime sex offender registration required.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read
In 1997 Anchorage voters rejected automated camera enforcement. Its new surveillance system needed no vote.
Anchorage voters banned traffic cameras in 1997. A far more powerful police surveillance system just arrived with no vote — and the debate has been telling.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago4 min read
Alaska's governor race upended in a day: a disqualification, a last-minute filing, and a lone Democrat
Alaska's governor race flipped in a day: Treg Taylor was disqualified, his wife filed at the deadline, and it's now three Republicans versus one Democrat.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago3 min read
Alaska's midwifery board calls two work group meetings in September
Alaska's midwifery board has scheduled two work group meetings for September. The public notices do not say what the group intends to discuss.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min read
Anchorage had no ALS ambulance available about 70 times last year
Anchorage had no advanced life support ambulance available about 70 times in 2024, and no basic life support unit more than 315 times.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly takes up a $599,000 crime center purchase and surveillance limits
A $599,000 video wall for Anchorage's crime center returns to the Assembly Tuesday, alongside an ordinance that would write surveillance limits into city code.
by Alaska News4w ago2 min read
Kenai Peninsula planning commission to hear Cohoe road vacation Sept. 14
Kenai Peninsula planning commission will hear a petition Sept. 14 to vacate Keyros Avenue in Cohoe, with the borough assembly retaining veto power over any approval.
by Alaska News4w ago1 min read
Assembly candidate Berga discloses North Slope job, Kenai Fish stake
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidate Nathan Berga disclosed North Slope oilfield income and ownership of a Soldotna fishing business in a financial filing Monday.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min read
Mat-Su Assembly rejects lowering its property tax cap to 7 mills
Mat-Su's Assembly rejected lowering its tax cap to 7 mills after the borough warned it would force $22 million in cuts — schools and ambulances included.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3w ago1 min read