Politics & Government

Kenai man gets more than 14 years for conspiring to traffic fentanyl into Alaska by mail

A Kenai man who prosecutors called the region's main fentanyl supplier got more than 14 years for conspiring to mail over four kilograms of it to Alaska.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Mat-Su Assembly reverses vote, drops request for school to start after Labor Day

Two weeks after asking for a post-Labor Day school start, the Mat-Su Assembly took it back 1-6. Families picked August in the district's last survey anyway.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Follows: Mat-Su Assembly asks school board to start classes the day after Labor Day

Former Anchorage oilfield services manager gets 58 months for wire fraud and tax evasion

A federal judge sentenced former Anchorage oilfield manager James Wohlers to 58 months for wire fraud and tax evasion. He stole over $2.5 million while cutting employee pay.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Troopers and rescue center retrieve critically injured person in Stevens Village

Troopers and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center flew a critically injured Stevens Village resident to Fairbanks after two private air ambulances turned back. The person is expected to recover.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

Permanent Fund ends its first quarter nearly flat after a $937 million September loss

The Permanent Fund made $61 million in three months on a $92 billion fund, after a $937 million September loss wiped out July and August's gains.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Oct 15

Fairbanks woman charged after investigators find 25 grams of fentanyl in mailed package

Investigators say a package mailed to a Fairbanks home held 25 grams of fentanyl. Six days after they opened it, a 35-year-old woman was arrested.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

Petersburg mayor asks Assembly to decide on a permanent fire training site near Station 1

Petersburg's fire training tower has to leave Scow Bay by Nov. 30 and can't come back. The mayor wants the Assembly to pick a permanent home next meeting.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Petersburg Assembly advances union wage money before members vote, rejecting a delay 3-3

Petersburg's Assembly advanced money for its final offer to the borough workers' union, 5-1, before the union votes on it. A delay failed 3-3.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Alaska Board of Fisheries urged to add a second vote on the final text of fishing rules

Alaska fishing rules become law before the board sees their final text. The Department of Law wants a second vote on it, after 30 days of public comment.

by Bill AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Follows: Board of Fisheries committee weighs how to let the public weigh in on last-minute rewrites

Wrongful death lawsuit against Mountain Village concerns 2024 police station fire

A wrongful death suit against Mountain Village concerns Lawrence Chiklak, 39, who died in a 2024 fire at the police station while police were detaining him.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Oct 15

Revised Chugach access board plan would bar CASA from taking over existing road upkeep

Anchorage Assembly leaders rewrote their Chugach access board plan again, barring the park access tax from taking over road upkeep. The hearing got bumped.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Sitka cellphone callers can't reach 911; city gives direct numbers for police and fire

Cellphone callers in Sitka can't reach 911 or the police and fire lines. The city posted direct numbers to use until carriers fix it. Landlines still work.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

State and FEMA offer free training for Alaska's local floodplain officials

The state and FEMA will train newer local floodplain officials for free in Anchorage Dec. 1-4. Their rules are what keep federal flood insurance available.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

South Tongass fire crews move back into rebuilt Station Four in Ketchikan

South Tongass fire crews moved back into rebuilt Station Four on Sept. 21, more than two years after an April 2024 fire destroyed it. The blaze destroyed four vehicles including two engines and an ambulance, with a second ambulance suffering serious smoke damage.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Anchorage judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit over voter list sent to DOJ

Anchorage judge Adolf Zeman let a lawsuit over Alaska's voter list sent to the DOJ move forward, weeks before the Nov. 3 election.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Oct 16

Anchorage ordinance would make candidates disclose residency dates and tax exemptions

An Anchorage ordinance would make candidates for mayor, Assembly and School Board disclose home move-in dates and tax exemptions claimed.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Bethel hires a Louisiana firm to audit local businesses for unpaid city taxes

Bethel hired a Louisiana firm, without bidding, to audit local businesses for unpaid city taxes. It meets the Finance Committee Monday. Final price: not public.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Anchorage would give tax-exempt property owners 90 days to recertify instead of March 15

Anchorage wants tax-exempt property owners to recertify within 90 days of a request, not by March 15. A 2026 review of 60 found one that no longer qualified.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Whittier council will discuss culvert lawsuit in closed session before Nov. 17 meeting

Whittier council will discuss its culvert lawsuit against Eric Fleming in closed session before the Nov. 17 meeting. Fleming says the dispute has cost over $100,000.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Whittier council votes to seek federal block grant for a fire tender truck

Whittier's council voted 6-0 to seek up to $850,000 in federal block grant money for a fire tender truck, after a resident asked them to reopen the town poll.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly amends proposed police surveillance rules, then runs out of time

The Assembly agreed an administrative warrant isn't enough to share surveillance data the rules bar, made it easier to pause a tool, then ran out of clock.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago4 min read

Follows: Warrant rule for sharing police camera data splits Anchorage Assembly surveillance drafts

Downtown business leaders ask Anchorage Assembly to make police foot patrol permanent

Downtown business groups asked the Assembly to make APD's foot patrol permanent. The bed tax money paying for it is nearly gone, and the 2027 budget has none.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Follows: Anchorage's 2027 budget leaves out money for downtown police foot patrols

Outside groups report $67.4 million in Alaska Senate race, most of it against a candidate

Outside groups spent $67.4 million on Alaska's US Senate race, $25.8 million in just two weeks. Both Peltola and Sullivan face more attack ads than support ahead of Nov. 3.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Follows: Outside groups report nearly $13 million in Alaska Senate spending in one week

Juneau's summer sales tax is official: 6% from April through September

It's official: Juneau shoppers pay 6% sales tax April through September starting in 2027. The money is meant for recreation, but the Assembly decides.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Anchorage School Board votes to raze Abbott Loop, return Westpark on a nonbinding pledge

The school board will spend $3.96 million to knock down Abbott Loop and hand the city three properties. The Westpark payback is a pledge, not a guarantee.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago4 min read

Follows: Anchorage mayor's office wants closed Abbott Loop Elementary demolished, school officials say

Anchorage School Board asks Assembly to reject electing most members by district

The Anchorage School Board voted 6-1 to ask the Assembly to kill a plan to elect most board members by district before voters ever get a say.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Follows: Anchorage Assembly members question plan to elect School Board by district

Air Force Reserve pilots on bush-flying course shut off fuel leak at overturned Super Cub

Air Force Reserve pilots training in bush flying landed near an overturned Super Cub on an Alaska river sandbar and shut off its leaking fuel.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

Kodiak's new harbor billing check flags about a quarter of statements, consultants say

Consultants told Kodiak's council a new harbor billing check flags about a quarter of what it reviews. They'd like those called flags, not errors.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Talkeetna residents ask Mat-Su Assembly for hearings on water tank site before Nov. 17

Talkeetna residents asked Mat-Su Assembly for formal hearings on a water tank site before a Nov. 17 briefing. They say the site pick drew opposition since January with no public input.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

In Alaska's Senate race, political ads are borrowing the look of local news

Peltola's campaign, Republican groups supporting Sullivan and a national progressive nonprofit network are running Senate race messaging through Alaska news-style brands.

by Cale Green3w ago7 min read

Alaska faces $45 million SNAP bill unless error rate drops below 6%, commissioner says

Alaska's health commissioner says the state has until year's end to cut its SNAP error rate from 20% to under 6%, or the next governor gets a $45 million bill.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Anchorage police help BIA unit search for man, 51, missing since July in a Pine Ridge case

Anchorage police are helping a federal BIA unit search for Peter Wesley, 51, missing since July and last seen at an Anchorage shelter in late September.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readFrom Jul 1

Fairbanks couple killed, toddler hurt in Parks Highway crash at Trapper Creek

A Fairbanks couple died Monday when their Subaru crossed the center line and hit a pickup near Trapper Creek. Their toddler was hurt. The Parks Highway closed for about five hours.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

Federal agencies inspect cargo at the port that supplies most of Alaska

The Coast Guard, NOAA and TSA inspected cargo at the port that brings in goods for 90% of Alaskans. They didn't say when, or whether they found anything.

by Bill AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Oct 14

Hatch Act complaint targets Trump officials' remarks at Sullivan rally

Two groups want the special counsel to look at Carr, Burgum and Lutnick for talking agency business at Sullivan's Wasilla rally. Carr says he spoke personally.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Alaska DMV pauses licenses tied to TPS for Ukraine, Sudan and El Salvador

Alaska's DMV can't renew licenses or REAL IDs for TPS holders from Ukraine, Sudan and El Salvador until Washington decides whether their status continues.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Kenai Peninsula Assembly president proposes filling vacant seats until 30 days left in a term

Kenai Peninsula Assembly holds a hearing tonight on Ryan Tunseth's rewrite letting it fill vacant seats until 30 days before a term ends, matching state law.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Military test used HAARP and Cold Bay receivers to detect aircraft beyond the horizon

The military paired UAF's HAARP transmitter with receivers in Cold Bay and spotted aircraft over the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea, past the horizon.

by Melinda Communities.News3w ago2 min read

Planning commission backs Anchorage's $88 million bond request after memo dispute

Planners backed Anchorage's $88 million bond ask Monday, after a city director told them to disregard their own staff's memo questioning the project list.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

VA seeks proposals for a 20-year lease to house its Kenai Vet Center outstation in Soldotna

The VA wants a 20 year lease for office space in Soldotna to house its Kenai Vet Center counseling outstation. Proposals are due Nov. 25, with price counting less than site and quality.

by Melinda Communities.News3w ago2 min read