Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Reported crime in Alaska rose 7.2% in 2025, driven by Anchorage increases
Reported crime in Alaska rose 7.2 percent in 2025, driven by a 14.6 percent jump in Anchorage offenses while state troopers reported 5.9 percent fewer crimes.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
The Legislature will spend $675,000 to renovate its own Capitol parking garage
The Alaska Legislature is spending $675,000 to renovate its own parking garage at the Capitol — though the winning bid came in under the engineer's estimate.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A little Unalaska park keeps its tax break one last time before the lease runs out
A small community park in Unalaska keeps its property tax exemption one last time before the city's lease runs out, joining the tax rolls in 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
The lone applicant for a Kenai Peninsula Assembly seat could be seated Sept. 1
Nathan Berga is the only applicant for Kenai Peninsula Borough's vacant District 7 seat and could be appointed Tuesday, Sept. 1, restoring the assembly to nine members.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Kenai could put school board term limits to voters under a new state law
Kenai Peninsula Borough voters will decide on school board term limits at a Sept. 1 public hearing, after state law changed to allow municipalities to propose them.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Juvenile charged with attempted murder after Klawock standoff
A juvenile fired a rifle at a Klawock police officer Monday night and kept shooting from inside a home before surrendering to troopers. He was charged with attempted murder.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Troopers arrest Tok man accused of harassing firefighters on ATV
Alaska State Troopers arrested a 69-year-old Tok man accused of harassing firefighters on an ATV near the Mukluk Fire, charging him with DUI, reckless driving, and disorderly conduct.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Three lawmakers get paid for late travel claims, and one filed most of them
Three lawmakers will be repaid about $5,970 for late travel claims. One accounts for $4,990 of it, and colleagues' questions drew trip-specific answers.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min read
Former Rep. Carl Morgan, mayor of Aniak and Kuskokwim Native leader, has died
Former state Rep. Carl Morgan of Aniak, who served in the House from 1999 to 2004 and led communities along the Kuskokwim River, has died. Gov. Dunleavy will order flags lowered statewide.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
The Alaska Legislature weighs new rules on animals in the Capitol
The Alaska Legislature is weighing new rules on animals in its buildings, banning most pets but keeping ADA protections for service dogs.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su voters will decide whether the borough can build roads anywhere
Mat-Su voters decide Nov. 3 whether the borough can buy right-of-way and build roads anywhere in its boundaries, across road service area lines.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's next park would sit on the Knik Arm bridge route it has long fought
A cleaned-up fuel depot above the Port of Alaska could become a park — on the route of a Knik Arm bridge the state wants and Anchorage has long fought.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislative Council approves $851,400 for KTOO's Gavel Alaska coverage
Alaska lawmakers voted 8-0 to pay KTOO up to $851,400 to keep streaming their own floor sessions after federal public broadcasting funds were cut.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Sitka school zone flasher on Kashevaroff Street is out of service
A school zone flasher outside a Sitka elementary is down for a few weeks, but the speed limits still apply. The city asks drivers to slow down for kids.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Troopers charge Fairbanks man with vehicle theft after McGrath Road hit-and-run
Alaska State Troopers charged a Fairbanks man with vehicle theft and hit-and-run after a McGrath Road crash on August 24.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Two Juneau kids qualified, and the youth board's fund is nearly empty
Two Juneau kids qualified for national competition and asked the city youth board for $3,605. The board's contingency fund has $1,237.52 in it.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Hill runs second in Alaska's unofficial U.S. House primary count
Independent Bill Hill, a Bristol Bay fisherman, finished second in Alaska's U.S. House primary with 31% and advances to November against incumbent Republican Nick Begich.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Anchorage set to get $3 million to expand its crisis-response system
Anchorage is set to get about $3 million to expand its mental-health and addiction crisis teams, add assisted-living beds and start mobile opioid treatment.
by Alaska News1mo ago1 min read
State disability council offers free online advocacy training Sept. 1-2
The state's disability council is holding a free two-day virtual advocacy training Sept. 1-2, for self-advocates, families and the staff who serve them.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Homer signs off on a change of ownership at a Homer Spit seafood plant, after the fact
Homer's council signed off on a change of ownership at a Homer Spit seafood plant after the fact — the second corporate handoff on the lease in six years.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su assembly member proposes borough ban on license plate readers
Mat-Su would ban license plate readers outright, including querying outside networks. Nothing in the record names a borough program it would end.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Mat-Su would sell a sinking public safety building for $13,176
Mat-Su would sell a condemned public safety building for $13,176. Repairing it is estimated at $139,150, and nobody has said who pays for that.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Questioned ballots from Alaska's primary count only after a bipartisan board verifies each voter
Questioned ballots count only if a bipartisan board confirms the voter was qualified. That board is reviewing now, with one Senate slot 20 votes apart.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Air Force names 2nd Lt. Leah Borsich as airman killed in Cape Newenham crash
All eight aboard died in the Cape Newenham crash. The Air Force identified one as 2nd Lt. Leah Borsich, 23, of the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Supreme Court lets Trump's mail-voting order advance, but Alaska's rules are unchanged for now
The Supreme Court let Trump's mail-voting order advance but didn't rule it legal. Alaska's voting is unchanged for now; a separate order blocks the key piece.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
Anchorage businesswoman gets 3.8 years for nearly $1 million in COVID relief fraud
An Anchorage businesswoman spent nearly $1 million in COVID relief meant for struggling businesses on herself. Now she's headed to federal prison for 3.8 years.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Cause of Tok's Mukluk Fire stays officially under investigation
The cause of the Mukluk Fire near Tok, which damaged about 20 homes, remains under investigation — early reports pointed to power lines but aren't confirmed.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage may have paid the state's traffic-signal power bill for 20 years
For 20 years, Anchorage never tracked the power cost for state-owned traffic signals, so it may have covered the state's share. Auditors flagged it before.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Tok fire's south end contained, but Midnight Sun stays evacuated about another week
The south end of the Mukluk Fire near Tok is contained, but the Midnight Sun neighborhood stays evacuated about another week as crews clear hazards.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Inmate charged in Spring Creek assault that seriously injured another inmate
Prosecutors charged Lloyd Luke with assault and criminal mischief in a July 26 attack at Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward that seriously injured another inmate.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Nevada man dies after falling overboard in Saw Mill Bay near Valdez
A 39-year-old Nevada man died after falling from a fishing boat anchored near Valdez, and volunteer divers recovered his body about 21 hours later.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Wildfire investigation opens near Tetlin at zero acres
A new wildfire is under investigation near Tetlin. The Mukluk Fire has burned over 7,000 acres and destroyed 20-plus homes, though evacuations have eased.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Fairbanks preservation panel weighs federal rule limiting its role
A federal rewrite would end requirements that agencies notify the Fairbanks borough about projects affecting historic sites. Comment opens after review.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Kodiak takes its landfill bear problem behind closed doors
Kodiak's landfill can't keep bears out, the borough could be fined for feeding wildlife, and now the Assembly is taking the bear problem behind closed doors.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Army moves to end state review of ground work at two Alaska posts
The Army wants to end the state's sign-off on ground-disturbing work at Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely. The consultation window closed Aug. 21.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
A village-based fire crew from Nulato gets federal funding through 2031
BLM awarded Nulato Hills Enterprises $495,000 to staff a Type 2 wildland fire crew through March 2031, continuing a pattern of federal contracts that bring seasonal cash to rural Alaska villages.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Dan Sullivan endorsed Dan Sullivan over Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate race
Former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan endorsed Sen. Dan Sullivan in a race that also features Daniel Sullivan Jr. He signed it "the OG Dan Sullivan."
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Anchorage considers naming Northeast Connector Trail after Karen Bronga
Anchorage's naming commission will weigh renaming a Centennial Park trail for Karen Bronga, a former Assembly member killed last month, at a Sept. 9 hearing.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Dunleavy names a fentanyl awareness day; Alaska recorded 339 overdose deaths last year
Dunleavy proclaimed a Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. Alaska recorded 339 overdose deaths in 2024, down 5 percent, with fentanyl in about 73 percent.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Anchorage wildfire mitigation would be paid for citywide, researchers say
UA researchers will recommend all of Anchorage pay for wildfire mitigation, not just high-risk neighborhoods. Their full report is due in October.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read