Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Anchorage opens contract talks with one of its unions
Anchorage has opened contract talks with the Teamsters union representing some city workers, whose current deal, with 3.3% annual raises, expires at year's end.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
A fight over Alaska's elections, including over outside money, is itself funded almost entirely from outside Alaska
The fight over Alaska's ranked choice voting — including over outside dark money — is itself funded almost entirely from outside Alaska, on both sides.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
The Permanent Fund's dividend account is running about $400 million ahead
The account that pays the Permanent Fund dividend held about $400 million more than it needs, a 7% cushion. No inflation proofing was appropriated for 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min read
Peltola out-raised and out-spent Sullivan, and enters the general election with less cash
Peltola and Sullivan both advanced from Alaska's primary and will meet in November's ranked-choice general. Peltola raised more; Sullivan has more cash on hand.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
An Anchorage marijuana grower has to pay its back taxes before it can keep growing
An Anchorage marijuana grower owes the city about $12,761 in back taxes — and until it pays and passes an inspection, it can't fully renew its grow license.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Kamala Harris tried to help Mary Peltola, and both Alaska campaigns pushed back
Kamala Harris raised money for Mary Peltola. Peltola's campaign said it didn't ask, and Sullivan's campaign attacked Harris rather than Peltola.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A decade after Alaskans legalized weed, the industry is thinning out
A decade after Alaska legalized weed, the industry is thinning out, with growers folding under a decade-old tax. License renewals are due at month's end.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
An advocacy group argues that cutting the dividend is a hidden tax. Whether it is depends on a question Alaska has never settled.
An advocacy group calls dividend cuts a hidden tax, but whether that's the right word turns on an unsettled question of what the PFD fundamentally is.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
Bethel weighs letting its manager file lawsuits without council approval
Bethel is weighing whether to let its manager file routine lawsuits without a council vote, moving some legal authority from the elected body to city staff.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Bethel would move sand shed money to road salt and water plant engineering
Bethel wants to move about $55,000 from fixing its sand shed to buying road salt and helping engineer a water plant. The council takes public comment Tuesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Troopers recover stolen Durango sold for parts at Fairbanks home
A stolen Dodge Durango turned up in pieces at a Fairbanks home after its parts were listed for sale online, and troopers matched the VIN and made an arrest.
by Alaska News1mo ago1 min read
Alaska EMS clinicians will need fingerprint background checks as the state joins a national compact
Alaska's paramedics and EMTs will need fingerprint background checks Sept. 20 as the state joins a national EMS compact, with a lower fee for rural volunteers.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaska's main power grid is getting its first mandatory cybersecurity rules, but not for years
Alaska's main power grid is finally getting mandatory cybersecurity rules, but none takes effect until 2027 at the earliest, phasing in slowly through 2029.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Peltola's first general election ad, out a day after the primary, runs against her own party.
The day after advancing from the primary, Peltola's campaign announced a TV ad about breaking with Democrats, citing her low party loyalty as a credential.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaska joins a national EMS system, but local ambulance service won't change
Alaska is joining a national EMS agreement that lets medics work across state lines. For most people, the reassuring part: your local ambulance won't change.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Wasilla staff float options to broaden the city sales tax, no vote yet
Wasilla staff are floating ways to widen the city sales tax, from renters to nonprofits to charitable gaming. It's a report Monday, not a vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Alaska primary: who advanced and what passed, in unofficial results
Peltola and Sullivan head to November, Begich leads the House field, four of 17 governor tickets advance, and donation caps passed with 71%
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Fairbanks correctional officer charged with sexually assaulting inmate in transport van
A correctional officer is charged with sexually assaulting a woman in his custody inside a state transport van in 2024, a case that surfaced only this year.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A Caterpillar dealer wants to fill nearly 20 acres of south Anchorage wetlands to build a new store
A Caterpillar dealer wants to fill nearly 20 acres of south Anchorage wetlands for a store, proposing no mitigation.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Trump names Kyle Reardon to the Alaska judgeship vacant since 2024
Trump named Kyle Reardon to Alaska's federal judgeship, empty two years. In a 2025 bar poll, three-quarters of respondents couldn't say if he was qualified.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Hiker flown off Sigugu Shaa mountain near Hoonah after seizure
A hiker had a seizure on a mountain near Hoonah, and a team of volunteers and medics stabilized them and got them off the mountain and to a hospital.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Troopers investigate suspected drugs found at Fairbanks Correctional Center
Alaska State Troopers are investigating suspected drugs found at Fairbanks Correctional Center on August 18, with the substance sent to the crime lab for testing.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage will pay to steer people toward treatment instead of jail, using opioid-settlement money
Anchorage's Assembly voted 11-0 to pay True North Recovery about $398,000 to steer people toward treatment instead of jail, using opioid-settlement money.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A second person has been hurt in an Anchorage otter attack in three weeks
A second Anchorage resident in three weeks has been hurt by a river otter, and Fish and Game is telling paddleboarders and dog walkers to carry bear spray.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Tok evacuation order still stands after phone alert expired Tuesday
The phone alert telling parts of Tok to evacuate expired Tuesday and was not reissued. The order still stands, and the fire has crossed Red Fox Drive.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaska may let unlicensed eye-clinic staff do routine eye care, with no set training standard
Alaska may let unlicensed eye-clinic staff do routine eye care with no set training standard — an idea that drew patient-safety objections as the law passed.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Juneau's harbor fund is near its lowest point ever, and charter boats may be asked to help fill the gap
Juneau's harbor fund is near its lowest ever after the city cut $450,000 a year, and the port may charge charter boats more per passenger to fill the gap.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
The Anchorage School Board pledges no more closures next year, but one member says the last three were never explained
The Anchorage School Board pledged no closures next year as an olive branch to a grieving community, though one member says the last three went unexplained.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Sealaska endorses Peltola for U.S. Senate
Sealaska endorsed Peltola for U.S. Senate, but the association of the 12 Alaska Native regional corporations' leaders backed her opponent, Sen. Dan Sullivan.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
First Election Day Tapes from two statistically significant Anchorage precincts put Kreiss-Tomkins and Begich ahead of the field
All of our analysis these were the precinct that most closely aligned with statewide results, so Alaska news went out to get that information. This is not the statewide results.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Fish and Game plans to cut about 50 of its own rules by year's end
Alaska Fish and Game plans to cut about 50 of its own regulations under a Dunleavy order that supporters call streamlining and critics call gutting oversight.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Troopers investigate death of Homer woman, 37, who collapsed in Anchor Point
Erin Kitchen, 37, of Homer died Monday night in Anchor Point after collapsing. The State Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
An Anchorage man will serve 30 years for sexually abusing children he babysat
An Anchorage man will serve 30 years in prison for sexually abusing multiple children under 13 whom he babysat, and must register as a sex offender for life.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage jury finds man guilty but mentally ill in 2015 stabbing of his parents
A jury found Martin Victor IV guilty but mentally ill in the 2015 stabbing of both his parents. He cannot be paroled until treatment is complete.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A Bethel man will serve 60 years for sexually abusing a child left in his care
A Bethel man, Matt Atcherian, 27, will serve 60 years in prison for sexually abusing a child under 13 who had been left in his care.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Judge asked to rule by Aug. 31 on whether King Cove road work can begin
A judge has been asked to rule by Aug. 31 on whether King Cove road work can start. The state says construction will not begin before Sept. 1.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Anchorage man arrested on 18 perjury and sex offender registry counts
An Anchorage man, Ronnie Wieber, 52, is held without bail on 18 counts alleging he failed to register as a sex offender and lied on his registration forms.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A federal civil rights body is examining whether Alaska's ranked choice voting makes it harder for some to vote
A federal civil rights body is examining whether ranked choice voting hurts some Alaska voters, with briefings starting Aug. 26 as repeal returns to the ballot.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
About 20 homes damaged in the Mukluk Fire at Tok, some belonging to the firefighters
About 20 homes have burned in the Mukluk Fire at Tok, some belonging to the firefighters working it. The fire hit 5,533 acres Tuesday afternoon.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Alaskans vote today in a primary narrowing the governor, Senate and House races
Alaskans vote today in a primary narrowing crowded races for governor, Senate and House to four each — 17 governor tickets, two Dan Sullivans on the ballot.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read