Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
1,900 Alaskans flagged as 'inactive non-citizen' can still vote Tuesday
About 1,900 Alaska voters remain flagged as inactive non-citizens heading into Tuesday's primary, and the state will not clear those flags before the election.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Coal seam fire northeast of Healy grows to 71 acres with no crew assigned
A coal seam fire near Healy has grown to about 71 acres and can't be fought directly — the seam has burned underground for years, and no crew is assigned.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A pro-Republican group discloses small ad debts for two House candidates, listing the creditor at its treasurer's address
A pro-Republican group's pre-primary filing disclosed $728 in ad debts for two House candidates, listing the creditor at its treasurer's own address.
by Lucas Brown1mo ago2 min read
Dalton corridor suit is not over: groups appeal, and 700,000 acres remain in dispute
Alaska is set to gain Dalton Highway land promised at statehood, but conservation groups fight it on appeal, and tribes warn it strips subsistence rights.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Trump takes aim at Alaska's U.S. Senate Primary Election
Trump waded into Alaska's Senate primary, telling voters which of two similarly named Dan Sullivans to pick — flexing GOP-base clout in a state he carried.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
A Chamber endorsement for Begich, labor's backing for Hill
Nick Begich's campaign says he's won the U.S. Chamber's endorsement, days after Speaker Johnson visited; challenger Bill Hill has the state AFL-CIO's backing.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Valdez lost its fight not to be lumped in with Mat-Su. All that's left is an $11,000 bill.
Valdez lost its fight not to be grouped with Mat-Su in one House district. All that's left is an $11,000 cost bill it's appealing to the state Supreme Court.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Homer man arrested on eight counts in Anchor Point home burglary
James Longero of Homer faces eight counts including burglary and vehicle theft after troopers say he took multiple vehicles and nearly all contents from an Anchor Point home in August.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Kodiak Island Borough first-half property taxes due Monday, borough page still says Saturday
Kodiak Island Borough property taxes are due Monday, August 17, not Saturday as the borough's tax page still says. Miss the deadline and you owe a 10 percent penalty plus 1 percent monthly interest.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min read
Judicial council urges no vote on two Kenai judges in November
Alaska Judicial Council recommends voters reject two Kenai judges on November ballot. • Judge Kelly Lawson failed temperament and integrity standards; lacked patience with court staff. • Judge Martin Fallon failed integrity and diligence standards; signed false affidavits about late decisions.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min read
State says Kodiak landfill is out of compliance on bears and borough could be fined
Alaska says Kodiak's landfill violates wildlife rules because bears keep reaching trash, and the borough could face fines for negligently feeding them. A $250,000 fence won't solve it alone.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
One owner moves to take full control of a Midtown Anchorage cannabis operation
Yotam Levi is set to take full control of a three-part Midtown Anchorage cannabis business, a grow, a manufacturing site and a store, by buying out partners.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Alaska attorney general says law seating campaign finance commission is likely unconstitutional
Alaska's acting attorney general says the law requiring the governor to pick campaign finance watchdog members from party lists is likely unconstitutional, a conclusion the state has held since 1980.
by Lucas Brown1mo ago3 min read
Anchorage ordinance would put all Assembly license and assessment hearings under one set of rules
An Anchorage ordinance would give residents fighting a license suspension or property assessment one uniform set of hearing rules, in place of scattered ones.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Kenai council takes up $75,000 home tax exemption for November ballot
Kenai City Council votes Wednesday on sending a $75,000 home tax exemption to voters in November, following resident concerns about rising property taxes.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
An airman's idea for a cargo cart is out to bid at JBER
A cargo cart the Alaska Air National Guard is building started as one airman's idea — a simpler fix for the hard-to-move K-loader, from a base innovation lab.
by Alaska News1mo ago1 min read
The Air Force needs its Cold War-era Arctic radar towers inspected — the ones still watching Alaska's skies
The Air Force needs four Cold War-era Alaska radar towers inspected — 1950s sites still watching the Arctic, run by an Alaska Native corporation.
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min read
Trench that killed two Delta Junction workers had no cave-in protection
Two Delta Junction workers died in a 13-foot trench with no cave-in protection, violating federal safety standards that require protective systems in excavations deeper than 5 feet.
by Lucas Brown1mo ago2 min read
Troopers arrest man in Glennallen on no-bail federal warrant from heroin case
Alaska State Troopers arrested Eric Lackey in Glennallen on a federal no-bail warrant for a probation violation tied to heroin sales.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Court says a tribe can't sue its health consortium in state court
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled Dot Lake Village can't sue the Tanana Chiefs Conference in state court — the health consortium has tribal sovereign immunity.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
The Alaska Supreme Court sent a 14-year Willow property fight back to Palmer, with the trail's path still undecided
The Alaska Supreme Court wiped out the judgment mapping an access trail around a Willow home and sent the 14-year fight back to Palmer, with the trail's path still undecided.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A matter the Anchorage Assembly declared closed still draws a request for five minutes
Pastor Leon D. May asked the Anchorage Assembly for five minutes to testify about Assembly Member George Martinez at the Aug. 18 meeting, citing public comment limits at prior sessions.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's assessment appeal surge reaches hearings next week
Anchorage property owners can appeal their 2026 tax assessments at six Board of Equalization hearings Aug. 18 through 21 at City Hall.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
The Assembly votes Tuesday on confirming a longtime trustee to run Anchorage's police and fire pension
The Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on confirming Glenn Cipriano, a longtime trustee, as director of the city's Police & Fire Retirement System.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Anchorage's transit agency answered a records request by filming a computer screen
Anchorage's transit agency filled a bus-video records request by filming its own computer screen with a phone — grainy, silent, and flagged by the Ombudsman.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A majority of Kodiak's assembly is up for election this fall
A majority of the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly — four of seven seats — is up in the Oct. 6 election, and candidates have until Monday to file.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A resident wants Anchorage's Chugach park-access board rewritten to give locals more control
Anchorage's Chugach park-access board would give paying residents a 4-of-7 majority, but one resident wants it tilted even further toward locals.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min read
Alaska Democrats ask APOC to recommend removing House District 22 candidate from ballot
An Anchorage House candidate's ballot spot is in dispute over a blank-then-amended financial disclosure — now a question for the state ethics commission.
by Lucas Brown1mo ago3 min read
Trail runner injured by brown bear near Anchorage's Prospect Heights trailhead
A woman running alone on Wolverine Bowl trail near Anchorage was injured by a brown bear Thursday, deployed bear spray, and walked out; she was hospitalized and the bear was not located.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Kodiak keeps a road-sand storage lease its assembly had said it wanted to end
Kodiak's Service Area No. 1 will keep paying ~$12,600 a year to store road sand on a lease several assembly members had said last fall they wanted ended.
by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
Alaskans vote Tuesday on restoring campaign contribution limits
Alaskans vote Tuesday on Ballot Measure 1, which would cap campaign donations that have been uncapped since a 2021 court ruling struck down the old $500 limit.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A new group formed to back Tom Begich for governor, days before the primary
A new independent group formed to back Tom Begich's run for governor, eight days before Alaska's primary. It hasn't yet reported raising or spending anything.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
A Muldoon pot shop divides the Assembly, with a former legislator and the chair for it and a council member against
A Muldoon Road pot shop drew a former legislator and the Assembly chair for it and a council member against, at a hearing carried over to Tuesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
Anchorage orders outside police use-of-force review after sixth officer-involved shooting this year
Anchorage will hire an outside investigator to review police use of force after an officer shot someone on Debarr Road, the sixth officer-involved shooting in the city this year.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Kasilof man under sexual abuse investigation dies of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound
Kasilof man under sexual abuse investigation dies of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A retired Wasilla man is spending $11,000 to oppose a candidate for governor
A retired Wasilla man is spending about $11,000 to oppose gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson before Tuesday's primary. No law caps the total.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago1 min read
Valdez weighs all but ending property tax on homes
Valdez is weighing all but ending property tax on homes — affordable because oil is most of its base, though it may test Alaska's limits on taxing industry.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A missing health certification is holding up the Homestead Lounge's liquor license transfer
Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on a conditional protest of a liquor license transfer at The Homestead Lounge in Eagle River, held up by a missing health certification.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Downtown Anchorage owners face a $1.15 million yearly bill
779 downtown Anchorage owners would owe a combined $1.15 million this year for snow removal, security, tourism and beautification — $20K-plus to under $300.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A dollar-a-year lease would help stand up an American Legion post near Alaska's first state veterans cemetery
A dollar-a-year lease would help build an American Legion post in Salcha, beside Alaska's first state veterans cemetery — a 257-acre site for 12,000+ vets.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read