Politics & Government

Alaska seeks new public defender after Terrence Haas resigns from top post

Alaska is looking for a new public defender to lead the agency that represents people who can't afford a lawyer, a month after its last leader resigned.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska prisons seek contractor for mental health care, with video visits allowed in Nome, Bethel and Ketchikan

Alaska's prisons want a contractor for mental health care at four facilities. In Nome, Bethel and Ketchikan, clinicians might visit in person only monthly.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Two council members and a former state senator run to replace term-limited Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford

Wasilla gets a new mayor this fall. Two council members and a former state senator are running, and if nobody tops 40%, it's back to the polls in November.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Former Permanent Fund CEO Angela Rodell joins new group active in Juneau and Sitka elections

Former Permanent Fund CEO Angela Rodell is now co-chair of a new independent expenditure group focused on Juneau and Sitka's Oct. 6 municipal elections.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Follows: New independent expenditure group registers for Juneau and Sitka municipal elections

Markey blocks Sullivan's attempt to fast-track bycatch bill through the Senate

Sullivan tried to pass his bycatch bill without a vote. One Democrat, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, said not so fast. Peltola called it performative.

by Alaska News1mo ago2 min read

Virginia-based GOPAC gives $150,000 to Anchorage group backing House conservatives

A Virginia-based Republican group gave $150,000 to an Anchorage independent expenditure committee backing Alaska House conservatives in the Nov. 3 election.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Napaskiak man arrested after troopers say he pulled a handgun on VPSO

Troopers say a Napaskiak man pulled a handgun on a village public safety officer answering an assault call Friday. He was arrested at a nearby fish camp.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readFrom Sep 25

Sedan passenger seriously hurt in Knik Goose Bay Road crash in Wasilla

A sedan passenger was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Saturday night on Knik Goose Bay Road in Wasilla, a corridor with a fatal crash rate nearly four times the national average.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

ICE places $7 million, one-month El Paso detention order with Anchorage-based Paragon

ICE placed a $7 million, one-month order with Paragon, a Bering Straits Native Corporation subsidiary, to keep providing detention services in El Paso.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago1 min read

Anchorage police say missing 65-year-old Vona Skinner has been located

Anchorage police located 65-year-old Vona Skinner, who was missing since Sept. 24 near East 8th Avenue.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readFrom Sep 24

Troopers say 16-year-old shot and killed a family member near Slipper Lake in Sutton

Troopers say a 16-year-old shot and killed a family member near Slipper Lake in Sutton on Saturday, then drove to Seward and called 911. The teen is in custody.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Ketchikan man, 78, dies after his vehicle leaves North Tongass Highway near Mile 13

John Olson, 78, of Ketchikan died Saturday after his vehicle left North Tongass Highway near Mile 13. Troopers haven't said what caused the crash.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Coast Guard orders $315 million fuel pier and cutter berths at Base Kodiak

The Coast Guard has now ordered about $458 million in new work at Base Kodiak this year, led by a $315 million fuel pier and berths for its biggest cutters.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Sep 24

Troopers arrest driver for DUI after car strikes moose near Soldotna

A Camry met a moose near Soldotna around 2:20 am. Troopers arrested the driver for DUI, and the badly hurt moose was gone before they could find it.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Judge upholds permit for Contango's Johnson Tract road after company finished building it

A judge upheld the permit for Contango's road and bridges at the Johnson Tract in Lake Clark. By then, the company had already finished building them.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Sep 8

Troopers investigating death of Elim woman after reported injury

A 40-year-old Elim woman died early Saturday after an injury at a house in the village. Alaska State Troopers and the medical examiner are investigating.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska courts now send free text reminders before hearings to anyone with a case number

Forgetting court just got harder. Text a case number to the Alaska Court System and it'll remind you at 4 pm the day before your hearing, for free.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Sep 15

Palmer junk hauler cited for dumping over 500 pounds of trash on Mat-Su land

A junk removal business is supposed to take the junk to the dump. Troopers say a Palmer man's took 500-plus pounds of it to a Point MacKenzie railbed instead.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Refugee arrivals to Alaska have nearly stopped, with four this year, all from South Africa

Only four refugees have come to Alaska this year, all from South Africa in December. Two years ago, the state took in 155. None has arrived since January.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Aug 31

Anchorage Assembly member and budget commission chair to hold spending forum Oct. 27

An Assembly member and the city's budget commission chair take questions on Anchorage spending at a D Street bar. The topic: is there really a fiscal cliff?

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Anchorage police arrest woman on evidence tampering charge in Kaitlyn Kaganak death investigation

Anchorage police arrested a woman on evidence tampering and corpse misconduct charges in the case of Kaitlyn Kaganak, found dead at Basher Trailhead.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Troopers say semi driver fell asleep before hitting car stopped on Parks Highway near Healy

A Massachusetts driver stopped partly in the lane for a photo on the Parks Highway near Healy. A semi driver troopers say fell asleep hit him. Both got cited.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska Supreme Court: spouse's word alone cannot shield inheritance in divorce

Put an inheritance into the family home? In an Alaska divorce, your word alone won't get it back out, the Supreme Court says. Paperwork, it turns out, matters.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Bethel police warn residents not to shoot suspected rabid animals in the head

Bethel police warn residents to avoid shooting suspected rabid animals in the head, since brain tissue is needed to confirm the disease. Two foxes in Bethel tested positive for rabies in February.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Four taken to hospitals after Spenard Road shooting, Anchorage police say

Four people were taken to hospitals after a shooting on Spenard Road in Anchorage on Saturday, police said. Their injuries were not life-threatening.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Troopers arrest Healy woman accused of squatting in seasonal cabins near Denali

Troopers say a Healy woman squatted in seasonal cabins near Denali, rode off on a motorcycle, then turned up inside a man's house. She's held without bail.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska must appoint lawyers for people jailed on other states' warrants, appeals court rules

People jailed in Alaska on another state's warrant have a right to a free lawyer, an appeals court ruled. The case began with requests filed on the wrong form.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readFrom Sep 22

Wisconsin-based organizing group recruits paid Alaskans to talk with friends before the Nov. 3 election

A Wisconsin group is offering Alaskans "up to $250+" to talk with friends about the PFD and cost of living. It's part of a national program.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Togiak man, 19, dies after ATV hits shipping container

Tyler Lee Maines, 19, of Togiak died early Friday when the ATV he was driving hit a shipping container, troopers said. The investigation is continuing.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

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

ishermen say the fish board rewrites proposals after they've testified. A committee chewed on it Friday and changed nothing yet. Round two comes in October.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Alaska Municipal League sets Oct. 23 deadline for 2027 resolutions

Got a gripe with Juneau or Washington? If you're a city council or borough assembly, the Alaska Municipal League wants it in writing by Oct. 23.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Kodiak school board meets in closed session Monday on a personnel matter for the fifth time since August

Kodiak's school board meets behind closed doors again Monday on a personnel matter. Its online minutes page hasn't caught up with anything since July.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Judicial Council tries again to fill Kotzebue and Nome superior court seats

Kotzebue and Nome are each without their only superior court judge. The Judicial Council is trying again to fill both, Kotzebue's for the third time.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

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

Anchorage Assembly debates whether outside agencies need a warrant before police share Real Time Crime Center data, with one version requiring warrants for inter-agency sharing and the other allowing broader data sharing for law enforcement purposes.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

10-year-old boy reported missing in Big Lake is found safe, troopers say

A 10-year-old boy reported missing in the Big Lake area Friday has been found safe, Alaska State Troopers said, thanking the public for its help.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska lists 5.7 million acres of land selections it could give back to federal ownership

Alaska may hand about 5.7 million acres of state land selections back to the federal government, where rural residents would get a subsistence priority.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

None of Anchorage's district projects got state money this year, city tells Assembly committee

Anchorage asked the state for neighborhood projects and got none. The port got $15 million. Now the city starts its 2027 wish list, due by Dec. 10.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Anchorage police officers now must intervene when a colleague uses improper force

Anchorage police say they've acted on 48 of 52 outside recommendations on use of force, but allow one pursuit tactic at higher speeds than reviewers advised.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Anchorage work session leaves Chugach park access costs unresolved

Anchorage Bowl taxpayers chip in for Hillside park roads. Whether Hillside chips in for Bowl roads is a question the Assembly's slides raised and left hanging.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Petersburg paid to advertise one of its two sales tax ballot questions, finance director says

Petersburg is voting on two sales tax questions and bought ads for one. The senior exemption initiative will have to get by on word of mouth.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read