Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Anchorage Assembly approves $750K True North grant after amendments fail and crisis-care dispute divides members
Anchorage Assembly approved a $750,000 grant to True North Recovery for a Fairview behavioral health facility after rejecting two amendments that would have required written limits on crisis care.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Tatlanika Fire smoke reaches Fairbanks, 39 miles away
Smoke from the Tatlanika Fire, burning 982 acres 39 miles southwest of Fairbanks, is now visible in Fairbanks and Nenana, though no structures are threatened in its limited-response zone.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Anchorage School Board balks at a $2.8M curriculum buy members hadn't seen
Anchorage School Board members got handed a $2.8M curriculum bill at a summer meeting and basically said: first we're hearing of it.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
A hiker lost his shoes in the snow near Snowbird Hut — in July
A hiker lost his shoes in the snow near Snowbird Hut on the Fourth of July, stranding his group — a reminder that it can be summer in town and still winter up on the glacier.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Delta burn permits suspended Wednesday as fire conditions worsen
Alaska suspended all burn permits in the Delta Fire Prevention Area on Wednesday due to low humidity, gusty winds, and dry fuels that could turn any escaped ember into a fast-moving wildfire.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Metlakatla man sentenced in child exploitation case
A Metlakatla man was sentenced to three years for distributing child sexual abuse material — one of four arrested in a broader investigation of the small Southeast community.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly takes up repeal of 43-year Sullivan Arena ticket surcharge
Anchorage Assembly is considering repealing a 43-year-old ticket surcharge on Sullivan Arena events that collected $111,687 in one year.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Five wildfire investigations span Interior to western Alaska
Look into the fires
by Alaska News2mo ago1 min read
Mountain Village man arrested on three sexual abuse of a minor charges
Alaska State Troopers arrested a Mountain Village man, Alphonsus Chiklak, 47, on child sexual abuse charges following a nearly six-month investigation. He is presumed innocent.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Fairbanks man killed after trooper opens fire during early-morning pursuit
Alaska State Trooper shot and killed a man in Fairbanks early Monday after a 90-second vehicle pursuit ended on a dead-end street and the driver turned toward the officer. • This is the second officer-involved fatality in Fairbanks in two weeks. • The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation; the Office of Special Prosecutions will independently review findings.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly to consider first-ever removal proceeding against Martinez
Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on whether to remove East Anchorage member George Martinez over perjury, fraud, and disclosure violations, the first removal proceeding in municipal history.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Perjury counts detail Martinez's 63-minute Fort Lauderdale trip and evasive oath testimony
Anchorage Assembly Members filed criminal perjury charges against George Martinez over a 63-minute Fort Lauderdale trip funded by campaign money and testimony he gave under oath to state regulators.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Selawik fuel tank farm, solar array threatened by landfill fire
A tundra fire that escaped Selawik's landfill Monday grew to 20 acres and now threatens the village's fuel tank farm and solar array, its only source of heating fuel and diesel power.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Four-wheeler breakdown strands two near Kotzebue; borough SAR unable to respond
Two people stranded near Kotzebue were rescued the morning after the Fourth — by troopers and two local volunteers, after the borough's search-and-rescue unit couldn't respond.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
In a dry village, a man is charged with assault after furnishing a teen alcohol
A Tuntutuliak man, Jared Enoch, 24, is charged with furnishing alcohol to a teenager and sexually assaulting them in a village where alcohol is banned. He is presumed innocent.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Akiachak man charged with murder after early-morning stabbing death
Randy Nose, 41, died from stab wounds in Akiachak early Monday. Fred Nose Jr., 37, also of Akiachak, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Homer man, 85, summonsed for 2025 Anchor Point hit-and-run after trooper spots vehicle nine months later
An 85-year-old Homer man was summonsed for a hit-and-run in Anchor Point nine months after the crash, when a trooper recognized his vehicle on a Homer street.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Peltola calls for 12-year congressional term limits, asks Alaska legislature to act
Mary Peltola wants 12-year congressional term limits. She is asking Alaska lawmakers to force a legal challenge to federal rules.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Fire Weather Watch issued for Lower Kobuk Valley through Wednesday
Fire Weather Watch in effect for Lower Kobuk Valley through Wednesday evening as temperatures near 80 degrees and humidity drops to 35 percent, raising lightning ignition risk across dry fuels.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Anchorage man held without bail after 80 mph pursuit through Wasilla
Anchorage man Wyatt Baker, 21, was held without bail after fleeing police in Wasilla at over 80 mph early Tuesday, running red lights and stop signs.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Interior Native Vote brings candidates to Fairbanks tribal hall July 20
Interior Native Vote hosts a candidate forum July 20 at Chief David Salmon Tribal Hall in Fairbanks, six weeks before the August 18 primary.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
New fire burns 1.5 miles from Native allotment near Kaltag
Wildfire burning in black spruce four miles north of Kaltag is 1.5 miles from a Native allotment, with 12 smokejumpers and aircraft responding.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Five wildfires burning across Interior and Western Alaska as Siruk reaches 60% containment
The Siruk Fire near Allakaket reached 60% containment at 619 acres as crews push against forecast heat and critically dry conditions across five active Interior and Western Alaska fires.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Cone Fire in Koyukuk refuge at 50% containment; no threat to Huslia allotments
Eight smokejumpers held the Cone Fire at 50% containment inside Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge as of Saturday, with no threat to Huslia Native allotments 33 miles away.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Two Anchorage men charged in undercover sex trafficking operation
Alaska investigators arrested two Anchorage men on sex trafficking charges after an undercover operation June 30 and July 1.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Soldotna man faces federal charges for alleged CSAM purchases via PayPal
A Soldotna man faces federal charges for allegedly purchasing child sexual abuse material through PayPal over two years, with investigators tracing roughly 27 transactions to his account.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read
Juneau finance committee deadlocks 4-4 on Eaglecrest closure study as ski area seeks $1.68M
Juneau's Finance Committee deadlocked 4-4 on studying closure costs for Eaglecrest after the ski board said it needs $1.68 million to stay open, nearly double the committee's $930,000 target.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Teen airlifted after horse kick on Johnson Pass Trail
A teenage girl was airlifted to Anchorage after a horse kicked her two miles up Johnson Pass Trail near Moose Pass on July 3.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Kodiak Borough assembly scheduled to introduce marijuana tax measure for October ballot
Kodiak Borough Assembly introduces a 3% marijuana tax Thursday for an Oct. 6 voter decision, potentially raising $135,000 to $150,000 yearly for health and education programs.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Juneau ordinance would expand senior property tax relief to hundreds more households
Juneau Assembly will vote July 27 on expanding senior property tax relief to hundreds more households by raising the income threshold and capping the maximum exemption at roughly $5,079.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Juneau airport to lease Texas fire truck while new ARFF rigs await delivery
Juneau airport will lease a Texas fire truck for $162,000 while two new rigs arrive, covering a gap when the airport would have minimal firefighting capacity.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Supreme Court ruling on party spending hits Alaska's toss-up Senate race
Supreme Court struck down federal limits on party spending coordinated with candidates, opening unlimited Republican spending in Alaska's toss-up Senate race between Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Six wildfire investigations open across Alaska over Fourth of July weekend
Six wildfire investigations opened across Alaska during the Fourth of July weekend as lightning storms and human activity continue sparking fires statewide.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Helicopter sinks in Chelatna Lake; bystander pulls both survivors from water
A helicopter sank in Chelatna Lake near Skwentna on Sunday after a boater pulled both occupants from the water; both survived with minor injuries.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Red Flag Warnings cover five western Alaska regions Tuesday as lightning threat may push to North Slope
Red Flag Warnings cover five western Alaska regions Tuesday as dry conditions and lightning threaten new wildfires, with storms possibly reaching the North Slope Wednesday.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Fritz Creek man charged again with DUI after meth-impaired rollover while on release conditions
A Fritz Creek man was charged with DUI after rolling his vehicle on East End Road on May 16 while impaired by methamphetamine, violating court-ordered release conditions from a prior DUI-drug case.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Speeding stop on Sterling Highway surfaces Soldotna man wanted on 7 Arizona felonies
Alaska State Troopers arrested a Soldotna man Sunday after a speeding stop on Sterling Highway revealed an active Arizona warrant for seven felonies including robbery and burglary.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Cecil Fire fully contained near Ruby; Big Fire at 70% with storms approaching
Cecil Fire near Ruby is fully contained at 724 acres, while Big Fire at 258 acres is 70% contained with thunderstorms and 40 mph gusts approaching the area.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Prius driver airlifted after T-bone crash at Moose Pass highway junction
A Prius driver ran a stop sign at Moose Pass and was hit by a semi-truck Sunday, requiring helicopter evacuation and closing both highways.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Fairbanks-area teen faces DUI and drug charges after Badger Road stop
A 17-year-old Fairbanks-area driver faces DUI and drug charges after a Badger Road speeding stop turned up a breath alcohol reading above the adult threshold and cannabis paraphernalia.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read