Politics & Government
RSSPolitics & Government in Alaska is the activity of state and local elections, lawmaking and public administration. It covers campaigns, ballot measures, ethics and campaign finance, legislative and executive action, and municipal and borough council decisions across Alaska communities.
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Tuesday, Aug 25
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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo ago2 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo ago1 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 News2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 2mo ago1 min read
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Monday, Aug 24
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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
About Politics & Government
Politics and government in Alaska takes in state and local elections, lawmaking and public administration. It covers campaigns, ballot measures, campaign finance, legislative and executive action, and decisions by municipal assemblies and borough and city councils.
Recurring questions include how campaigns are funded and who pays for outside spending and political messages, which candidates qualify for the ballot, and how state agencies write and repeal regulations. Local governments such as the Anchorage Assembly and the Ketchikan assembly weigh spending on roads, water systems and police programs.
The subject reaches across the Legislature, state agencies and municipal governments. Advisory boards and councils that take public comment on matters such as state parks and disability policy are part of it as well.
More from Politics & Government
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 2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 2mo 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 2mo ago1 min read
Sunday, Aug 23
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 2mo 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 2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
A man was found dead at Tangle Lakes Campground
A man was found dead at Tangle Lakes Campground and died by suicide, Alaska State Troopers said. His family had not yet been notified.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly committees would consolidate under a draft from the Rules chair
Anchorage Assembly committees would consolidate and meet less often under the Rules chair's draft. Members have said the current load is too many hours.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
As a crime center vote nears, Anchorage weighs whether its privacy limits should be policy or law
Anchorage votes Sept. 1 on $600K for its police crime center. The chief says it adds no surveillance; a pending ordinance would put its privacy limits into law.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago3 min read
A California woman was summonsed for hit and run on a parked car in Healy
A 21-year-old California woman was summonsed for hitting a parked car in Healy and driving off. Troopers said alcohol was a contributing factor.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Alaska lawmakers weigh whether to keep boards licensing dentists and barbers
Alaska lawmakers are weighing whether to keep the boards licensing dentists, chiropractors and barbers, and released the audits that will guide that call.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Saturday, Aug 22
Anchorage police detail the limits on their Real-Time Crime Center
Anchorage police will delete license plate reader data after 14 days and limit searches to fewer than 10 employees, Police Chief Sean Case said.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Alaska moves to give up nearly 59,000 acres near Parks Highway for University of Alaska
Alaska is dropping its claim to nearly 59,000 acres near the Parks Highway so the university can have it. All 13 public comments opposed the move.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 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 AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readFrom 
Anchorage police ask cardholders to check statements in tap-to-pay fraud case
Anchorage police want cardholders checking four date ranges for charges they didn't make. For the July charges, the 60-day dispute window closes in September.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Tok has no way to warn its residents, and a state coordinator says it cost houses
Tok has no townwide alarm, and a state wildfire coordinator said the gap cost houses in the Mukluk Fire. Residents said they never got a GO alert.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Mukluk Fire crews shift to southwest flank ahead of Sunday wind change
Mukluk Fire crews shifted to the southwest flank Saturday ahead of forecast northwesterly winds Sunday, with Level 3 evacuation orders still in effect north of the Alaska Highway near Tok.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Anchorage keeps blowing past overtime budgets stuck on a 2010 baseline
Anchorage's police, fire and transit overtime again ran over budget, largely because the budgeted amounts still rest on an unadjusted 2010 baseline.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Park Service urges hard-sided bear containers in the Arrigetch Peaks
A brown bear took food from a soft-sided bear-resistant container in the Arrigetch Peaks on August 13. The Park Service now strongly recommends hard-sided containers, which backpackers can check out at the Bettles Ranger Station.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
