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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Saturday, Aug 22
Drones are dropping chaff over Nenana to try to stop lightning
A Vancouver startup is dropping metallic chaff from drones over Nenana to try to stop lightning before it starts wildfires. The flights run through Sept. 30.
by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago3 min readFrom 
Alaska will give up 5 acres on Elrington Island despite unanimous opposition
Alaska will cede 5 acres on Elrington Island to the University of Alaska. All 13 public comments opposed it, citing lost hunting and subsistence access.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Driver kills Anchorage pedestrian at Seward Highway and Benson Boulevard, flees scene
A woman was killed by a driver who did not stop, at Seward Highway and Benson early Saturday. Her name is being withheld until family is notified.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Troopers say ATV fled Fairbanks traffic stop, crashed near airport
An ATV fled a Fairbanks traffic stop before dawn Saturday and crashed behind the airport. Both riders were jailed; the driver faces a DUI charge.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Three rescued after float plane crashes in forest near Bettles
Three people survived a floatplane crash near Bettles and were hoisted out overnight, after a satellite device let them relay their location to rescuers.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Kusilvak unemployment hit 16.1% in May, six times Denali Borough's rate
About one in six people in the Kusilvak labor force was unemployed in May, the highest rate in Alaska. Every high-rate region is off the road system.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min read
Judge vacates 490-acre Izembek land swap, reopening the fight over the King Cove road
A judge voided the land deal behind the King Cove road, reopening a decades-old fight. Crews stage construction as the court weighs a halt by Aug. 31.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago4 min read
Friday, Aug 21
Homer weighs spending $6,000 to inform voters about a road-tax measure, near a line the law draws
Homer may spend $6,000 to inform voters about renewing its road-and-trail sales tax, though the ordinance's own title admits it "may influence" the vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
More from Politics & Government
Anchorage holds more property-appeal hearings, as hundreds of over-assessed homes get lower valuations
Anchorage holds six more property-appeal hearings next week, as about 660 over-assessed homes get lower valuations and the appeals board nearly doubles.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Chugach sees opportunity for its communities in the Coast Guard's Alaska buildup
Chugach, an Alaska Native corporation that contracts with the Coast Guard, is casting the service's Alaska buildup as an opportunity for its communities.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly tightens absence rule in 6-1 vote
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly lowered the absence threshold to 25 percent of meetings to forfeit a seat, down from 50 percent, and now counts work sessions in that total.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min read
Coast Guard awards $143.4 million for 30 housing units and child care center at Kodiak ahead of two Arctic cutters
The Coast Guard is spending $143.4 million on 30 housing units and a child care center at Base Kodiak, ahead of two Arctic Security Cutters homeporting there.
by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago1 min read
Charter plane crash at Cape Newenham radar site kills eight
Eight people died when a charter plane crashed on approach to the Cape Newenham radar site in western Alaska. Two pilots and six passengers were aboard.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
A group backing Begich for governor has spent nothing, with a website waiting for the general election
A new outside group backing Tom Begich for governor has spent nothing so far, its only financial trace a $1,116 debt for a website that wasn't even live yet.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Ketchikan's Assembly has fewer candidates than seats, with four days to file
Ketchikan's Borough Assembly has two candidates for three seats with four days left to file. The School Board race has four candidates for two seats.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
A Fort Yukon tribal crew that fights fire across the country just locked in funding through 2031
A Fort Yukon tribal fire crew — Native firefighters protecting an area larger than Texas — just locked in federal funding through 2031.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 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
Palmer jury convicts Robert Hawes on four felony sex abuse counts
A Palmer jury convicted Robert Hawes, 72, on four felony sex abuse counts involving a 4-year-old child in 2021. He faces sentencing November 25.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Anchorage schools will open a new listening effort with a $42 million shortfall
Anchorage School District is launching a listening effort, opening with the $42 million shortfall it projects for 2028. Past rounds drew complaints.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Sitka Assembly takes up a public records appeal Tuesday
A Sitka resident is appealing a records determination to the Assembly Tuesday. The agenda doesn't say what records he asked for or what he was told.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Sitka is set to confirm a fire chief who's already been doing the job
Sitka's Assembly is set to confirm Brian McLaughlin as fire chief this week, a role he already appears to have been filling for the volunteer-heavy department.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Tanana Chiefs wins federal grant for suicide prevention in 15 villages
Of 122 youth referred to Tanana Chiefs behavioral health last year, 76 were admitted. A new federal grant funds suicide prevention in 15 Interior villages.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
A Kenai man is sentenced to 60 years for sexually assaulting a child in his home
A Kenai man, Darold Greg Love, 67, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child living in his home, with no eligibility for parole.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read
A Wasilla seatbelt stop turned up meth, a stolen debit card and two warrants
A Wasilla seatbelt stop unspooled into a lot more: troopers reported meth, someone else's debit card, a false name and two warrants, one for stealing a car.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Thursday, Aug 20
The Alaska House gavels in and out again, taking no action in the special session
The Alaska House gaveled in and out again Tuesday, taking no action in the governor's special session, as the Republican minority presses for full sessions.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Alaska students will spend the year researching the veterans buried at Fort Richardson
Alaska students will spend the year researching the veterans buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery, building a campus memorial and a walking tour.
by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min read
Troopers arrest Wasilla driver on DUI charge after KGB Road crash
A Wasilla driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after his truck hit a guardrail and semi-trailer on Knik-Goose Bay Road on August 20.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Ordinance would make police ask before buying surveillance tech
Anchorage police would need Assembly approval to buy surveillance technology, and the city could not join outside data-sharing networks, under a new ordinance.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Alaska's audit watchdog gets a new leader, inheriting a fisheries probe and a new power over the governor
Alaska's audit watchdog gets a new leader as Kris Curtis retires. Mark Lundahl inherits a Board of Fisheries probe and a new power over oil-tax records.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
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 2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo 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 News2mo 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 AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
