Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Fairbanks man arrested for DUI after crash injures three passengers
A 20-year-old Fairbanks man was arrested for DUI after a crash near Steese Highway injured three passengers early Saturday, with a breath test showing more than twice the legal alcohol limit.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Pilot killed in Piper Pacer crash 40 miles southeast of Cordova
A pilot flying solo between Yakutat and Fairbanks was found dead Friday after an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter located the crashed Piper Pacer near Kanak Island, about 40 miles southeast of Cordova.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Heat and fire risk converge across Interior Alaska for solstice weekend
Interior Alaska's longest weekend brings heat its houses can't handle and lightning that could light the woods. Hydrate, and go check on grandma.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Dunleavy called a second special session over the unresolved LNG tax bill
Long Friday in Juneau: LNG tax bill stuck, second special session called, two vetoes overridden, three failed. Round three starts Saturday.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Von Imhof Launches Anchorage Mayoral Bid With 'Fix and Grow' Platform
Former state senator Natasha Von Imhof launched a campaign for Anchorage mayor against incumbent Suzanne LaFrance. The election is scheduled for April 6, 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's hockey community moves to take over its own arenas for $10 a year
Anchorage hockey is buying back its own rinks for $10 a year — and inheriting the maintenance bill that comes with them.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Rain gives Canyon Fire crews window to protect Native allotments
The Canyon Fire near Rampart is at 409 acres. Crews are protecting a cabin 3 miles out — that's a hedge against the fire making a run.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly takes up wipes ban in city sewers June 23
Anchorage Assembly takes a first reading June 23 on an ordinance banning all disposable wipes from city sewers, with fines up to $1,000 per violation.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
The Army Just Ran a Shark Tank in Alaska — and a Soldier's Enemy-Sniffing Drone Won
The Army ran a Shark Tank in Alaska, and a soldier's drone that narcs on the enemy's radios took the prize. Losing pitches still "win," per the general.
by Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
An escaped campfire grew to 89 acres near Sterling — cutting power and closing a road
An unextinguished campfire near Sterling grew to 89 acres, cut power, and closed Swanson River Road. Put out your campfires.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Outside spending in the Alaska Senate race intensifies — Majority Forward ads target Sullivan
Outside spending lands in the Alaska Senate race. Majority Forward attacks Sullivan on Iran; GOP-aligned spending is 2x as large.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Five wildfires under investigation overnight in southcentral Alaska
Five wildfires broke out overnight in southcentral Alaska's Susitna basin as a Red Flag Warning takes effect Saturday, with burn permits suspended statewide.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Juneau clerk certifies 1% seasonal sales tax petition, Assembly has 45 days to act
Juneau citizens got a 1% seasonal sales tax to the brink of the ballot. The Assembly has 45 days to pass it or let voters do it.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska banned billboards. Every election, candidates test whether the law means them too.
Sign, sign, everywhere, a sign. Blockin' out the scenery. Breakin' my mind
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage city funds carry $45 million in deficits — biggest two still growing
Anchorage owes itself $45M across five funds. The city skipped some accounting reviews; now they're catching up.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage budget trade-off: schools OR general government, not both, may be coming
Anchorage Assembly: model schools OR general government — not both. A committee member said the underlying situation is a fiscal cliff.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Red Flag Warnings blanket Mat-Su and Susitna Valley for solstice weekend
National Weather Service issued Red Flag Warnings for Mat-Su and Susitna Valley through early Saturday due to lightning risk, dry fuels, and humidity as low as 25 percent. Burn permits are suspended across Delta, Tok, and Mat-Su areas.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
AML urges OMB to withdraw proposed federal grant overhaul
Alaska Municipal League asked the federal Office of Management and Budget on June 9 to withdraw proposed changes to grant rules, warning the overhaul would increase costs and risks for Alaska cities and rural boroughs if finalized this fall.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
The Grandview Fire has closed Swanson River Road and burned 30 acres near Sterling
The Grandview Fire is at 30 acres near Sterling. Swanson River Road is closed, the canoe route is offline, no evacuations yet.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Juneau's federal court office keeps closing, with no end in sight
Alaska's capital has a federal court counter. Staffing it is apparently optional — closed again this month, with no word on when it reopens.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
A Senate vote on the federal lands maintenance fund has major Alaska stakes
The Senate is reauthorizing the fund that pays to fix trails and visitor centers across Alaska's federal lands. Murkowski's staff stayed up.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Six nations, 70-plus aircraft, an airspace bigger than Britain: the war over Alaska was a drill
The U.S. military ran a two-week air-combat drill in June with over 70 aircraft from six nations, including Singapore and Britain, practicing strikes across 120,000 square miles of Alaska airspace to prepare pilots for real Pacific combat.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Alaska's 1-40 Cav made its last cavalry jump June 10 — WWII lineage returns in July
Alaska's 1-40 Cavalry just made its last big jump as cavalry. In July they become the 1-511th, reviving a WWII unit that fought on Leyte and Luzon.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
A new landfill permit for Russian Mission is one piece of a much bigger Y-K Delta solid waste story
Russian Mission's getting a new landfill. The Y-K Delta solid waste story is much bigger than one permit.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Legal memo says Daniel J. Sullivan appears eligible for U.S. Senate ballot
A Legislative Legal Services memo says Daniel J. Sullivan meets U.S. Constitution requirements for Senate and that the lieutenant governor likely lacked authority to reject his candidacy filing, though elections officials still list him as denied.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Smokejumpers and the Chena Hotshots are protecting Native allotments from the Canyon Fire
Alaska's natural fire policy gets interrupted when a Native allotment is in the way. Canyon Fire is what that looks like.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Mat-Su Says No to Swapping Property Tax for Sales Tax
Mat-Su weighed trading its property tax for a 6.5% sales tax — same money, different payers — and decided renters, shoppers, and an untested legal handcuff made it a bad bet for the ballot.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly considers removing duplicative child care licensing rules
Anchorage is moving to repeal four child care licensing rules and amend three more, arguing they duplicate state standards or have not worked, in hopes of easing a chronic shortage of child care centers.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Murkowski and Sullivan split on a motion to discharge an Iran War Powers Resolution
Iran War Powers Resolution: Murkowski yes, Sullivan no. The 2020 version went the same way. Pattern noted.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska AFL-CIO endorsed Peltola for Senate and Hill for House Wednesday
Alaska AFL-CIO endorsed Peltola and Hill. The federation traditionally goes Democratic. The other side wasn't asked.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Eklutna committed $196,649 to Anchorage for Halong evacuee public safety
Eklutna is paying for Anchorage's cops, fire trucks, and a camera. Tribe to city, oddly enough.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Peltola releases Alaska fisheries platform anchored in factory trawling ban
Democrat Mary Peltola released a Senate campaign fisheries platform calling for a ban on factory trawling and tribal seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. • Peltola, a former U.S. representative and fishing boat captain, cited declining salmon returns as urgency for the reforms. • The platform also proposes freezing the Federal Subsistence Board's current composition and expanding electronic monitoring for bycatch.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance presses Alaska LNG spur line: who builds, who pays, who regulates
Senate Finance gets into the numbers of the LNG line in a hot and spicy day of meetings
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Anchorage commission to review mayor's salary for first time since 2020
Anchorage's Commission on Salaries and Emoluments voted Tuesday to review the mayor's $145,392 annual salary for the first time since 2020, after noting some unionized city employees now earn more than their boss.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A federal court said it can order states to fix foster care. Alaska's case looms.
A federal court said it can order Alaska to fix foster care. Alaska's AG said please don't. Lawsuit pending.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago3 min read
Alaska Supreme Court upholds ICWA termination, clarifies standards
Alaska Supreme Court upheld termination of parental rights for two Native children, clarifying courts must meet criminal-level proof and show active efforts to preserve families under federal Indian Child Welfare Act rules.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Blake Gettys Builds LG Bid Around Personal Survival Story
Getty tries to tell Alaskans about his bio. Hughes has not been shown in the top four in any publicly available poll.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska State Parks reservation change puts deadline on gift certificates
Alaska State Parks switches to a new reservation system Oct. 1, 2026, and all Reserve America gift certificates expire Sept. 30 and must be used for stays before Jan. 1, 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Coast Guard seeks contractor for Kodiak rescue aircraft life-support gear
Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak is hiring a contractor to maintain life-support gear on rescue aircraft serving Alaska's deadliest fisheries, with proposals due June 29.
by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Mat-Su Planning Commission to schedule Eagle River annexation presentation
Mat-Su Planning Commission scheduled a presentation on annexing Chugiak and Eagle River from Anchorage, a preliminary step that does not endorse the idea or require a vote by the Borough Assembly.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read