Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Senate Finance demands Phase 1 pipeline math before Alaska LNG tax vote
Senator Stedman blocked a vote on a $750 million annual tax break for Alaska LNG's Phase 1 pipeline until the Department of Revenue shows whether the project actually needs the 2-mill property tax cut to work financially.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Second Fire in Two Weeks Ignites Near Ambler on Kobuk River
A second wildfire ignited Sunday near Ambler on the Kobuk River, less than two weeks after a landfill fire burned 1,447 acres in the same area.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska elections office denies Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate filing
Alaska election officials denied Petersburg resident Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate candidacy, finding his filing mimicked incumbent Dan S. Sullivan's name and campaign to confuse voters.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Federal agencies warn Alaska seniors: government will never demand gift cards
Alaska seniors lost over 16 million dollars to scams in 2025, prompting federal agencies to warn that no government office will ever demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Man believed to be Portland hiker found dead near Ketchikan's Deer Mountain Trail
A Portland hiker who called Alaska State Troopers lost near Ketchikan's Deer Mountain Trail on June 14 was found dead the next morning at the bottom of a cliff during a helicopter search.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Ketchikan warrant service leads to three arrests at one home
Alaska State Troopers arrested Teeka Edenshaw, 35, at a Ketchikan home June 12 after she was found hiding in the attic to evade felony probation warrants. • Murphy Charles was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution for helping Edenshaw climb into the attic. • Fred Reigard, 54, was arrested for first-degree failure to register as a sex offender, a charge he had a prior conviction for in 2023.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Federal court bars respondents from moving detainee before June 17 hearing
A federal judge blocked Alaska officials from moving a detainee out of state before a June 17 hearing in Anchorage on a habeas petition.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage raises veteran bid preference cap to $50,000
Anchorage Assembly approved a new veteran-owned business bid preference capped at $50,000 and simplified local bidder preferences, effective July 1, 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Wasilla man faces assault, evidence-tampering charges in domestic violence arrest
Alaska State Troopers arrested six people in domestic disturbance calls across Mat-Su and near Glennallen on June 12 and 13. • Charges included second-degree assault, third-degree assault, weapon misconduct, and criminal mischief. • Five arrestees were held at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility. One was transported to Glennallen Post. • All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Senator Sullivan threatens legal action over namesake challenger
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan is threatening legal action against Republican challenger Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, claiming the shared name is designed to confuse voters in Alaska's top-four primary.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min readNenana vandalism spree under investigation; one suspect named
Alaska State Troopers are investigating three vandalism incidents in Nenana on June 12, including one case classified as first-degree burglary with extensive property damage and one suspect named in a rock-throwing incident near Market Street.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Smokejumpers attack 75-acre lightning fire northeast of Fairbanks
Smokejumpers attacked a 75-acre lightning fire in tundra and black spruce 66 miles northeast of Fairbanks on Saturday morning.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Cook Political Report shifts Alaska Senate race to Toss Up as Peltola leads Sullivan
Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Dan Sullivan 49.4 percent to 44.2 percent in a new poll of Alaska's U.S. Senate race, but falls short of the 50 percent needed to win under ranked-choice voting.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Smokejumpers deploy to Star Fire near Eagle on Taylor Highway
Smokejumpers deployed to the Star Fire burning 5 to 8 acres near milepost 149 on the Taylor Highway south of Eagle, with 12 jumpers constructing fireline Thursday evening.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage School Board adopts class size policy under state mandate
Anchorage School Board voted unanimously to adopt state-mandated class size limits of 23 for elementary and 30 for middle and high school. • The board also adopted smaller evidence-based targets it cannot currently afford, requiring annual cost analysis to document the funding gap.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Smokejumpers stop half-acre fire across Yukon River from Circle
Six smokejumpers stopped a half-acre wildfire burning across the Yukon River from Circle on June 12, using hose lines and coordinating water drops to protect the nearby community.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Alaska logs 13 new wildfire investigations in 72 hours
Alaska fire agencies opened 13 wildfire investigations in three days as a Red Flag Warning and burn permit suspensions took effect across Interior Alaska due to strong winds, low humidity, and dry fuels.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage to issue $55.2M in bonds for roads, parks, fire equipment
Anchorage will issue $55.2 million in general obligation bonds in July for roads, parks, fire equipment, and transit, with annual debt service of $4.0 million paid by property taxpayers.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Coast Guard to station three icebreakers in Kodiak, Seward
The Coast Guard will station two Arctic Security Cutters in Kodiak and one in Seward once infrastructure is built, adding a fourth icebreaker to Alaska's fleet with first delivery expected in 2028.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Both cranes on Cordova's Drive Down Dock are out of service at the height of Copper River salmon season
Bad timing for fishing season as Cordova Drive down dock crane is not up to snuff
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Coast Guard to homeport four icebreakers in Alaska
Coast Guard will homeport four icebreakers in Alaska, with two Arctic Security Cutters in Kodiak by 2028 and a third in Seward, following $3.5 billion in federal funding.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Petersburg fire training center relocation could cost $800,000-plus
Petersburg fire department must move its training facility from the airport by December 31, with relocation costs exceeding $800,000 and no confirmed funding source yet identified.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Petersburg police, fire face staffing crisis with 5 open positions
Petersburg police have three dispatcher and two patrol officer vacancies while fire and EMS rely on volunteers with limited actual response capacity, complicating plans to expand services to Thomas Bay.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Ambler landfill fire burns Native allotment, raises toxic smoke fears
A landfill fire that started June 4 in Ambler has burned nearly 1,500 acres including a Native allotment, with smoke from burning trash posing health risks to elders, children, and people with heart or lung conditions.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Delta Junction faces back-to-back Red Flag days with 55 mph gusts
Delta Junction faces Red Flag Warnings Saturday and Sunday with 55 mph gusts, 20 percent humidity, and dry grass ready to burn. Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection urges residents to skip burning this weekend.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage police to train 10 officers in mental-health crisis response
Anchorage police will train up to ten officers and dispatchers in mental health crisis response this fall using a $50,000 state grant and $1,100 in city matching funds.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage appropriates $2.5M in federal transit grants for bus fleet
Anchorage Assembly approved $6.6 million in federal and local funding on June 9 to replace aging buses, expand paratransit service, and maintain the People Mover fleet.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Kreiss-Tomkins tries to make up ground, launches six-figure ad buy in governor's race
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former Sitka legislator, launched a six-figure ad campaign across Meta, YouTube, and radio for Alaska's 2026 governor's race, focusing on schools, fisheries, and cost of living.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Where Alaska's fire morels may pop next
Oh, Mushroom hunters / Information they kept close / Now for all to know
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate race shifts to toss-up as Peltola challenges Sullivan
A nonpartisan forecaster moved Alaska's 2026 Senate race to toss-up, citing Democrat Mary Peltola's strong 2024 House showing and Republican Dan Sullivan's weak profile, though Alaska remains solidly Republican.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Homer Council picks partial HERC demolition over full cleanup
Homer City Council voted May 26 to demolish the smaller HERC 2 building at the city-owned Education and Recreation Complex but skip cleanup of the larger former high school building, using $126,917 already set aside for the demolition.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Iron Dog expands route to Huslia, Shungnak, Ambler after federal reversal
Vroom, vroom
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Latvian climber faces mounting medical bills after Denali fall
A Latvian climber critically injured in a May 28 Denali fall that killed three teammates faces mounting medical bills as his insurance nears its limit. His family launched a fundraising campaign for months of treatment in Anchorage.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
APOC fines George Martinez after campaign-paid flight to Florida
Oh goodness... I guess campaign finance laws were made for a reason.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Coast Guard to homeport four icebreakers in Alaska
Coast Guard will homeport four icebreakers in Alaska by 2028, with two in Kodiak, one in Seward, and a fourth location to be named, funded by $3.5 billion in federal legislation.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Tok suspends burn permits ahead of Chickenstock festival
Trying to enjoy chickenstock, and yes, that is a real thing, well, you better pre-burn your barrels. Cause that is no longer A-OK at this wholesome event.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
SBA 8(a) proposal leaves Native corporation carveout intact
Big changes to 8(a). But not in the ways that matter in Alaska.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Coast Guard to homeport four icebreakers in Alaska
The Coast Guard will homeport two Arctic Security Cutters in Kodiak and one in Seward starting in 2028, funded by $3.5 billion in the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts Act.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Crystal Ball shifts Alaska Senate race to toss-up as Peltola leads eight polls
University of Virginia's Crystal Ball rated Alaska's 2026 Senate race a toss-up, shifting from lean Republican after Democrat Mary Peltola entered against incumbent Dan Sullivan. • Peltola's campaign says she leads in eight consecutive polls and unveiled a wages-focused tax proposal. • Republican super PACs committed $21 million to oppose her.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Iron Dog race expands route to Huslia, Shungnak, Ambler
Iron Dog snowmachine race will expand its 2,500-mile route through Huslia, Shungnak, and Ambler after federal wildlife officials reversed a prior denial, clearing permits to cross three national refuges and parks.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read