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 15
Anchorage ordinance would put all Assembly license and assessment hearings under one set of rules
An Anchorage ordinance would give residents fighting a license suspension or property assessment one uniform set of hearing rules, in place of scattered ones.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Friday, Aug 14
Kenai council takes up $75,000 home tax exemption for November ballot
Kenai City Council votes Wednesday on sending a $75,000 home tax exemption to voters in November, following resident concerns about rising property taxes.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
An airman's idea for a cargo cart is out to bid at JBER
A cargo cart the Alaska Air National Guard is building started as one airman's idea — a simpler fix for the hard-to-move K-loader, from a base innovation lab.
by Alaska News3mo ago1 min read
The Air Force needs its Cold War-era Arctic radar towers inspected — the ones still watching Alaska's skies
The Air Force needs four Cold War-era Alaska radar towers inspected — 1950s sites still watching the Arctic, run by an Alaska Native corporation.
by Melinda Communities.News3mo ago2 min read
Troopers arrest man in Glennallen on no-bail federal warrant from heroin case
Alaska State Troopers arrested Eric Lackey in Glennallen on a federal no-bail warrant for a probation violation tied to heroin sales.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Court says a tribe can't sue its health consortium in state court
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled Dot Lake Village can't sue the Tanana Chiefs Conference in state court — the health consortium has tribal sovereign immunity.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
The Alaska Supreme Court sent a 14-year Willow property fight back to Palmer, with the trail's path still undecided
The Alaska Supreme Court wiped out the judgment mapping an access trail around a Willow home and sent the 14-year fight back to Palmer, with the trail's path still undecided.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's transit agency answered a records request by filming a computer screen
Anchorage's transit agency filled a bus-video records request by filming its own computer screen with a phone — grainy, silent, and flagged by the Ombudsman.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
More from Politics & Government
A matter the Anchorage Assembly declared closed still draws a request for five minutes
Pastor Leon D. May asked the Anchorage Assembly for five minutes to testify about Assembly Member George Martinez at the Aug. 18 meeting, citing public comment limits at prior sessions.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's assessment appeal surge reaches hearings next week
Anchorage property owners can appeal their 2026 tax assessments at six Board of Equalization hearings Aug. 18 through 21 at City Hall.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
The Assembly votes Tuesday on confirming a longtime trustee to run Anchorage's police and fire pension
The Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on confirming Glenn Cipriano, a longtime trustee, as director of the city's Police & Fire Retirement System.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
A majority of Kodiak's assembly is up for election this fall
A majority of the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly — four of seven seats — is up in the Oct. 6 election, and candidates have until Monday to file.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
A resident wants Anchorage's Chugach park-access board rewritten to give locals more control
Anchorage's Chugach park-access board would give paying residents a 4-of-7 majority, but one resident wants it tilted even further toward locals.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Alaska Democrats ask APOC to recommend removing House District 22 candidate from ballot
An Anchorage House candidate's ballot spot is in dispute over a blank-then-amended financial disclosure — now a question for the state ethics commission.
by Lucas Brown3mo ago3 min read
Trail runner injured by brown bear near Anchorage's Prospect Heights trailhead
A woman running alone on Wolverine Bowl trail near Anchorage was injured by a brown bear Thursday, deployed bear spray, and walked out; she was hospitalized and the bear was not located.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Kodiak keeps a road-sand storage lease its assembly had said it wanted to end
Kodiak's Service Area No. 1 will keep paying ~$12,600 a year to store road sand on a lease several assembly members had said last fall they wanted ended.
by Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago3 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
Alaskans vote Tuesday on restoring campaign contribution limits
Alaskans vote Tuesday on Ballot Measure 1, which would cap campaign donations that have been uncapped since a 2021 court ruling struck down the old $500 limit.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A new group formed to back Tom Begich for governor, days before the primary
A new independent group formed to back Tom Begich's run for governor, eight days before Alaska's primary. It hasn't yet reported raising or spending anything.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
A Muldoon pot shop divides the Assembly, with a former legislator and the chair for it and a council member against
A Muldoon Road pot shop drew a former legislator and the Assembly chair for it and a council member against, at a hearing carried over to Tuesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Anchorage orders outside police use-of-force review after sixth officer-involved shooting this year
Anchorage will hire an outside investigator to review police use of force after an officer shot someone on Debarr Road, the sixth officer-involved shooting in the city this year.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Kasilof man under sexual abuse investigation dies of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound
Kasilof man under sexual abuse investigation dies of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
A retired Wasilla man is spending $11,000 to oppose a candidate for governor
A retired Wasilla man is spending about $11,000 to oppose gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson before Tuesday's primary. No law caps the total.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
One owner moves to take full control of a Midtown Anchorage cannabis operation
Yotam Levi is set to take full control of a three-part Midtown Anchorage cannabis business, a grow, a manufacturing site and a store, by buying out partners.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min readFrom 
Valdez weighs all but ending property tax on homes
Valdez is weighing all but ending property tax on homes — affordable because oil is most of its base, though it may test Alaska's limits on taxing industry.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A missing health certification is holding up the Homestead Lounge's liquor license transfer
Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on a conditional protest of a liquor license transfer at The Homestead Lounge in Eagle River, held up by a missing health certification.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Thursday, Aug 13
Downtown Anchorage owners face a $1.15 million yearly bill
779 downtown Anchorage owners would owe a combined $1.15 million this year for snow removal, security, tourism and beautification — $20K-plus to under $300.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
A dollar-a-year lease would help stand up an American Legion post near Alaska's first state veterans cemetery
A dollar-a-year lease would help build an American Legion post in Salcha, beside Alaska's first state veterans cemetery — a 257-acre site for 12,000+ vets.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Fairbanks voters will weigh banning voting machines for hand counts
Fairbanks voters decide Oct. 6 whether to ban voting machines and hand-count all ballots — an initiative its backers call cost-saving and its critics contest.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Trench that killed two Delta Junction workers had no cave-in protection
Two Delta Junction workers died in a 13-foot trench with no cave-in protection, violating federal safety standards that require protective systems in excavations deeper than 5 feet.
by Lucas Brown3mo ago2 min readFrom 
Complaints against Wilson and Taylor governor campaigns question donation source, not size
Former Anchorage Assembly chair filed complaints against two GOP governor candidates. Wilson campaign received $25,000 donation listed as both company and individual, unclear which is true. Taylor campaign failed to describe $147,000 in consultant and lawyer payments beyond listing them as retainers.
by Lucas Brownadded 3mo ago2 min read
Troopers arrest Charles Yingst in Big Lake on warrants topping $2 million
Alaska State Troopers arrested Charles Yingst in Big Lake on Wednesday on warrants totaling more than $2 million for fraud and escape charges.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Browsing AlaskaJobs as a guest can cost you UI benefits
Browsing AlaskaJobs as a guest instead of registering can cost unemployed Alaskans their UI benefits — you must register within seven days of filing.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
A Juneau evacuation route is restricted as the valley floods
A Juneau road is restricted to local traffic as the Mendenhall Valley floods from the Suicide Basin outburst, with about 5,000 people told to evacuate.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche files to run again
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, a former Soldotna mayor and state Senate President, filed to run for another term ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Mat-Su sex offender sweep produces 17 arrests, 15 of them for registration violations
Alaska State Troopers arrested 17 people during a three-day sex offender compliance sweep in the Mat-Su Valley but located only 60 of 100 registered offenders targeted for checks.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Palmer man accused of DUI after forcing officer off Parks Highway
A Palmer man ran a Wasilla officer off the Parks Highway, then admitted to a bottle of wine and being too drunk to drive. His breath test came back at 0.109.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Wednesday, Aug 12
Money floods a dead-even Alaska Senate race
Alaska's U.S. Senate race is awash in unprecedented money — some $30 million — as Sullivan and Peltola run dead even ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Smokejumpers contained the McCloud Fire at one acre, and found a lost person during the initial attack
Eight smokejumpers and two helicopters responded Wednesday to a half-acre fire burning 12.5 miles west of Fox, with no structures threatened.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Two arrested after reported armed robbery at Big Lake campground
Alaska State Troopers arrested two Anchorage residents after three campers were robbed at gunpoint at Northshore Campground in Big Lake early Wednesday, Aug. 12.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
New federal rule limits e-scooters and hoverboards in national parks
A new federal rule starting Sept. 11 limits e-scooters, hoverboards and Segways in national parks to designated areas and bars them from wilderness entirely.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
