Politics & Government

Alaska's child care aid system goes offline this weekend ahead of Dec. 1 changes

Alaska's child care assistance system goes dark this weekend so the state can get it ready for Dec. 1, when more working families qualify for help.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Kenai renews employee health coverage at 29% higher premium, holds workers' share at 13%

Kenai's employee health premiums are going up about 29%. The council is dipping into reserves so workers' share stays at 13% instead of rising to 15%.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Oct 21

Analysis: Ranked choices put Alaska’s Senate race near a tie as counting continues

Peltola leads by 626, but backup choices would flip that to an estimated 340-vote Sullivan edge. About 75,000 ballots remain; early and absentee votes so far favored her.

by Cale Green1w ago5 min read

Sitka shoppers will pay no city sales tax Nov. 27 and 28, the days after Thanksgiving

Sitka is skipping its sales tax the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, a yearly break expected to cost the city $32,500. Fuel and booze still get taxed.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Consultant's plan says Eaglecrest should publicly address its canceled gondola

A consultant says Eaglecrest should explain its canceled gondola, what it calls a $12.2 million write-off at a ski area taking in about $2 million a year.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Alaska towns have a month left to apply for up to $850,000 in federal block grants

Alaska towns have until Dec. 4 to apply for up to $850,000 each in federal block grants, and housing now qualifies. The state's last workshop is Tuesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

AlaskaCare retirees can switch dental and vision plans through Nov. 25 as premiums rise

AlaskaCare retirees have until Nov. 25 to switch dental, vision and hearing plans before premiums rise. Do nothing and you keep your plan at the new price.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Kenai school district drops suit against fired teacher, says he wasn't dishonest

The Kenai school district dropped its decade-long fight with a teacher it fired over health plan money and now says he wasn't dishonest. He got $367,677.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago4 min read

Alaska federal court moves to screen filings from woman who sued 71 times in a year

Alaska's federal court opened a prefiling review case Tuesday for a woman who brought 71 lawsuits in a year, naming defendants from NASA to a judge.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Alaska starts a statewide network to make walking and biking to school safer

The state is starting a statewide group to help Alaska kids walk and bike to school more safely, winter and all. Parents, teachers and planners are welcome.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Peltola leads Sullivan by 626 votes with nearly all Alaska precincts counted

Peltola leads Sullivan by 626 votes with nearly every precinct in, but early, absentee and questioned ballots are still out.

by Alaska News1w ago3 min read

State revises Native corporation proxy rules, shortening time to seek investigations

The state would give Native corporation shareholders 60 days, not 90, to seek proxy investigations, and spell out when shareholders can urge a vote.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Sterling woman charged with murder involving drugs in April Soldotna death

Soldotna police arrested a Sterling woman on a second-degree murder charge tied to an April death. The court filing lists it as a murder charge involving drugs.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Fairbanks mayor proposes cutting capital spending 92.5%, citing lawsuit payments

Fairbanks' mayor wants to cut the city's capital budget by more than 90% next year, saying lawsuit settlement payments have put the city in this spot.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Mat-Su voters reject sales tax, lean against alcohol tax and road powers

Mat-Su voters rejected a 1% sales tax about 2 to 1 and were voting down an alcohol tax and road powers. Longer school board terms are too close to call.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Nov 4, 2025

Alaska asks fuel companies how they would deliver to about 370 places statewide

The state is asking fuel companies whether they can get jet fuel, heating fuel and gas to about 370 places across Alaska by road, barge or plane.

by Melinda Communities.News1w ago1 min read

North Slope operator gets hearing on nearly $937,000 in proposed gas flaring penalties

Regulators want Mustang Holding to pay nearly $937,000 for burning off gas at its North Slope field without permission. It gets a hearing in January.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Bethel parks committee will discuss reorganizing jobs around a fitness center manager

Bethel's parks committee will weigh a plan for a fitness center manager. It would cut committee record-keeping from the job as an "inefficient use of time."

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Troopers say Sterling woman, 60, fired handgun toward homes during disturbance

Troopers arrested a 60-year-old Sterling woman they say threatened someone at a neighboring home with a handgun and fired it, once toward several residences.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Kenai Peninsula landfill shredder would cost $500,000 more than the Assembly budgeted

Kenai Peninsula Borough wants $500,000 more for a landfill shredder not yet bought. The director behind it voted for the original budget as an Assembly member.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Nome utility board lacks quorum at City Hall, reschedules for Friday

Nome's utility board met at City Hall instead of the power plant Tuesday but didn't have enough members to do business. It'll try again Friday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Judge won't revisit Tagle ruling or widen the case to include Treg Taylor

judge refused to revisit her Tagle ruling or widen the case to Treg Taylor. Her orders don't say whether a winning Taylor could be certified.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: State asks judge to reconsider Tagle ruling, saying it would also reach Taylor

Judge to hear a motion Thursday in Nome gold miners' beach access suit against Sitnasuak

Two Nome gold miners say Sitnasuak and two troopers used trespass notices and arrest threats to keep them off the beach. A hearing is set for Thursday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago4 min readFrom Jul 23

Mobile DMV coming to Clarks Point, Manokotak, Newhalen and Nondalton in November

BBNC and a Fairbanks company are bringing mobile DMV services to Clarks Point, Manokotak, Newhalen and Nondalton in November, including road tests and REAL IDs.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readFrom Oct 29

Mat-Su's liquor license cap could block a Big Lake store's license move to Wasilla

A Mat-Su liquor store company wants to move its Big Lake license to Wasilla. The law allows that only if the borough is over its cap. It's right at it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Sitka brewery and coffee shop vie for the last available restaurant liquor license

A Sitka brewery and a coffee shop both want the last restaurant liquor license available. The Assembly backed both, and the state board takes them up Nov. 10.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Planners urge dropping or rechecking Anchorage's Academy-Vanguard road project

A South Anchorage road project first flagged as a need around 2009 has more than doubled in price. City planners now say drop it or recheck it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Assembly chair drafts ordinance to cut 24 of Anchorage's 51 comprehensive plan documents

Anchorage's comprehensive plan fills a suitcase, and eight parts can't be found. The Assembly chair now wants to repeal 24 of its 51 documents.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Anchorage School Board approves $7.5 million transfer to cover student nutrition deficit

Anchorage schools served more meals, but meal revenue fell nearly $8.9 million short. The School Board moved $7.5 million from the general fund to cover it.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage teacher tells school board two behavior staff have quit since September

A Tyson Elementary teacher told the Anchorage School Board two behavior support staffers quit since she testified in September, and asked what's changed.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

AI chatbots are weighing in on Senate races from Alaska to Maine, out of public view

Four AI chatbots, six Senate races, two months of answers. They agree on health care. On prices, it depends on the bot, and Musk's Grok leans Republican. We tracked it for months.

by Alaska News1w ago5 min read

North Pole council gives utility workers an hour of leave for each on-call day

North Pole's on-call utility workers will get an hour of leave for each day on call. The mayor wanted half that. The council, Santa Claus included, said no.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Follows: North Pole council delays vote on on-call compensation for city utility workers

North Pole raises resident ambulance discount to 25% for calls inside city limits

North Pole raised its resident ambulance discount to 25% so city residents won't feel last month's fee hike. The sponsor: Council member Santa Claus.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Independent groups report spending more than the candidates raised in Kodiak's House race

A retired teacher and a young fisherman want Kodiak's open House seat. Groups backed by unions and national party money have spent more than the two raised.

by Alaska News1w ago3 min read

Alaska's 2026 races have drawn at least $210 million, mostly in the Senate race

Alaska's 2026 races have drawn at least $210 million. If turnout matches 2022, that's about $790 per voter. Three-quarters is in the Senate race.

by Alaska News1w ago8 min read

Tanana Chiefs' public safety manager named state VPSO coordinator of the year

Tanana Chiefs Conference's public safety manager was named the state's VPSO program coordinator of the year, and three TCC colleagues were commended.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Skagway clinic projects $394,000 overrun tied to a doctor's contract

Skagway's Dahl Memorial Clinic expects a $394,000 budget overrun from a costly doctor contract. The clinic faces a larger deficit if pending grants fail to arrive.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Oct 29

Juneau's last budget year ended $8.6 million better than forecast, city slides show

Juneau ended its budget year with $8.6 million more in savings than the Assembly expected. It still spent $13 million more than it took in, new slides show.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

A "Vote JKT for Gov" blimp floats over Midtown Anchorage on the day before the election

In an election buried in ads, Kreiss-Tomkins' campaign floated one you can't scroll past: a "Vote JKT for Gov" blimp over Midtown Anchorage.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Police find 9-year-old boy who was reported missing Monday in Eagle River

Anchorage police say Malik Muhammad, a 9-year-old boy reported missing Monday evening in Eagle River, has been found. Police had asked the public for help.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read