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.
Inside Politics & Government
Places and organizations in this news
Numbers are stories in the last 30 days.
Have a story about Politics & Government? Send a tip
Tuesday, Jul 7
Four-wheeler breakdown strands two near Kotzebue; borough SAR unable to respond
Two people stranded near Kotzebue were rescued the morning after the Fourth — by troopers and two local volunteers, after the borough's search-and-rescue unit couldn't respond.

In a dry village, a man is charged with assault after furnishing a teen alcohol
A Tuntutuliak man, Jared Enoch, 24, is charged with furnishing alcohol to a teenager and sexually assaulting them in a village where alcohol is banned. He is presumed innocent.

Akiachak man charged with murder after early-morning stabbing death
Randy Nose, 41, died from stab wounds in Akiachak early Monday. Fred Nose Jr., 37, also of Akiachak, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Homer man, 85, summonsed for 2025 Anchor Point hit-and-run after trooper spots vehicle nine months later
An 85-year-old Homer man was summonsed for a hit-and-run in Anchor Point nine months after the crash, when a trooper recognized his vehicle on a Homer street.

Peltola calls for 12-year congressional term limits, asks Alaska legislature to act
Mary Peltola wants 12-year congressional term limits. She is asking Alaska lawmakers to force a legal challenge to federal rules.

Fire Weather Watch issued for Lower Kobuk Valley through Wednesday
Fire Weather Watch in effect for Lower Kobuk Valley through Wednesday evening as temperatures near 80 degrees and humidity drops to 35 percent, raising lightning ignition risk across dry fuels.

Anchorage man held without bail after 80 mph pursuit through Wasilla
Anchorage man Wyatt Baker, 21, was held without bail after fleeing police in Wasilla at over 80 mph early Tuesday, running red lights and stop signs.

Interior Native Vote brings candidates to Fairbanks tribal hall July 20
Interior Native Vote hosts a candidate forum July 20 at Chief David Salmon Tribal Hall in Fairbanks, six weeks before the August 18 primary.

More from Politics & Government
New fire burns 1.5 miles from Native allotment near Kaltag
Wildfire burning in black spruce four miles north of Kaltag is 1.5 miles from a Native allotment, with 12 smokejumpers and aircraft responding.

Five wildfires burning across Interior and Western Alaska as Siruk reaches 60% containment
The Siruk Fire near Allakaket reached 60% containment at 619 acres as crews push against forecast heat and critically dry conditions across five active Interior and Western Alaska fires.

Cone Fire in Koyukuk refuge at 50% containment; no threat to Huslia allotments
Eight smokejumpers held the Cone Fire at 50% containment inside Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge as of Saturday, with no threat to Huslia Native allotments 33 miles away.

Two Anchorage men charged in undercover sex trafficking operation
Alaska investigators arrested two Anchorage men on sex trafficking charges after an undercover operation June 30 and July 1.

Soldotna man faces federal charges for alleged CSAM purchases via PayPal
A Soldotna man faces federal charges for allegedly purchasing child sexual abuse material through PayPal over two years, with investigators tracing roughly 27 transactions to his account.

Juneau finance committee deadlocks 4-4 on Eaglecrest closure study as ski area seeks $1.68M
Juneau's Finance Committee deadlocked 4-4 on studying closure costs for Eaglecrest after the ski board said it needs $1.68 million to stay open, nearly double the committee's $930,000 target.

Teen airlifted after horse kick on Johnson Pass Trail
A teenage girl was airlifted to Anchorage after a horse kicked her two miles up Johnson Pass Trail near Moose Pass on July 3.

Monday, Jul 6
Kodiak Borough assembly scheduled to introduce marijuana tax measure for October ballot
Kodiak Borough Assembly introduces a 3% marijuana tax Thursday for an Oct. 6 voter decision, potentially raising $135,000 to $150,000 yearly for health and education programs.

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
Juneau ordinance would expand senior property tax relief to hundreds more households
Juneau Assembly will vote July 27 on expanding senior property tax relief to hundreds more households by raising the income threshold and capping the maximum exemption at roughly $5,079.

Juneau airport to lease Texas fire truck while new ARFF rigs await delivery
Juneau airport will lease a Texas fire truck for $162,000 while two new rigs arrive, covering a gap when the airport would have minimal firefighting capacity.

Supreme Court ruling on party spending hits Alaska's toss-up Senate race
Supreme Court struck down federal limits on party spending coordinated with candidates, opening unlimited Republican spending in Alaska's toss-up Senate race between Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan.

Six wildfire investigations open across Alaska over Fourth of July weekend
Six wildfire investigations opened across Alaska during the Fourth of July weekend as lightning storms and human activity continue sparking fires statewide.

Helicopter sinks in Chelatna Lake; bystander pulls both survivors from water
A helicopter sank in Chelatna Lake near Skwentna on Sunday after a boater pulled both occupants from the water; both survived with minor injuries.

Red Flag Warnings cover five western Alaska regions Tuesday as lightning threat may push to North Slope
Red Flag Warnings cover five western Alaska regions Tuesday as dry conditions and lightning threaten new wildfires, with storms possibly reaching the North Slope Wednesday.

Fritz Creek man charged again with DUI after meth-impaired rollover while on release conditions
A Fritz Creek man was charged with DUI after rolling his vehicle on East End Road on May 16 while impaired by methamphetamine, violating court-ordered release conditions from a prior DUI-drug case.

Speeding stop on Sterling Highway surfaces Soldotna man wanted on 7 Arizona felonies
Alaska State Troopers arrested a Soldotna man Sunday after a speeding stop on Sterling Highway revealed an active Arizona warrant for seven felonies including robbery and burglary.

Cecil Fire fully contained near Ruby; Big Fire at 70% with storms approaching
Cecil Fire near Ruby is fully contained at 724 acres, while Big Fire at 258 acres is 70% contained with thunderstorms and 40 mph gusts approaching the area.

Prius driver airlifted after T-bone crash at Moose Pass highway junction
A Prius driver ran a stop sign at Moose Pass and was hit by a semi-truck Sunday, requiring helicopter evacuation and closing both highways.

Fairbanks-area teen faces DUI and drug charges after Badger Road stop
A 17-year-old Fairbanks-area driver faces DUI and drug charges after a Badger Road speeding stop turned up a breath alcohol reading above the adult threshold and cannabis paraphernalia.

Alaska's quiet June fire season faces July's heat and lightning
Interior Alaska faces rising wildfire risk this weekend as July thunderstorms arrive over fuels that stayed wet through June's quiet fire season.

AML resolution calls for protecting bypass mail to remote Alaska communities
Alaska Municipal League urged federal officials to protect bypass mail, which lets remote communities buy cheaper goods through the postal system.

Bean Fire burns 80 acres near Native allotments west of Manley Hot Springs
The Bean Fire burned 80 acres near Manley Hot Springs on Sunday, placing several Native allotments within five miles as smokejumpers and seven aircraft worked to contain it.

Ketchikan woman charged with violating DV no-contact order
Ketchikan woman arrested after appearing at a residence she was court-ordered to avoid in an active domestic violence case, held without bail pending arraignment.

Wasilla man on parole clocked at 84 mph on Seward Highway, forces trooper to swerve
A Wasilla man on parole drove 84 mph into oncoming traffic on the Seward Highway on July 4, forcing a state trooper to swerve to avoid a head-on collision.

Sunday, Jul 5
Anchorage Assembly to vote on health cost increase for operating engineers
Anchorage Assembly votes July 7 on raising the monthly health cost for operating engineers from $1,945 to $2,118 per employee, effective August 4.

Lightning fire near Pleasant Valley draws smokejumpers, aerial fleet
Smokejumpers and aircraft responded Sunday to the Anaconda Fire near Mile 23 of Chena Hot Springs Road east of Fairbanks, which grew to one acre but posed no immediate threat to nearby structures.

Healy woman held without bail after July 4 domestic violence arrest
A 53-year-old Healy woman is held without bail after assaulting a family member on July 4, with alcohol cited as a factor.

Starry Fire forced Anderson evacuations before rain held Alaska's June burn total low
The Starry Fire forced Anderson evacuations in June but rain kept Alaska's burn total to 29,000 acres, the sixth-lowest since 1993, despite 61,000 lightning strikes igniting over 100 wildfires.

Bystanders protect two toddlers on Kasilof Beach while father lay unconscious in tent
Bystanders on Kasilof Beach called troopers after finding two toddlers unattended while their father lay unconscious in a tent on July 4, testing at more than three times the legal driving limit.

Fairbanks resident flags Alaska guardian shortage; commission meets July 9
A Fairbanks resident told the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission that Alaska lacks enough legal guardians for seniors, and the commission meets July 9 to discuss other senior issues.

Anchorage Assembly to weigh $3,000 grant for hard-to-adopt shelter animals
Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on a $3,000 grant to train hard-to-adopt shelter animals and reduce euthanasia risk.

Alaska Supreme Court puts Petersburg's Dan Sullivan back on August ballot
Alaska Supreme Court ordered the Division of Elections to place retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the August 18 primary ballot alongside U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.
