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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Thursday, Jun 18
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 4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readFrom 
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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readFrom 
Wednesday, Jun 17
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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
More from Politics & Government
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 4mo 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 4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo ago3 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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo ago2 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
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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 4mo ago2 min read
Tuesday, Jun 16
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 4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 AlaskaNews4mo 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 4mo ago3 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Monday, Jun 15
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 AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readFrom 
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 AlaskaNews5mo ago1 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 AlaskaNews5mo 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 5mo ago1 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
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 AlaskaNews5mo 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 AlaskaNews5mo 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago2 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom 
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 5mo 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Sunday, Jun 14
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 5mo 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Nenana 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 5mo 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Saturday, Jun 13
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 5mo 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 AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
