Politics & Government

Anchorage police would get $182,425 to go after illegal street racing

Anchorage police would get $182,425, mostly state money, to target speeders and aggressive drivers at illegal street races. The Assembly votes Wednesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage police would get $113,318 to target distracted drivers on high-crash roads

Anchorage police would get $113,318 in state money to go after distracted drivers on roads where walkers and bikers get hit. The Assembly votes Wednesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Defense Department official who toured JBER dorms says poor housing drains readiness

A top Defense Department official says moldy, leaky base housing hurts readiness. The department illustrated his speech with a photo from his JBER dorm tour.

by Melinda Communities.News1w ago2 min read

Craig police chief expects slower prosecutions after Ketchikan DA's departure

The office that prosecutes crimes on Prince of Wales Island has lost its district attorney, and Craig's police chief says prosecutions will slow.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Coast Guard's top enlisted leader tells Congress he's unfamiliar with any housing bonus plan

Asked about a housing bonus for Coast Guard members in pricey posts like Sitka, the service's top enlisted member told Congress he hadn't heard of one.

by Alaska News1w ago2 min readFrom Sep 16

Skagway police warn that fake city invoices are reaching residents

Fake bills dressed up as Skagway city invoices are landing in town. Police say call City Hall to check, and they've said the city never asks for wire transfers.

by Alaska News1w ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly to take up renaming Eagle River Commons Park for homestead family

Eagle River's Commons Park could be renamed Pippel's Field Park, after the homestead family who farmed the land that's now downtown Eagle River.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Handeland proposes letting in-person testifiers speak before phone callers

Assembly Member Donald Handeland wants people who show up and wait to testify in person to speak before callers, who can often wait at home until called.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

State forestry division lists five wildfire hazards in Halloween post

State Forestry's Halloween post lists five ways Alaskans start fires they didn't mean to, from campfires that aren't "DEAD OUT" to sparking tow chains.Most Alaska wildfires are human-caused, 118 of the season's first 124 fires started that way.

by Alaska News1w ago1 min read

Kodiak man dies after Cessna 185 crashes and sinks in Afognak Island's Blue Fox Bay

Troopers named James Osowski, 33, of Kodiak as the man killed when a Cessna 185 crashed and sank in Blue Fox Bay on Afognak Island Oct. 20. Two others got out.

by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly returns Wednesday to unfinished police surveillance rules

The Anchorage Assembly tries again Wednesday to finish its police surveillance rules. The ACLU and a handful of residents want tighter limits.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Anchorage Assembly set to OK liquor renewals for 13 businesses, hold two

Humpy's, the Buckaroo Club and 11 others go to the Assembly Wednesday. The Crazy Horse and Eagle River Alehouse could be held over fire and tax issues.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Aging commission will hear Juneau seniors Nov. 4 on the next state senior plan

Alaska's aging commission will hear from Juneau seniors over lunch Wednesday at Centennial Hall, and what they say helps steer four years of senior services.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Seward police seek tips after political signs destroyed near Tony's Bar

Someone wrecked political signs across from Tony's Bar in Seward overnight Wednesday. Police want help finding them and say "we are better than this."

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Sitka planning staff recommend denying courthouse move to Sheldon Jackson campus

Sitka planning staff recommend denying the court system's plan to move the courthouse beside a playground and youth camp. The state already funded the purchase.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min readFrom Oct 23

Most Kodiak city jobs start below market pay, consultant tells council

A consultant says most Kodiak city jobs start below market pay and half the staff has two years or less on the job. The council talks it over Wednesday.

by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Perez-Verdia proposes a police committee he'd chair as surveillance rules return

Kameron Perez-Verdia wants a yearlong committee he'd chair to study which surveillance rules belong in code. It's up the night the Assembly takes them up.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago3 min read

Anchorage Assembly set to honor veterans and Purple Heart recipients in November

The Anchorage Assembly is set Wednesday to recognize Veterans Day and Purple Heart Month. About 1 in 10 Alaskans has served, its resolution notes.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

DOJ confirms criminal probe tied to Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy days before election

Four days out, DOJ says a criminal probe tied to the second Dan Sullivan is underway. In a civil case, it wants sworn answers from Peltola's campaign.

by Alaska News1w ago5 min read

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

The state asked a judge to rethink her ruling disqualifying a House candidate, warning that her reasoning would also reach Treg Taylor's run for governor.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Judge rules Dahlstrom couldn't override APOC on Tagle, a move she also made for Taylor

LaFrance asks residents to help decide what Anchorage keeps as a 2028 gap looms

Anchorage's mayor asked residents to help decide which city services to keep and how to pay for them, with a roughly $30 million gap projected for 2028.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Follows: Anchorage mayor proposes 2027 budget that relies on one-time money, warns of 2028 fiscal cliff

Multi-vehicle crash shuts roads near West Tanana Drive before UAF police give all-clear

UAF police shut roads near West Tanana Drive Thursday night after a multi-vehicle crash, then gave the all clear. It capped a third straight day of icy-road warnings in Fairbanks.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Repeal of Alaska's rules for religious objectors to public unions takes effect Nov. 8

The state labor agency's repeal of its rules for public employees who object to unions on religious grounds takes effect Nov. 8. The law behind them stays.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

High oil prices put $26 million in contingent state projects within reach

Lawmakers tied $26 million in projects to oil averaging $80 through December. It's averaged $97 so far, so crude would need to crater to miss the mark.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Oct 1

Tracking device leads troopers to political sign reported taken in Wasilla

Someone took a political sign from a Wasilla roadside. Its owner had hidden a tracker on it. Troopers followed it, got the sign back and referred charges.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Alaska oil nears its highest price since 2008, far above what the state budgeted

Alaska built its budget on $75 oil. North Slope crude hit $129.71 Wednesday, and if prices stay high the state could take in about $1.7 billion extra.

by Alaska News2w ago3 min read

Outside spending in Alaska's U.S. House race runs nearly 2 to 1 in Hill's favor

Outside groups have reported about $21 million in Alaska's House race, nearly 2 to 1 for Hill over Begich. The Senate race has drawn about five times as much.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Dunleavy says signing off on a Peltola Senate win depends on his investigation

Asked whether he’d sign off on a Peltola Senate win, Dunleavy wouldn’t commit, saying his new investigation could affect whether the winner is seated.

by Alaska News2w ago3 min read

Contractor barged in whole plants to repair King Salmon's military airfield

No road to King Salmon, so a North Pole contractor barged in its own asphalt, concrete and rock-crushing plants to repair the military side of the airport.

by Bill AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Outside groups have reported more than $100 million in Alaska's Senate race

Outside groups have reported over $100 million in Alaska's Senate race, split nearly evenly, mostly on attacks. Peltola's campaign had more cash at last count.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago4 min read

Ketchikan weighs $63,750 more to design a tank for Ravenwood's low water pressure

Ketchikan's assembly votes Monday on $63,750 more for a Ravenwood water tank design, mostly a control panel. The project was first identified around 2006.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Kodiak mayor won't rush a rule change that could seat assembly winner Jeremy Williamson

Kodiak's mayor won't fast-track a rule change that could seat winner Jeremy Williamson. For now, a winner with a borough services contract must pick one.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Skagway Assembly weighs handing clinic's federal grant to its nonprofit by 2028

Skagway wants to stop sharing its clinic's federal grant. A resolution Thursday would hand it to the nonprofit by 2028; the borough aims to keep the building.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Oct 22

Three out-of-state donors have given Kreiss-Tomkins $480,000, including $120,000 Tuesday

Three out-of-state donors gave Kreiss-Tomkins $40,000 apiece Tuesday, bringing them to $480,000. Voters' new $4,000 cap doesn't kick in until after the election.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Muldoon pot shop's renewal file holds state citations and a glass allegation

A Muldoon pot shop up for renewal was cited this year over inventory tracking and over-limit sales. A former worker also alleged glass got into joints.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Legislative Council urges U.S. Supreme Court to uphold plane forfeiture over beer

Alaska's top court upheld forfeiting a pilot's plane over beer bound for dry Beaver. He calls it an excessive fine. Legislative leaders told SCOTUS it isn't.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Judge won't pause lawsuit over Coast Inn manager's firing after a workplace injury

A judge won't pause a lawsuit by a former Coast Inn manager who says the hotel's new operator fired him at 67, with some of his ribs still broken.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Troopers say Bethel man killed Emmonak woman in Kotlik, then shot himself

Troopers say a 43-year-old Bethel man killed a 35-year-old Emmonak woman in a Kotlik home, then shot himself. The two were found dead early Tuesday.

by Alaska News2w ago1 min read

Anchorage police kill man in Huffman area, saying he fired a gun during a struggle

An Anchorage officer killed a man in the Huffman area after police say he fired a gun while struggling with another officer. It's APD's account.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Juneau manager seeks Tlingit & Haida partnership to house Coast Guard crews

Juneau's city manager says the icebreaker Storis won't make Juneau home without housing. She wants to team up with Tlingit & Haida to open land at Kowee Creek.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read