Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
A Seattle union gave its Alaska committee $500,000. It's spent $8,000 of it in cash.
A Seattle union gave its Alaska committee $500,000 to back Kreiss-Tomkins and six House candidates — and it's spent just $8,000 of it in cash.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
State to drop Whittier voter misconduct cases after appeals ruling
The form had no box for what Tupe Smith is. Whittier officials told her to check citizen. The state charged her with felonies and is now dropping them.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago3 min read
Troopers airlift injured boater from Cosna River after capsizing en route to air ambulance
Alaska State Troopers airlifted an injured boater from the Cosna River on Sunday after the boat capsized while heading to an air ambulance pickup.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
The Kenai Borough Assembly president wants three votes to carry the assembly
The Kenai Borough Assembly president wants three votes to carry the assembly instead of five. Two of nine members were appointed on his motions.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Bethel judge sentences Wassillie Brink to 30 years in Kasigluk assault
A man with a prior conviction for sexual abuse of a minor got 22 years to serve for a 2022 assault in Kasigluk. Western Alaska's rate is double the state's.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago1 min read
Troopers arrest Fairbanks driver on DUI charge after Steese Highway stop
DUI arrest in the north
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Mayor's substitute puts Anchorage's surveillance network before the Assembly Tuesday
Anchorage assembled cameras, drones, plate readers and commercial-data tools before writing enforceable rules for how police may use them.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago9 min read
Crews dig out buried hotspot near Tok home as Mukluk Fire hits 70% containment
Weeks after the Mukluk Fire, crews dug a still-smoldering log out of the ground near a Tok home, and fire managers expect more buried heat.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly to vote on snow contract that drew a single bid
Only one contractor bid on Kodiak's snow removal after the school district opted to plow its own lots — a setup one assembly member calls "ridiculous."
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Fairbanks ordinance would shift board appointments from Assembly to borough mayor
Mayor Hopkins would gain power to appoint most borough board members now split between the Assembly and Fairbanks and North Pole, under an ordinance the Assembly takes up Wednesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Troopers say stolen truck hit dump truck head-on in North Pole
A truck troopers say was stolen hit a dump truck head-on in North Pole. The driver was arrested on theft and DUI charges, which are not findings of guilt.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Unalaska raises nonprofit grant audit threshold to $300,000
Unalaska's small nonprofits no longer need a costly annual audit to keep their city grants — one group said audits ate about 13% of its award.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min read
Soldotna man arrested on DUI and weapons charges after Ninilchik traffic stop
A Soldotna man was arrested after Alaska State Troopers found his green SUV near Ninilchik following REDDI calls and watched it speeding and swerving on the Sterling Highway.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Troopers seize 4.5 ounces of suspected heroin after Sterling traffic stop
Troopers say they found 4.5 ounces of suspected heroin and two guns in a truck near Sterling, charging the driver with six counts. He's presumed innocent.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago1 min read
Cantwell's volunteer EMS model is straining, Denali Borough officials say
Cantwell's volunteer EMS model is straining as recruiting falters, and Denali Borough officials are weighing whether taxes could fund year-round coverage.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min read
The Permanent Fund's budget is up $5.3 million, and most of it goes to managers
The fund that pays for most of Alaska's government is raising its own budget $5.3 million. Most of that is fees to outside money managers.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min read
North Pole council advances 3% pay raise for city employees
North Pole advanced a 3 percent raise for city employees Tuesday after rejecting a push to delay it and hearing that employee trust in the council is low.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago1 min read
Craig council backs speed humps, ties removal to studded tire dates
Craig City Council voted to keep speed humps on Tanner Crab Court and Teenage Street, removing them each fall when the state lifts its studded tire ban.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min read
Kodiak council moves toward leasing historic Griffin building to two museums
Kodiak City Council rejected a church's bid to buy the historic Griffin building and will instead lease it to two museums for storage and exhibits, though lease terms remain unsigned.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min read
In Kodiak, Sullivan and Peltola agreed on the problems and fought over the fix
Sullivan and Peltola agreed on nearly every fisheries problem in Kodiak and split on what fixing one looks like: laws passed, or fish in the river.
by Alaska News2w ago3 min read
The hockey association runs Anchorage's city rinks now, for $10 a year
The hockey association took over Anchorage's two city rinks in June for $10 a year. The old operator owed $360,000. The first big repair bill is Tuesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
An Anchorage officer killed a woman downtown, by the department's account
An Anchorage officer shot and killed a woman at a downtown apartment Aug. 18. The account comes almost entirely from the police chief.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min read
Alaska would swap dated national manuals for an undated state guidebook
Alaska hospitals would follow a state guidebook instead of two national manuals for data reporting. The guidebook has no edition date. The manuals do.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Troopers arrest Gakona woman on felony meth charges after Glennallen stop
Alaska State Troopers arrested Yahneenah Sinyon of Gakona on felony methamphetamine charges after a Glenn Highway stop on July 22 turned up roughly 73 grams of meth and over $1,000 in cash.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Landmine publisher takes copyright-strike complaint against APD to Assembly Tuesday
Alaska Landmine publisher Jeff Landfield asked the Anchorage Assembly to address an APD copyright strike that temporarily removed a video critical of Police Chief Sean Case from Facebook.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago2 min read
Anchorage's Assembly voted to review fewer contracts. August shows what that means
Anchorage's Assembly voted last year to stop reviewing most city contracts. August shows what that means: 24 awards, a $450,000 paving job among them, no votes.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Alaska approves three land releases for University of Alaska
Alaska is transferring hundreds of thousands of acres to the University of Alaska under its federal land grant, led by a 220,000-acre Ray Mountains selection.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
A new Wasilla group spent $43,000 on six House candidates with D.C. money
A Wasilla group registered Sept. 1, took $250,000 from a national Republican committee Sept. 9, and spent $43,000 on six House candidates Sept. 10.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Anchorage owns an aging arts center, and repairs keep outpacing the budget
A heating repair at Anchorage's city-owned performing arts center is running 71 percent over the budget the Assembly set for it back in May.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
An inspector cited Anchorage's ice rinks for safety valves a decade old
Safety valves at Anchorage's two city ice rinks were due for replacement five years ago. An inspector noticed. The fix is inside a $936,000 repair bill.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Fairbanks weighs broader authority to take ownership of abused animals
Fairbanks animal control lacks a direct forfeiture process for abused or neglected animals. A proposed borough rule would add one.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Two oxygen tanks for the aircraft that fly search and rescue from Kodiak
The Coast Guard told competitors they had until Sept. 11 to weigh in on a Kodiak oxygen tank contract. It signed the deal with Airgas on Sept. 9.
by Melinda Communities.News2w ago1 min read
The mayor wants two more members on a naming commission that cannot meet
Anchorage's naming commission has five members and needs five to meet, so it hasn't. The mayor wants two more confirmed before it expires next month.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Kenai weighs more money for the Senior Center canopy roof project
Kenai's council votes Wednesday on yet more money for the Senior Center canopy roof, a job that a 2024 plan had put at $50,000 on its own.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Wind topples two dozen trees onto Tok's power lines, stalling fire recovery
Winds knocked more than two dozen trees onto Tok's power lines Wednesday, some outside the burn scar, cutting power and stalling the Mukluk Fire recovery.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Alaska has reviewed 22 police shootings since 2024 and charged no one
Alaska prosecutors have reviewed at least 22 police shootings since 2024 and charged no officer. The record clears the officer every time.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago3 min read
Anchorage pays new ice rink operator $450,000 plus $10 a year
Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to replace the operator of two city ice rinks after an audit found the previous manager owed $360,000 and missed financial reports.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago1 min read
Troopers arrest Anchorage man after 85 mph pursuit ends in Wasilla crash
Alaska State Troopers arrested Luke Debaere, 23, after he fled a traffic stop on the Parks Highway and crashed into trees in Wasilla, reaching 85 mph through residential areas.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
War-driven oil prices are filling Alaska's treasury while straining its households
The same oil price spike is filling Alaska's treasury and straining its households — and Trump's $2 gas promise would take more than the war ending.
by Alaska News2w ago5 min read
Housing projects can compete for Alaska CDBG grants, with applications due Dec. 4
Alaska's Community Development Block Grant applications are due Friday, Dec. 4, with about $2.5 million available and a maximum of $850,000 per community. Any Alaska municipal government except Anchorage may apply.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read