Politics & Government
RSSAlaska News covers state and local politics and government, including elections, ethics investigations, legislative action, and municipal decisions.
Ninth Circuit says tribal law cannot shield employees from federal civil rights suits
A federal appeals court ruled tribal governments cannot shield their own employees from civil rights lawsuits by writing immunity into tribal code.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Alaska's labor board needs a public member, a job of 15 to 20 days a year
Alaska's labor relations board is accepting applications to fill one vacant public seat, requiring labor relations background and about two hours monthly.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Anchorage weighs a five-year road-sweeping contract for Eagle River
The Anchorage Assembly decides Tuesday whether to hire Big Bear to sweep road shoulders in the Eagle River area, at up to $2.97 million over five years.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Alaska's federal obligations are down 1.7% this year, and September has barely started
Federal obligations in Alaska are down 1.7 percent through August. Federal spending drove more than half the state's GDP growth since 2015.
by Melinda Communities.News2w ago1 min read
Troopers arrest Wasilla driver on DUI, assault charges after rollover
Alaska State Troopers arrested a Wasilla driver on DUI and assault charges after a rollover crash on North Wasilla-Fishhook Road late Wednesday left two people with minor injuries.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago1 min read
Air Guard crew rescues two pilots in separate crashes near Palmer and Skwentna
An Alaska Air National Guard helicopter crew rescued two pilots from separate crashes near Palmer and Skwentna on Thursday, flying both to an Anchorage hospital.
by Alaska News2w ago1 min read
Man arrested in Soldotna on felony sex offender registry charge
Troopers arrested a 74-year-old Soldotna man Thursday on a felony charge of failing to register as a sex offender, after a probation compliance check. The dispatch says he has two prior convictions for the same offense.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Resident accuses Kodiak Island Borough Assembly of illegal poll on remote-meeting rules
A Kodiak resident challenged the borough assembly's survey on remote-meeting rules as violating the Open Meetings Act, though the borough attorney cleared it as preparation for public discussion.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Alaska justices affirm commitment despite skipped consent inquiry
Alaska Supreme Court upheld forced commitment and medication for an Anchorage man despite the lower court skipping a required check for voluntary treatment.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Flooding closes state vocational rehabilitation office in downtown Fairbanks
Flooding closed the state Department of Labor office in downtown Fairbanks on Friday, Sept. 11, halting walk-in service for vocational rehabilitation and disability employment support.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Troopers identify two Savoonga men dead after capsizing near St. Lawrence Island
Two Savoonga men died when their boat capsized off St. Lawrence Island. A 15-year-old survived by clinging to the overturned hull until a search crew found him.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2w ago1 min read
Teller woman indicted in embezzling more than $88,000 from tribe
A former coordinator for a Teller-based tribe was indicted on allegations she took more than $88,000 from the tribe's accounts.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
APOC denies expedited review of disclosure complaint against Johnson
Regulators denied both of Joel Borgquist's requests to fast-track disclosure complaints against candidates. Johnson's goes to a normal investigation.
by Lucas Brown2w ago2 min read
New independent expenditure group registers in Anchorage to back Nellie Jimmie's re-election
A new group will spend without limits to re-elect Rep. Nellie Jimmie. Its chair is general counsel of the Native corporation for her region.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
APOC denies fast-track review of disclosure complaint against Wilson
State regulators will not fast-track a disclosure complaint against Bernadette Wilson. It goes to a normal investigation, with a hearing by Oct. 8.
by Lucas Brown2w ago2 min read
Anchorage police seek help finding Allison Wilson, 41, missing since Thursday morning
Anchorage police are asking for help finding Allison Wilson, 41, who didn't return from her shift Thursday. She drives a maroon Subaru with front-end damage.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Juneau aging commission to vote Sept. 15 on demanding paratransit fix or new contractor
Juneau's paratransit riders have gone ten months without service that meets the contract, the chair of the city's aging commission says.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Anchorage board sets seven property appeal hearings for next week
Anchorage owners filed a record 1,953 assessment appeals. The city had already found about 660 homes over-assessed before the hearings began.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Three quarters of Alaska's planned college-rule cuts fall on student aid
Alaska's student aid agency plans to cut 205 of its rules, most governing financial aid, under a statewide order to shrink regulation.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
DNR gives records denial power to two job titles, no named employees
DNR Commissioner John Crowther gave records-denial power to two job titles instead of named staff. The change makes it unclear who can now refuse public records requests.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Juneau driver, 33, dies in Hyer Road crash in Palmer
A Juneau driver died Thursday morning after his vehicle became airborne over the Hyer underpass in Palmer and struck a concrete support.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Alaska Democrats ask Anchorage court to strike Tagle from November ballot
Alaska Democrats are back in court to remove Republican Jose Tagle from the ballot, after Dahlstrom certified him over an APOC finding against him.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Alaska clerks are under four weeks out from local elections
Alaska clerks have under four weeks to get local elections ready, and one deadline in the state's own training had already gone by when they were told about it.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Alaska proposes new limits on what insurers pay to treat injured workers
Alaska is proposing caps on what insurers pay to treat injured workers, including limits on creams, patches and compounds. Comment closes Oct. 9.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Kodiak posts its election guide in Tagalog for the island's Filipino voters
Kodiak posted its Oct. 6 election guide in English and Tagalog — reflecting the island's Filipino community and a long effort to help those residents vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
An ordinance would tighten oversight of Anchorage's staffing overruns
Anchorage's government has run past its budgeted position count five years running. Three Assembly members want future overruns to need the mayor's sign-off.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
North Slope oil is running below the state's forecast so far, and the price is running above it
Alaska's oil is flowing below the state's revenue forecast while the price runs above it. The two effects roughly offset, and the year is only ten weeks old.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
The Legislature will spend $50,000 defending the seizure of a pilot's plane
A six-pack of Budweiser cost an Alaska bush pilot his $95,000 plane. The Legislature has now voted $50,000 to defend that at the Supreme Court.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
A remote Alaska village's firefighting enterprise lands more federal work
A firefighting company owned by the remote village of Nulato landed more federal fire work — part of a tribal enterprise that's grown to 200-plus local jobs.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Alaska Supreme Court hears appeal over Kotzebue officer's immunity in 2022 shooting
Supreme Court heards Kotzebue case
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
A parent does not lose custody by placing a disabled child in a facility, Alaska court rules
Alaska Supreme Court ruled a parent cannot escape child support by placing a disabled adult child in assisted care if the parent maintains a custodial role, affirming $640 monthly support in the case.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Troopers arrest Wasilla man on warrants totaling 18 felony counts
Alaska State Troopers arrested Wasilla resident William Paterson Jr. on Sept. 9 on two warrants totaling 18 felony counts of theft, burglary, and fraudulent access device use.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
A complaint tied to the Tshibaka-led Accountability Project challenges the Democratic ticket's disclosures
Nothing says airtight like a campaign-finance complaint built on magazine clippings and a hunch. Regulators will hear it Thursday anyway. Nothing's proven 🤷
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago4 min read
Troopers say Minto man, 18, died in accidental rifle discharge
Troopers say Minto man, 18, died in accidental rifle discharge
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Wasilla weighs $569,600 for round-the-clock Fire/EMS dispatch at MatCom
Wasilla City Council will vote Monday on a $569,600 budget amendment to add round-the-clock dual dispatchers at MatCom, funded entirely by the Mat-Su Borough.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Alaska marijuana board revisits under-21 rules after Craig, Klawock checks failed
Alaska Marijuana Control Board will revisit rules keeping under-21s out of pot shops after compliance checks in Craig and Klawock found every store violated the ban.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Bronson calls for bottom trawling ban in state waters at Kodiak fisheries debate
Dave Bronson called for banning bottom trawling in Alaska's three-mile state waters, the only gubernatorial candidate to propose the measure at a Kodiak debate.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Gubernatorial candidates split on Board of Fisheries overhaul
Proposals range from expanding the board to nine or eleven members to stricter recusal rules and industry-conflict guidelines.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Alaska Supreme Court says a sleep clinic performs services in the field of health and owes the tax
Alaska Supreme Court ruled Alaska Sleep Clinic cannot claim the state's small business tax exemption because health services are excluded from it, regardless of company size.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Three Alaska governor candidates agree on the problems, diverge on government's role
Three candidates for governor agreed Alaska faces serious problems but split on solutions at a Tuesday forum. The fourth, Bernadette Wilson, did not attend.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago7 min read