Politics & Government

DOJ rewrites its Alaska Senate suit, and the state asks a judge to toss it by Monday

DOJ added a Times report to its Alaska Senate suit Thursday. The state called that "gamesmanship" and asked a judge to toss the case by Monday. No ruling yet.

by Alaska News2w ago5 min read

Follows: Alaska election officials ask judge to dismiss DOJ's Senate suit by Nov. 2

Cordova budget leaves water crew a worker short as it plans a Heney line rebuild

Cordova's water crew hiked in again and again to find at least five breaks in the Heney line. Next year's budget leaves it a worker short for a bigger fix.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Cordova council members back 25% nonprofit fee for city pool and ball fields

Cordova council members want nonprofits like the Iceworm Swim Team and Little League to pay 25% of facility rental costs in 2027. Neither has ever paid.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Cordova council weighs charging nonprofits for city recreation facilities

Seward budget would add a second police sergeant using a job from the closed jail

Seward's budget would give police a second patrol sergeant by moving a job left over from the closed jail. Right now one sergeant oversees eight officers.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Girdwood's new park pavilion could be named for longtime resident John Trautner

Girdwood's new park pavilion may be named for John Trautner, a former fire chief and Texaco owner who came to Alaska in 1953. The Assembly takes it up Nov. 4.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Coast Guard hires Ketchikan dive company to handle fuel on boat aground in Raymond Cove

The Coast Guard hired a Ketchikan dive company, without taking bids, to deal with fuel and oil aboard the Sultan, a boat aground in Raymond Cove.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Kodiak bear safety group tells trick-or-treaters to finish by 8 pm and carry air horns

Kodiak's bear safety group says finish by 8 pm, bring a flashlight and an air horn, and skip the brush. Some town bears are already out looking for treats.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Coast Guard rescues five after fishing boat runs aground in False Pass

Five people aboard the 58-foot fishing boat Oracle were rescued Thursday after it ran aground in False Pass. The Coast Guard hasn't said what caused it.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

JBER battalion finishes the 11th Airborne's first battalion-level artillery evaluation

JBER paratroopers fired 600-plus rounds near Delta Junction in snow and zero-degree cold, finishing the 11th Airborne's first battalion artillery test.

by Alaska News2w ago2 min read

Nome police send callers to a backup number for the second time in a week

Nome's 911 line and police phone had trouble early Thursday, the second time in a week police sent callers to a backup number. The lines are back up.

by Alaska News2w ago1 min read

NORAD F-16s fly homeland defense mission from remote Aleutian air station

F-16s on alert for a week at a remote Aleutian air station launched a NORAD mission Oct. 25 that pulled in jets from Eielson and Canada. NORAD didn't say why.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Legislative Council approves up to $66,000 for new Alaska House SUV

The House's 15-year-old ride is wearing out, so legislative leaders OK'd up to $66,000 for a new SUV. Staff's pick is a Jeep Wagoneer, the cheapest quote.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Kodiak council can offer interim manager Putney the job without interviews, attorney says

Kodiak's city attorney says the council can skip interviews and offer interim manager Tim Putney the permanent job, possibly as soon as Nov. 12.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Kodiak council splits over closed-door legal advice on how to hire next city manager

Two hurt after vehicle loses control on ice and hits a guardrail in Ketchikan

Two people were hurt when their vehicle lost control on ice and hit a guardrail on Ketchikan's Revilla Road. No impairment is suspected, troopers said.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Driver says he may have dozed off before work zone crash on Parks Highway

A driver who told troopers he may have fallen asleep rear-ended an SUV stopped for a flagger in the Parks Highway work zone at Mile 324. He had minor injuries.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

TCC is hiring village residents to update tribal plans and write grants

Tanana Chiefs Conference is hiring village residents at $22.50 an hour, starting in February, to update tribal plans or write grants. Apply by Dec. 18.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Assembly hears proposal Nov. 4 that would make candidates disclose property tax exemptions

Under Martinez's proposal, Anchorage candidates would have to say where they claimed a residential tax exemption. The Assembly holds a hearing Nov. 4.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

AIDEA board to decide Nov. 4 how much of its earnings to make available to the state

AIDEA's board decides Nov. 4 how much of its earnings to offer the state. After its record year, it declared $17 million, about a quarter of income.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Assembly to vote on $12,200 more for Loussac theater's sound and video upgrade

Anchorage's library wants $12,200 more to finish upgrading the Wilda Marston Theatre's sound and video, which the city says has reached the end of its life.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Alaska psychologist license fees will more than double to $1,100 starting Nov. 27

Alaska psychologists will pay $1,100 for a license, up from $500, starting Nov. 27. Their program spent more than twice its fees. Naturopaths get a cut.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Fairbanks' new comprehensive plan won't ban data centers, despite calls for one

Fairbanks' new 20-year plan won't ban data centers, though many comments asked it to. Planners say a ban there is legally problematic; rules would come later.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Fairbanks borough mayor proposes pause on large data center permits through 2027

Eagle River rink operator could get 10 more years after audit found 11 problems

Eagle River's rink operator since 1984 could get 10 more years, after an audit flagged bonuses paid in a money-losing year and missing audits.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Group that backed Bronson in 2024 Anchorage runoff amends reports under state penalty order

Keep It Alaska, which backed Dave Bronson in 2024, amended campaign reports after state penalties for disclosure violations.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Dunleavy orders state investigation after Times report on second Dan Sullivan

Days before the election, Dunleavy told DPS to investigate whether a reported effort to recruit Senate spoilers, including the second Sullivan, broke the law.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Times reports Democrats worked to recruit Alaska's second Dan Sullivan and other spoilers

Coast Guard cutter Stratton returns from 103-day patrol of Alaska's Arctic and Bering Sea

The Coast Guard cutter Stratton is home in California after 103 days off Alaska, including 26 north of the Arctic Circle and a change of captains at Kotzebue.

by Alaska News2w ago2 min read

Soldotna council kills disruptive-conduct rules at city manager's request

Soldotna's city manager proposed rules for barring disruptive people from city property, then asked the council to vote them down. It did, 6-0.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

North Pole police and fire chiefs propose 2027 budgets about $640,000 higher

North Pole's police and fire chiefs want about $640,000 more for 2027, mostly for wages. Worn-out patrol cars and a full fire station come next.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Anchorage Assembly members propose mandatory jail for repeat public intoxication

Two Anchorage Assembly members want mandatory jail for repeat public intoxication and minimum sentences for drug possession, with a treatment off-ramp.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Bethel's landfill score drops to 69.6% on its state inspection, down from 90.9%

Bethel's landfill score on its state inspection fell from 90.9% to 69.6%. The state flagged undrained vehicles and no one checking incoming trash loads.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Juneau to close five downtown and Douglas streets to vehicles for winter

Juneau will close five downtown and Douglas streets to vehicles starting Oct. 30 for winter safety. No reopening date is set.

by Alaska News2w ago1 min read

EPA moves to let Alaska permit carbon storage wells, leaving out a pore-space provision

EPA proposed letting Alaska permit wells that bury CO2 underground. Its plan skips the state rule on folding in unwilling owners' pore space.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Fish board member found in ethics violation makes the order public before Area M vote

The state found fish board member Curt Chamberlain's ethics disclosure incomplete and voided five Area M rules. He released the order Wednesday and disputes it.

by Bill AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Legislature raises Juneau lodging stipend for session staff to $50 a day

Legislative staff who move to Juneau for session will get $50 a day for lodging instead of $37.50. Sixteen donated apartments should be ready, too.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Premiums rise in 2027 for AlaskaCare retirees' dental, vision and hearing plans

State retirees' dental, vision and hearing premiums go up again in January. Retiree-only coverage hits $83 a month in both AlaskaCare plans, up from $77 or $80.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: AlaskaCare retirees can ask the state about dental, vision coverage Thursday

GOPAC-backed group spends $178,000 against three Alaska House candidates

An Anchorage group funded mostly by national Republican money spent $178,000 in three weeks against House candidates Ky Holland, Cliff Groh and Brent Johnson.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

AFN delegates urge Alaskans to vote no on Ballot Measure 2, the ranked-choice repeal

AFN isn't endorsing candidates this year, but its delegates took a side on the ballot, urging Alaskans to vote no on the ranked-choice repeal.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readFrom Oct 24

Follows: AFN weighs late resolutions on permitting bill's historic review title and census plan

DOJ drops opposition to Peltola campaign joining suit, says it will seek discovery

A day after trying to keep Peltola's campaign out of its Alaska Senate suit, DOJ reversed itself, citing a Times report. Now it wants discovery.

by Alaska News2w ago2 min read

Follows: Peltola and voter groups move to fight DOJ's suit to block Alaska certification

Legislative Council delays extra $8,580 for managing lawmakers' Juneau apartments

Rep. Louise Stutes, who has owned apartments herself, balked at $8,580 more for managing lawmakers' Juneau units, so the Legislative Council punted to December.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Assembly resumes hearing Nov. 4 on nine-seat Chugach park access board

The Anchorage Assembly ran out of time Oct. 20 on its Chugach park access board. The hearing on the latest, nine-seat version now resumes Nov. 4.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Anchorage Assembly takes up rewritten Chugach access board plan Tuesday

Alaska's first school construction rankings under new scoring rules come out Nov. 5

Alaska's school construction rankings come out Nov. 5, the first under scoring rules rewritten to help rural districts. Districts can appeal theirs by Dec. 1.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read