Lucas Brown
@lucas
0 followers · 1 following
Anchorage, AK, USA
Entrepreneur, AI researcher, and identical twin living between Alaska, Argentina, and the Pacific Northwest. Builds, writes, skis, and asks too many questions.
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APOC denies expedited review of disclosure complaint against Johnson
The Alaska Public Offices Commission on Thursday denied a request to expedite a financial-disclosure complaint against candidate Zachary Johnson, sending the matter to a normal staff investigation with a merits hearing to be scheduled on or before Oct. 8.
APOC denies fast-track review of disclosure complaint against Wilson
The Alaska Public Offices Commission denied expedited review of a financial disclosure complaint against candidate Bernadette Wilson, ordering a staff investigation.
A pro-Republican group discloses small ad debts for two House candidates, listing the creditor at its treasurer's address
Four days before the Aug. 18 primary, the Alaska Leadership Initiative told the state it had spent and raised nothing, then disclosed $728.28 in unpaid Meta ad debts backing two Republican House candidates, owed to a company listed at its own treasurer's Ketchikan address.
Nearly four years on, Alaska has been paid 15 percent of Merbok's $90.9 million
Nearly four years after Typhoon Merbok, only 15% of FEMA's rebuild money for western Alaska has been paid out, as the Sept. 30 deadline nears and projects risk losing money.
Alaska attorney general says law seating campaign finance commission is likely unconstitutional
A formal opinion issued Friday by Acting Attorney General Cori Mills says statutes forcing the governor to pick board members from private nomination lists are very likely unconstitutional. One of the eight bodies named is the Alaska Public Offices Commission, flagged by the same department in 1980.
Trench that killed two Delta Junction workers had no cave-in protection
A state fatality alert says the roughly 13-foot trench that buried two Delta Junction clinic maintenance workers on July 30 had no benching, sloping or trench box. Two inspections opened July 31 remain open with no citations. Follow-up to our July 31 report on the deaths.
Alaska Democrats ask APOC to recommend removing House District 22 candidate from ballot
A dispute over a blank-then-amended financial disclosure by Anchorage House District 22 candidate Jose Tagle Jr. now rests with the Alaska Public Offices Commission after the elections division declined to remove him.
Juneau's wastewater plant has been out of compliance for three years, and ratepayers foot the bill
Juneau's main wastewater treatment plant has been out of compliance with federal clean-water rules for three years as the state begins issuing a new permit, with ratepayers covering the cost.
Alaska takes over hazardous waste rules, with enforcement in question
Alaska won EPA authorization to run its own hazardous waste program, the first state in 25 years, shifting permitting and enforcement to DEC amid questions about remote reach.
Complaints against Wilson and Taylor governor campaigns question donation source, not size
Alaska has no cap on what one person can give a candidate for governor, so the two complaints pending at the Alaska Public Offices Commission target other things: a $25,000 donation that may have come from a company, and $146,760.90 in spending labeled only "Retainer."
North Slope Borough approves $5M water and sewer increase after Point Lay freeze-up
The North Slope Borough Assembly approved more than $9 million in contract changes at its July 14, 2026 meeting, led by a $5 million increase to its area-wide water and sewer contract driven partly by a village-wide freeze-up in Point Lay ongoing since late December 2025.
North Slope Borough to seek $300K for second underwater rescue drone after Nuvuk response exposed gaps
A recent search-and-rescue call in Nuvuk revealed that having only one remotely operated underwater vehicle left the North Slope Borough's SAR team short-handed. The mayor told the assembly Tuesday he plans to request roughly $300,000 in supplemental funding for a second ROV, a parts package, and 3,500-watt generators for each community.
Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers honor late elder at Celebration 2026 performances
Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers opened Thursday night's performance program at Celebration 2026 with a tribute to late elder Margaret Roberts, who helped revive their song tradition. Groups from across Alaska and Hawaii followed at Centennial Hall in Juneau.
Kodiak Assembly sets mill rate at 8.75, rejecting school increase
The assembly chose the lowest tax rate that balances the budget, citing rising utility and living costs. The school district will not receive an additional $475,981 beyond the $800,000 increase already adopted.
Kenai adopts $42.1M budget with swim team grant, airport upgrade
Council approved the FY2027 budget with amendments adding $46,402 for Peninsula Piranha swim team utilities if they operate the pool, $70,000 for airport revenue collection, and $180,000 for council chambers technology.
Kenai limits tent camping to 2 tents per property, defines 3+ as campground
Kenai City Council amended a tent-camping ordinance Wednesday to allow two tents indefinitely on private property with sanitary facilities, while defining three or more tents as a campground requiring conditional use. The change followed debate over consistency with RV rules and complaints about dipnet-season tent clusters.
Assembly to hear natural burial cemetery proposal for South Anchorage
The Anchorage Assembly will hold a public hearing Tuesday on transferring a 9.6-acre Heritage Land Bank parcel to Alaska Natural Burial, a nonprofit that would operate Anchorage's first natural burial cemetery at no cost to taxpayers.
Alaska House passes home care advisory board for Medicaid workers
The Alaska House voted 35-5 Monday to create an advisory board setting Medicaid payment rates for home care workers. Supporters say better pay will keep elders in their homes rather than nursing facilities, saving the state money.