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Politics

Poll: More Alaskans are worried about the budget, and more are open to taxes

Alaskans are growing increasingly concerned about the state budget crisis that threatens jobs, government services and Permanent Fund dividends, a new Rasmuson Foundation poll says.
Lisa Demer
A professor's quest to help Alaskans understand the size, and severity, of the fiscal crisis (with video)
Politics

Lawmakers question legislative leaders' decision to buy Anchorage offices

Several rank-and-file lawmakers said this week that they oppose the $32.5 million purchase offer made by legislative leaders to the landlords of the Legislature’s Anchorage office building — calling into question whether the deal can be sealed.
Nathaniel Herz
Lawmakers vote to buy Anchorage LIO, but developers haven’t agreed to their price
Cannabis North

Marijuana business applications being held up by legislative gridlock

Prospective cannabusiness owners are getting letters saying that their applications are incomplete until a key provision is addressed by the Legislature. A marijuana attorney says the issue is a "red herring." 
Laurel Andrews
Murkowski wants feds to address rules that prevent legal-marijuana users from buying guns
Potential Alaska marijuana businesses focus on cultivation
Energy

New bill would tax Cook Inlet oil, limit 'new oil' perks

A House committee has introduced a bill that proposes big changes to the state’s oil production tax system, including taxing Cook Inlet oil for the first time in years and ending a generous deal for so-called “new oil."
Alex DeMarban
House set to advance Walker oil tax credit package, but contents still a mystery
Politics

More than 5,000 ballots still to be counted in Anchorage election

Officials said there are still more than 5,000 ballots to be counted in Anchorage's Tuesday city election, a situation that could affect several tight races. 
Devin Kelly,Tegan Hanlon
Anchorage voters send a liberal majority back to the Assembly in city elections
Anchorage voters support tax cap initiative and marijuana taxes

A little-known Anchorage campaign consultant went four for four in Tuesday's city Assembly election

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz needs to send a thank-you to John-Henry Heckendorn and his partners. They gift-wrapped the Assembly.CommentaryCharles Wohlforth

Empty cages: Where have all of Anchorage's shelter pets gone?

On the right day, Anchorage’s dog pound seems like an abandoned hotel. No barking. No animals. Just a quiet facility void of adoptable pets. What’s going on?VoicesJill Burke

What Don Young really thinks about Alaska's weed ('great stuff'), Trump and drug dealers

Alaska's congressman talks Donald Trump, the quality of Interior Alaska's cannabis, how he'd stop the spread of hard drugs, and dating as an octogenarian. PoliticsErica Martinson

Williwaw delivers superior cocktails and ambience, but the food is hit-or-miss

You have to hand it to Williwaw: There aren't a ton of downtown restaurants with the bandwidth to do breakfast, lunch and dinner. And have a coffee shop. And put on shows. And provide a full bar. And run an elegant speakeasy. And unveil a seasonal rooftop garden bar.Food & DrinkKatie Pesznecker

News & Politics

Snowmachiners at Arctic Man are already triggering avalanches, prompting warnings

Avalanche forecasters at this week’s Arctic Man event near Paxson are warning snowmachiners of especially dangerous conditions and telling them to avoid maneuvers that could prove fatal.Chris Klint
North Slope Borough mayor ousted in recall election
Anchorage Assembly's Demboski to host Valley-based talk radio show
Dental care event that has helped thousands of low-income Alaskans is struggling

Have a news tip? Let us know at newstips@alaskadispatch.com

Multimedia

Multimedia
Cheevers: How a 12-year-old blind and deaf shelter dog found a home
Politics
Photos: Anchorage votes in municipal election
Wildlife
Video: Beak deformities in Alaska black-capped chickadees
UAA Athletics
Photos: UAA battles Lubbock Christian for national championship

Popular columnists
Jeff Lowenfels  •  Dermot Cole  •  Charles Wohlforth  •  Heather Lende  •   Jill Burke  •  Shannyn Moore  •  Paul Jenkins  
Elise Patkotak   •   Mike Dingman  •  Steven Haycox  •   Alan Boraas  •  Michael Carey  •  Rick Sinnott  •  Laureli Ivanoff

Voices

It's time for Alaskans to put skin in the game, fund government through taxes

OPINION: It's time for Alaskans to take a page from our past, and step up to pay our own way through taxes.Ed Rasmuson
Anchorage voters continue bipolar politics: Spend, but don't tax
Shining Lights Award 2016, to honor exemplary Alaskans who seek to heal the world
Empty cages: Where have all of Anchorage's shelter pets gone?

Adventure

Speed demons on skis, boards, snowmachines ready to light their hair on fire at Arctic Man

Some of Alaska’s finest snowmachiners, along with skiers and snowboarders from across the country, will gather for the competition, the spectacle and the good times in the Hoodoo Mountains of Interior Alaska.Mike Campbell
Spring discounts offer ways to see Alaska without breaking the bank
Camping, hunting and hiking bring more money to Alaska than you might think
Lucky Alaskans can drive Denali Park Road in September

Sports

As due date nears, Olympic skier Randall maintains fitness, anticipates future

What to expect when a world-class athlete is expecting? For Kikkan Randall, it's all about delivering a healthy baby while maintaining her fitness.Beth Bragg
Last-minute rally, but Aces lose 4th straight, fall 4-3 to Colorado
Prep soccer: Chugiak girls bounce Bartlett
UAA women fall 78-73 in national championship game

Culture

By any name: STRFKR brings dance-friendly indie-pop tunes to Williwaw

Portland-based band STRFKR doesn’t shy away from getting a little weird. The psychedelic pop trio’s name is unutterable among polite company, and that’s just how they like it. Jeri Kopet
Williwaw delivers superior cocktails and ambience, but the food is hit-or-miss
'Rapture, Blister, Burn' captures modern sexual politics in an ever-changing world
Market Fresh: It's time to fire up the grill with Alaska halibut

Arctic

Sullivan calls for speeded up timeframe for new icebreakers

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan says 10 years is too long to wait for a new icebreaker in the Arctic.JoAnn Snoderly | Kodiak Daily Mirror
Iceland's leader is first victim of offshore holdings leak
Nome won’t receive federal disaster training until after arrival of Arctic cruise ship
For Migrants Into Europe, a Road Less Traveled

Nation/World

  • Cruz's call for unity is falling on deaf ears

    After his most convincing victory yet over Donald Trump in Wisconsin, Ted Cruz sought on Wednesday to shed his reputation as a divisive bomb-thrower and position himself as the candidate who can bring the Republican Party together.

  • Hillary Clinton again looks upstate for win in New York

    Her current effort upstate, which advisers say is critical not just to winning the New York primary on April 19 but to swaying voters nationwide to Clinton’s style of pragmatic problem solving, comes as she looks to rebound after losing six of the last seven primary elections to Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

We Alaskans

Photos: Butterflies aflutter in Alaska

With 84 Alaska species to check out, butterflying is gaining a foothold in the Arctic. Even avid birders are jumping in. 
Alaska Dispatch News
Taking wing: The making of an Alaska 'butterflier'
I swore I'd never teach again. Then I broke my vow.
Wind warriors: A blustery trip across the Seward Peninsula

In case you missed it

Could a ‘trans-Alaska trail’ parallel the pipeline? A state lawmaker hopes so

Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins wants to create a multiuse, multiseason “trans-Alaska trail” paralleling the trans-Alaska pipeline, but the system's operators have big concerns about safety surrounding the project.Suzanna Caldwell
Pavlof Volcano blankets Alaska village in ash, cancels dozens of flights
The temperature just hit 71 degrees. In Alaska. In March.
Anchorage couple drives to Tierra del Fuego in their rebuilt '75 VW camper van

Sponsored Content

What's in your WIC-approved cart?

SPONSORED: The federally funded Women, Infants and Children program delivers nutritious food to the moms and kids who need it most.Presented by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Restocking Bean's Cafe is a community effort
Coping with diabetes is a full-body exercise
The comedy cure