Politics

Home for chronic inebriates opens in Fairbanks

A new residential facility for the homeless has quietly opened on South Cushman Street, offering living space to residents who may have gone a decade or more without it. A sister facility with the same philosophy, Karluk Manor, recently opened in Anchorage.

Gara seeks laptops for foster home kids

A state legislator this week kicked off a summertime laptop drive to pair donated computers with youths living in foster homes. State Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, is working with the advocacy group Facing Foster Care in Alaska.

Investigation backs prosecutors in Allen sex crime allegations

The Justice Department said Friday that its investigators found no misconduct in the decision of federal prosecutors to abandon the teen sex crime case against disgraced former Veco Corp. chairman Bill Allen, the government's star witness in the failed prosecution of then-Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.

In D.C. forum, Alaskans urge action on Bush energy crisis

Lawmakers, energy experts and Native leaders said Thursday that rural Alaska's oppressive energy costs are a dire problem with elusive solutions.

Haines Borough challenges latest redistricting plan

The Alaska Redistricting Board's latest attempt at redrawing the state's political boundaries has drawn opposition. The state Supreme Court must decide whether to approve the plan, or send it back to the board for yet another try.

Upheaval in state GOP appears far from over

For the first time in a dozen years, no one is quite sure where the Alaska Republican Party is headed. As a new chairman makes plans to take over, the old chairman is encouraging Republican faithful to stay home when the statewide convention resumes next month.

Listen: Audio conference with new state GOP chief, plus Joe Miller

Higgins resigns Democratic leadership to run for Alaska House seat

The Alaska Democratic party will get a new leader after chairwoman Patti Higgins resigned to run for the Legislature.

Redistricting board seeks to use original plan for elections

The Alaska Redistricting Board on Thursday asked the state Supreme Court to allow for this year's elections to be conducted under a legislative map that sparked a legal battle.

Redistricting map solutions elusive as court battle looms

One of the most important and complicated insider games in politics moves back to the Alaska Supreme Court this week with an appeal by the Alaska Redistricting Board of its method for redrawing the state's legislative map.

Paul supporters stir Alaska GOP convention

Supporters of GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul tried to commandeer the Alaska Republican Party convention this weekend in Anchorage. They were disruptive, big in numbers — and partially successful.

Committee to hire experts to advise on energy

Alaska's Senate Finance Committee plans to hire experts to advise lawmakers on ways to address high energy costs.

Amendment lets Alaska tribes keep restraining-order powers

The U.S. Senate passed the Violence Against Women reauthorization act Thursday with a last minute amendment that lets Alaska tribes continue to issue domestic violence protective orders but excludes them from powers given to Lower 48 tribes to criminally prosecute offenders.

ALASKA POLITICS BLOG

More than half of precincts ran short of election ballots

Though a review by the Anchorage Election Commission found that more than half of city precincts ran short on ballots in the April 3 elections, the commission is not recommending a third-party investigation into the election or a new election.

It may be too late for another legislative redistricting plan

A recent court decision dramatically increases the likelihood that the Alaska Redistricting Board will seek to have this year's elections conducted under the first plan it adopted.

Was Stevens guilty? Question likely won't be answered

Colleen Walsh, one of the jurors who found then-Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens guilty in 2008, wonders every time she reads a story about prosecutors concealing evidence during the trial whether any of it would have resulted in a different verdict.

Ex-aide says Young wrongly used funds

Ex-aide says Young wrongly used funds

A former aide to Alaska Congressman Don Young told criminal investigators in 2008 that Young and his wife, Lu, used campaign funds for personal expenses including meals and travel between Alaska and Washington, D.C.

Young ends quarter with $552,000 in campaign fund

U.S. Rep. Don Young raised about $141,300 for his re-election bid during the first three months of the year, giving him about $551,700 in the bank for his re-election bid.

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Governor says capital budget vetoes will be minimal

The Legislature stuck to agreed-upon spending limits in the $2.9 billion capital budget passed in the final hours of the session, and because of that, he will go easier with vetoes than he has in the past, Gov. Sean Parnell says.

PDF: See projects by legislative district

Anchorage schools to get $11 million

2012 ALASKA LEGISLATURE

Parnell, legislators prepare for busy special session

As they prepared for special session to finish their work, legislators and the governor patted themselves on the back Monday for the accomplishments of the 27th Legislature and set a conciliatory tone -- for the most part -- for the weeks ahead.

Educators give mixed reviews on school funding increase

Parnell gets $2.9 billion capital budget

APRIL 15, 2012

Alaska Ear

Alaska politics and political hijinks

Cissna plans to run for Congress against Young

Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young picked up an opponent Wednesday when state Rep. Sharon Cissna, an Anchorage Democrat, announced she is running for Congress.