Alaska Legislature

Members of the Oath Keepers, including the group’s founder, have been charged with crimes linked to the Jan. 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

A bill signed into law Thursday will make it possible for the state to prosecute sexual assault on the basis of a victim saying “no,” instead of requiring physical force or threats for such assaults to be considered crimes.

A large and emotional crowd celebrated the signing of the tribal recognition bill, which Bethel state Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky said is “a statutory recognition of a simple truth — that tribes exist in Alaska.”

Supporters of the bill have called it an overdue step that would create opportunities for the state and tribes to work together.

The former state senator and broadcaster died Tuesday at age 75.

The governor has approved a $14.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins in July, vetoing $400 million from the spending plan advanced by the Legislature.

Alaska Senate Democrats in a statement announced that Egan died Tuesday morning. Egan was the son of the late former Gov. Bill Egan.

The Division of Elections received more than 20 challenges to Rep. David Eastman’s candidacy.

Tuck, in a phone interview Wednesday, said he withdrew from the race at the request of his 7-year-old daughter — a decision that leaves an opening for the other Democratic incumbent, Andy Josephson.

All but one of Alaska’s 60 state House and Senate seats are up for grabs in this year’s elections. Here are the ones to watch ahead of the Aug. 16 primary.

Incumbents will face other incumbents in some legislative matchups while other races don’t have a sitting lawmaker running for reelection, opening up possibilities for political newcomers or flipped seats.

With just days left before the June 1 filing deadline, state House and Senate races are hinting at big shifts in the state Capitol next year.

While the money would cover only a portion of the project’s price tag, the infusion keeps it moving forward and also helps unlock federal funds, according to port officials.

Peter Micciche was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and was Senate president this year and last.

Supporters say the measure contains programs proven in other states that will boost Alaska’s low student reading scores. But critics say the bill was rushed and doesn’t adequately account for the needs of rural school districts.

The court affirmed a lower court ruling that the board tasked with redrawing the state’s political boundaries “again engaged in unconstitutional political gerrymandering.”

“Alaska took a gargantuan step forward in updating our laws,” said John Skidmore, deputy attorney general for the Criminal Division of the Alaska Department of Law.

Lawmakers’ failure to act means that unlimited sums can continue flowing to gubernatorial, legislative and municipal candidates. But one legislator is already discussing a citizens initiative to change that.

A day after the Legislature wrapped up its session, the governor said he would not immediately call a special session to increase the dividend.

If agreed to by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, the compromise $2,550 Permanent Fund dividend will be one of the highest in state history after correction for inflation.

Supporters of the bill say it is an overdue step that would create opportunities for the state and tribes to work together.

A conference committee twice barricaded the door during meetings Tuesday to keep members from leaving as a deadline for budget passage draws near.

A lack of agreement on the size of Permanent Fund dividend threatens to derail the Alaska Legislature’s plan to end their work by a Wednesday deadline.