Politics
Dunleavy chooses longtime House members to fill Senate vacancies
Gov. Mike Dunleavy chose Reps. Cathy Tilton and George Rauscher to fill Senate vacancies created by members’ resignations.
Sullivan says he is among Republicans working on extension of health insurance subsidies
Without action from Congress, the subsidies will expire at the end of the year.
Anchorage School District, state leaders clash over ‘non-endorsement’ stickers on Constitution booklets
A lawyer for the school district accused the Alaska attorney general and education commissioner of “political grandstanding” after they sent a series of pointed questions about the incident.
Costello steps down as House minority leader
Anchorage Republican Rep. Mia Costello served just under a year in the role.
Alaska medical board cancels meetings as board seats remain unfilled
Three seats on the eight-member board have been vacant for several months.
Trump choice for Alaska federal judge gets low-key hearing in US Senate
Aaron Christian Peterson didn’t face any tough questions during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Legislative auditor warns of ‘degradation’ in Alaska state agencies
Auditor Kris Curtis has increasingly found that Alaska agencies are failing to follow state and federal laws amid high turnover and vacancies.
Alaska legislative committee approves up to $200 million in federal spending on ‘rural health transformation’
The funding is expected to be awarded by the federal government next month as part of a $50 billion nationwide effort aimed at ameliorating cuts to Medicaid.
Former revenue commissioner’s ‘non-routine’ investment decision under review by Alaska legislative auditor
Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Bert Stedman accused Gov. Dunleavy’s Revenue Department of “gross incompetence.”
U.S. House moves to reduce protections for Arctic lands from oil and gas activity
The measures affect Biden-era protections for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Alaska congressional delegation votes to release Epstein files
The bill passed with support from nearly all members of Congress.
Legislators question federal directive for Alaska National Guard to prepare for ‘civil disturbance’
Alaska National Guard officials say they have received the Pentagon’s order to prepare for “civil disturbance operations” but have not begun training, and say it will not interfere with disaster relief efforts.
Dunleavy poised to fill 2 Alaska Senate seats after resignations tied to campaigns
State Sen. Shelley Hughes said she is resigning to run for governor, days after fellow Republican Sen. Mike Shower resigned to run for lieutenant governor.
Alaska tribes, conservation groups sue Trump administration to block proposed road through refuge
The actions seek to stop the deal for an 11-mile gravel road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that would connect King Cove and Cold Bay.
A week after declaring emergency, Alaska has not yet spent state funds on food assistance
Gov. Dunleavy promised to replace lost federal food assistance with state aid to 66,000 Alaskans. That hasn’t happened yet due to constantly shifting federal guidance, the state’s public assistance director said.
Anchorage lawmaker is 2nd Democrat to enter governor’s race
State Sen. Matt Claman is the 14th candidate to join the field.
Murkowski, Sullivan back Senate bill to end federal shutdown, with fate of health care subsidies still unknown
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the bill was “not perfect” but was enough to break a 41-day stalemate.
In already-crowded race for Alaska governor, candidates look to fundraising as a barometer
Some Republican candidates said that donations were harder to come by because of the size of the field.
Opponents of ranked choice voting say they have gathered 48,000 signatures in effort to repeal it
The Republican-backed initiative seeks to place the repeal question on the 2026 ballot.
University of Alaska unions preemptively ask regents not to sign Trump administration compact
The compact opposed by UA faculty unions has been rejected by most of the universities directly contacted by the Trump administration.
Gov. Dunleavy declares state disaster to provide food aid to Alaskans amid federal shutdown
The announcement came after lawmakers urged the governor to take action, as other states have done, to ensure SNAP beneficiaries do not go hungry.
Alaska educators call for more school funding in second task force meeting
The funding increase approved by lawmakers this year was roughly half the amount sought by many districts, including the Anchorage School District, to keep up with inflation.
Alaska Supreme Court considers arguments in case that could shield the ID of some political donors
Justices are considering the legality of a major fine against the backers of a 2024 ballot measure and, in the process, may rule on disclosure rules.
Alaska lawmakers consider steps to replace $25M in federal food assistance threatened by shutdown
Gov. Dunleavy said he was unsuccessful in identifying new funds for Alaska food banks.
Senate passes measure to remove protections in National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
The measure from Alaska’s congressional delegation has drawn opposition from conservation and tribal groups.
Trump to nominate state natural resources attorney to vacant Alaska federal judge position
Alaska officials on Tuesday praised Aaron Peterson, who in his mid-40s would continue Trump’s formula of nominating young conservatives to the federal bench.
Ferry advisory board questions economic analysis of planned terminal 28 miles north of Juneau
The board voted unanimously to send a “corrective action” report after the ferry system’s long-range plan was amended to include the Cascade Point project near Juneau.
Cox names Outside attorney to serve as Alaska’s solicitor general
Jenna Lorence will lead the state’s “appellate advocacy.”
Murkowski joins congressional Democrats in urging Supreme Court to strike down emergency tariffs
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the sole Republican to sign on to the amicus brief, which argues that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to unilaterally impose tariffs.
Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle resigns
Gov. Dunleavy appointed John Crowther to serve as acting commissioner of the natural resources department.