Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau

Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau
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Eric Stone covers state government, tracking the Alaska Legislature, state policy and its impact on all Alaskans. Reach him at estone@alaskapublic.org and follow him on X at @eriwinsto. Read more about Eric here.
A man in a blue shirt takes a ballot from a voter.

What we’re learning from early primary results in Alaska House and Senate races

Results are rolling for Tuesday’s primary election, voters' first chance this cycle to weigh in on races for the Alaska House and Senate.
A woman with blonde hair in a yellow button-up shirt stands next to a voting machine smiling as a woman in a grey shirt with grey hair and glasses watches.

3 things to know about voting in Alaska’s primary election

Alaskans have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to vote in the primary. Here's what's on the ballot, how to vote, and when to expect results.

Disagreements over bipartisanship fuel five-way race for Eagle River state Senate seat

Sen. Kelly Merrick says she joined a 17-member bipartisan Senate majority to get things done. Opponents say she betrayed conservative voters.

How Alaska wound up with no limits on campaign donations — and how some hope to restore them

A court slashed Alaska's campaign finance laws in 2021. Now, as money pours into candidates' coffers, a campaign seeks to reimpose them.

Gov. Dunleavy vetoes 5 bills passed after midnight on last day of legislative session

The bills passed after midnight cover a variety of subjects. Most would make simple but consequential changes to state law. 
Petersburg elementary students

Lawmakers say they’re puzzled by Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of $5M for K-3 reading, a goal of his signature education bill

Lawmakers say the money was intended to achieve the goals of the 2022 Alaska Reads Act — a priority bill for Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Peltola declines to endorse Kamala Harris, won’t say who she’ll vote for

Congresswoman Mary Peltola, a Democrat, said Tuesday morning she's "keeping an open mind." She later said she wouldn't vote for Trump.

Alaska Democratic Party endorses Kamala Harris after Biden steps aside

Party officials met Sunday evening and coalesced behind Harris, according to a news release from the Alaska Democratic Party.
Petersburg dispatchers

Alaska institutions and businesses reckon with impacts of wide-ranging cloud software glitch

Across the country, the faulty software update disrupted health care providers, airlines and banks, among others.
An aerial view of a beluga and a baby beluga in gray water

Judge suspends controversial federal Cook Inlet lease sale, citing impacts on beluga whales

The landmark Inflation Reduction Act mandated the federal oil and gas lease sale. But the agency offering it fell short, the judge ruled.
Two people walk through a prison.

ACLU points to continued issues with Alaska prisoners’ access to attorneys

The Department of Corrections has agreed to meet with the ACLU to discuss the issues, a spokesperson said.

Why last week’s Alaska Supreme Court ruling isn’t the final word on homeschool allotments

There's a key question the court left open: whether Alaska correspondence schools can allow parents to spend public money at private schools.

Gov. Dunleavy trims $225M with budget vetoes but leaves school funding boost intact

Dunleavy trimmed funding for Head Start, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and rural broadband, among other line-item vetoes.

Alaska Supreme Court sides with state, allows correspondence school laws to stand

The court said plaintiffs had failed to show that a 2014 law reforming Alaska's correspondence school system violated the state Constitution.
Cans on shelves in a grocery store

USDA fines Alaska $11.9M for failing to ensure SNAP recipients are eligible

For the second year in a row, Alaska’s so-called “payment error rate” for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program topped 50%.
Empty court chamber

Justices grill attorneys as correspondence school case reaches Alaska Supreme Court

The justices are considering an appeal of a decision that ruled two 2014 laws key to the correspondence school system unconstitutional.
a sign says "Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation"

Why Permanent Fund managers are again sounding the alarm about a key account running low

The Alaska Permanent Fund’s two-account structure means there’s a significant risk that it runs out of spendable cash in the coming years.
the outside of a multi-story building at night.

New Alaska water quality rules are coming. Here’s what that could mean for wastewater systems.

Some difficult-to-treat compounds could present costly challenges, said the head of Alaska's largest water system.
The seal of the state of alaska as seen from below

As Alaska high court preps for correspondence school arguments, here’s what each side says

The state and plaintiffs submitted briefs outlining their arguments. They'll make their case during oral arguments set for June 27.
A structure, with mountains in the background, painted with Tlingit art.

Suit asserting Metlakatla tribal members’ right to fish off-reservation heads for trial

A trial in federal court is expected to determine where Metlakatla Indian Community members can fish without state permits.