Delegation Skeptical Of Northern Dynasty’s Continued Pebble Plan Development
Although Northern Dynasty officials say the company will continue to develop plans for the mine in Southwest Alaska, the state’s senators are skeptical.
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Anchorage Assembly – Seat 3E
Candidates for Anchorage Assembly Seat 3E – Phil Isley and Tim Steele – discuss local issues with host Michael Carey.
Campaign Profile: For Joe Miller, 2010 Looms Large
Republican Joe Miller is vying for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Mark Begich. But the specter of his 2010 run against Sen. Lisa Murkowski looms large over his current campaign. Some of the residual effects strengthen Miller’s candidacy. But the negatives are persistent.
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Y-K Voters Weigh In on Senate, Governor, and Marijuana Legalization
Republican Dan Sullivan appears to be Alaska’s next US Senator. The former Attorney General and Natural Resources Commissioner was up 8-thousand votes with all precincts reporting. The Kuskokwim Delta, however, came out for the Democrat Mark Begich, with 70 percent Bethel voters supporting Begich to Sullivan’s 25 percent.
Campbell To Serve as Interim Director of DOT Southcoast Region
A Department of Transportation insider is the new manager of the agency’s division overseeing Southeast Alaska. Commissioner Marc Luiken on Tuesday announced Rob Campbell will fill in as interim director of DOT’s Southcoast Region. That includes Southeast, plus coastal Southcentral and Southwest Alaska. Campbell already directs the department’s Central Region, which includes Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Lawmakers scrutinize risks, rewards of TransCanada buyout
Buying out TransCanada puts the state on the hook for $7 billion more in construction costs if the Alaska LNG project ends up going forward. But the governor and his team argue it’s worth it to get more control -- and perhaps more revenue down the line.
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Fairbanks strides closer to F-35 answer
The Air Force plan to station two squadrons of F-35s at Eielson Air Force Base cleared a milestone with the publication of the final environmental impact statement. It says the basing decision would not significantly harm Fairbanks air quality or harm wildlife, other than an increase of about 14 bird strikes per year. Download audio
National podcaster discusses data and Alaska political climate
National political podcast host Jody Avirgan and his wife recently visited Juneau, marking Alaska as the 50th state to which he's traveled. Listen now
Proposed legislation to criminalize police sexual contact with sex workers during investigations
Law enforcement officers in Alaska can legally have sexual contact with people they are investigating for crimes. Proposed legislation seeks to change that. A new survey shows that most Alaskans didn't know the practice was legal and do not support it. Listen now
After signing wastewater bill, Governor Walker celebrates salmon
Governor Bill Walker put pen to paper last Thursday afternoon, signing a bill at a shipyard in Sitka. The measure means big savings for small ships — especially those that ferry passengers around Southeast. On Alaska Wild Salmon Day, he also received a gift from local fishermen.
Alaska senators vote ‘no’ as Congress renews surveillance law
FISA allows the government to collect email and phone records of foreigners overseas without a warrant. Privacy advocates warn it sweeps up communications of Americans, too.
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House passes fast-track bill to keep ferries and Medicaid funded through spring
The bill now goes to the Senate. It includes $45 million for Medicaid, $24 million for the ferry system and $18 million for the Department of Corrections. Listen now
As the U.S. moves to open ANWR to drilling, Canada says ‘not so fast’
As part of their strategy going forward, opponents to drilling in ANWR are looking beyond Washington, D.C. and across U.S.-Canada border for support. Listen now
State officials weigh shift to more voting by mail
Rural Alaskans don’t want a system that entirely relies on mail. Listen now
Alaska delegation urges Pompeo to take up transboundary mining concerns
Alaska’s elected leaders are pressing the Trump administration to take up the issue of transboundary mining. The renewed push comes ahead of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Canada. Listen now
Pivotal House race recount now favors LeBon by 1 vote
The recount in the pivotal House District 1 race has ended, and the new count favors Bart LeBon by one vote. A LeBon victory would mean Republican control of the Alaska House of Representatives.
Ask an Economist: What does the partial government shutdown mean for Alaska’s economy?
That's because the federal government is in its third week of a partial shutdown. Around 5,700 people in Alaska work for unfunded federal agencies. So right now, they're furloughed or working without pay.
Cannabis advocates wary of Dunleavy’s Marijuana Control Board appointments
Alaska’s marijuana industry and its advocates are concerned about Governor Mike Dunleavy’s appointment of two people to the Marijuana Control Board that the advocates say could slow or halt the industry’s growth and hamper the state’s ability to regulate it.
Skagway offers Borough Manager position to former state legislator
The Skagway Borough Assembly voted to offer the city’s Borough Manager position to former state legislator Sam Kito III at a meeting Thursday.
Two veterans of Alaska politics land contract jobs with Gov. Dunleavy
Two veterans of Alaska politics have signed contracts to work with GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy, and one of them is maintaining ownership of her...