Politics

All news stories about local, statewide and Washington, D.C., politics.

a person looks over papers

What would a statewide hand-count election look like in Alaska?

As Georgia plans to implement a partial hand count, a small Alaska experiment shows that it could be time-consuming here.

Alaska’s ferry system receives $177M in federal funds

The funding will go towards operational costs, bringing Wi-Fi to passengers, and replacing the oldest ferry in the fleet.
dogs

Peltola bill would lift ban on bringing puppies through Canada

The bill aims to ease the burdens of a CDC rule that took effect in August, at least for dogs coming from countries at low rabies risk.
a person counting ballots

Miscommunication leads to hundreds of extra ballots sent to Juneau voters

About 600 Juneau residents may have accidentally been sent two ballots for the upcoming municipal election.
man in suit and red tie holds mic

Alaska on Trump’s mind: He endorses Begich and confuses Arctic refuge with Afghanistan air base

The former president says Nick Begich will fight for MAGA policies. In other Alaska news, Trump twice referred to ANWR as "Bagram."
A woman with a pink sweater and red glasses

Anchorage Assembly vice chair Meg Zaletel won’t run for reelection

Zaletel was elected to represent Midtown Anchorage in 2019 and currently serves as vice chair of the Assembly.

Feds to withhold COVID relief funds from Alaska as state feud continues

The federal government says Alaska underfunded school districts in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and the Kenai Peninsula.
Men in military uniforms stand in tall grass.

In Arctic, Putin is flexing the strength of his alliances, Murkowski says

It's the joint nature of the exercises off Alaska that are unusual, the U.S. senator says. In response, the Army sent soldiers to Shemya.
U.S. Capitol dome

Sen. Murkowski joins Democrats to support IVF bill

Republicans, including Sen. Dan Sullivan, blocked the IVF bill. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins were the only GOP senators to support it.
A woman waves political signs on the sidewalk.

Anchorage Assembly member Karen Bronga not running for reelection

Bronga endorsed fellow East Anchorage resident Yarrow Silvers to take over when her term ends next year.
stickers on a table

Alaska’s presidential election allows voters to rank up to 8 candidates

Because Alaska’s top-four primary election doesn’t apply to the presidential race, voters will be able to rank all eight options if they choose to do so.
a photo of two men

Alaska House race in South Anchorage presents contrasts, despite common party affiliation

Both candidates are Republicans, but they differ in their ideas about bipartisan caucuses, state employee retirement benefits and other issues.
a group of people outside

Young people in Juneau gather to protest Dunleavy’s ‘incomprehensible’ contraceptive expansion veto

Dozens gathered on the sidewalk across from the Alaska State Capitol building holding signs saying, “healthcare is a right, not a privilege."
images of a backpack on a fence

Here’s what we know about the suspect in Trump’s apparent attempted assassination

Ryan Wesley Routh's digital footprint paints a picture of a disillusioned former Trump voter who took up an impassioned defense of Ukraine.
Alaska Public Media reporters Liz Ruskin and Eric Stone speak with host Lori Townsend at a desk.

Voters share their top priorities ahead of November | Alaska Insight

Alaska Public Media reporters are engaging with voters across the state to hear about the issues that matter to them.
an intercept

NORAD detects, intercepts 2 Russian aircraft off Alaska’s coast

U.S. aircraft escorted the Russian maritime reconnaissance/anti-submarine planes through international airspace Wednesday.
the Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court rejects Democrats’ attempt to remove candidate from U.S. House ballot

Eric Hafner will appear on the ballot alongside Democrat Mary Peltola, Republican Nick Begich and the Alaskan Independence Party’s John Wayne Howe.

Alaska Public Media is shaking up its election coverage with a project we’re calling ‘The View From Here’

Ahead of this fall's election, we want to know how you're feeling about your top issues and the future of your community.
a case file

Alaska Supreme Court considers legal challenge to imprisoned out-of-state Democrat’s U.S. House run

A lower court dismissed the Alaska Democratic Party's lawsuit on Tuesday, but the party was granted an emergency appeal.
a library

Alaska librarians hopeful state will restore ‘massive’ cut in vital grant

The abrupt reversal of last month’s roughly 75% cutback followed an outcry by librarians and the public.