Author

Andrew Kitchenman

Andrew Kitchenman

Andrew Kitchenman has covered state government in Alaska since 2016, serving as the Capitol reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO before joining the Alaska Beacon. Before this, he covered state and local governments on the East Coast – primarily in New Jersey – for more than 15 years. He enjoys reading, watching movies and walking around Anchorage.

(Photo by Valeriya/Getty Images Plus)

Alaska health care providers sue to keep state rule mandating minimum payments for care

By: - November 25, 2023

A group of Alaska health care providers has sued the state government, seeking to keep in place a state regulation that sets a floor for how much private health insurance plans pay for out-of-network services.  The Alaska Division of Insurance plans to repeal the rule effective Jan. 1. The regulation, which has been in place […]

Bethel Superior Court Judge Terrence Haas, left, is becoming the leader of the Alaska Public Defender Agency and Anchorage District Court Judge David Nesbett, right, is moving up to the Superior Court, under appointments made by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Alaska Court System photos)

Gov. Dunleavy appoints Bethel judge to be top public defender and Anchorage judge to Superior Court

By: - September 19, 2023

A judge who has served at the Bethel Superior Court has been named by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to lead the state Public Defender Agency.  Judge Terrence Haas worked as a public defender in Bethel for more than a decade before he was appointed as a Superior Court judge in the city in 2018. Haas replaces […]

Eugene Peltola Jr., center, watches the ranked choice voting tabulation on Nov. 23, 2022, at 49th State Brewing in Anchorage. Pictured with him are his daughter and U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Anchorage, who was learning that she was re-elected. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Eugene Peltola Jr., retired BIA official and husband of U.S. Rep. Peltola, dies after plane crash

By: - September 13, 2023

Eugene Peltola Jr., who held senior positions with the federal government and was the husband of U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, has died after an airplane crash in Southwest Alaska. He was 57 years old. Anton McParland, chief of staff to Rep. Peltola, announced the death on Wednesday morning.  “We are devastated to share that Mary’s […]

Questions on minimum wage, paid sick leave and campaign funding could be heading to Alaska voters

By: - July 10, 2023

Proposed ballot measures would raise Alaska minimum wage, add mandatory paid sick leave, as well as limit campaign contributions and state spending on party candidate nominations. The Alaska Division of Elections received the proposals this week.  One proposed ballot measure would make a series of changes to state labor laws. It would raise the hourly […]

Mendenhall Lake in Juneau is seen on Nov. 6, 2021. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Top Alaska tourist attraction Mendenhall Glacier to hit capacity for visitors by late summer

By: - July 8, 2023

Alaska’s top tourist attraction, the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, is reaching its capacity for commercial tours this year sooner than in previous years, due to the growing number of visitors.  This means tour operators are also facing limits in the second half of the summer season on how many tours have permits to visit the […]

COMMENTARY

Alaska Permanent Fund account that pays for state budget, dividends is under pressure

By: - May 25, 2023

For 41 years, Alaskans’ bank accounts have been refilled with dividends – usually more than $1,000 – from the  $76.6 billion Alaska Permanent Fund. More recently, the fund also has been the biggest source of money paying for state government. But what if there was no money available for either dividends or the state budget?  […]

Alaska Redistricting Board member Nicole Borromeo, chair John Binkley and member Bethany Marcum meet to discuss a recent Alaska Supreme Court opinion on redistricting lawsuits on May 15, 2023, in the Anchorage Legislative Office Building. Board members Melanie Bahnke and Budd Simpson joined the meeting by phone. (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Redistricting Board decides against attempting to redraw map again

By: - May 15, 2023

The board responsible for drawing the boundaries of Alaska’s legislative districts voted Monday against making any changes after the state Supreme Court recently issued its full ruling on lawsuits challenging the map.  That likely means there won’t be any changes to the district lines used in last year’s election until 2032, though Alaskans displeased with […]

Adak, Alaska, is seen in an undated photo. (Getty Images)

GCI pays $40.2 million to settle federal allegations it violated False Claims Act, bidding rules

By: - May 11, 2023

GCI Communications Corp., Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, has agreed to pay $40.2 million to settle allegations by federal prosecutors that it violated the U.S. False Claims Act and competitive bidding rules.  The U.S. Justice Department had alleged that GCI knowingly inflated its prices in order to receive federal subsidies for its services in rural areas.  […]

An indoor basketball court is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Tom Sibley/Getty Images)

Alaska sports board decides against barring trans girls from girls sports, for now

By: - May 2, 2023

The board that governs school sports in Alaska decided against adopting a change to its bylaws  that would have prevented transgender girls from participating in girls sports. But the Alaska School Activities Association said its board could still adopt the change in the future if state Department of Education and Early Development rules compel it […]

Alaska Senate passes bill to allow municipal blight tax, property tax exemptions

By: - April 12, 2023

The Alaska Senate voted 13-6 on Tuesday to pass a bill that would apply both a carrot and a stick for local governments to encourage the construction and maintenance of developments.  One provision of Senate Bill 77 would allow municipalities to exempt the owners of newly developed or redeveloped commercial properties from paying property taxes. […]

Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, speaks Tuesday, May 10, 2022, on the floor of the Alaska Senate at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska lawmaker can’t block public from social accounts based on their views, judge rules

By: - December 12, 2022

An Alaska state legislator can’t block members of the public who they disagree with from commenting on a social media account the lawmaker maintains in connection with her elective office, a judge has ruled.  Anchorage Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews said in a decision he issued Friday that the account is a limited public forum […]

Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, speaks on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday, May 2, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Eastman trial to advance, focus on whether Oath Keepers advocate concrete overthrow of government

By: - December 9, 2022

A trial on whether Wasilla Republican Rep. David Eastman is eligible for state office is set to begin on Monday, after a judge ruled on Friday against attempts by him and the state Division of Elections to dismiss the case.  The trial will focus on whether the Oath Keepers advocate the forceful overthrow of the […]