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Alaska legislator, farthest north in the US, resigns after winning North Slope mayor’s race
Rep. Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak, America’s farthest north state legislator, resigned from the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday after winning election as mayor of the North Slope Borough. Patkotak’s resignation opens a vacancy in the Alaska House of Representatives, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy has 30 days to nominate someone to fill the seat. The governor’s office has […]
Alaska school sports board votes to exclude transgender girls from girls teams
Transgender girls in Alaska are now banned from competing on girls’ school sports teams. The board of the Alaska School Activities Association — which regulates school sports in the state — voted 5-3 on Monday to adopt a new rule affecting transgender girls. The rule was required by the Alaska state school board, which voted […]
Alaska moves to restrict marijuana-like ‘diet weed’ products derived from hemp
The state of Alaska has approved new regulations on inexpensive cannabis-like products derived from hemp, sometimes referred to as “diet weed.” The new changes mean intoxicating hemp-derived products will have to be regulated by the state’s marijuana control board, an act that will see them removed from vape shops and other unregulated stores across the […]
Two dozen Alaska legislators join opposition to Kroger-Albertsons merger plans
Almost half of the Alaska Legislature has signed a letter opposing a merger of two grocery chains that could lead to hundreds of layoffs and the closure of local stores. On Monday, 24 of the Legislature’s 60 members asked the chair of the Federal Trade Commission to block the impending $24.6 billion merger of Kroger […]
After three years, former Alaska lawmaker will face election-tampering trial in November
A former Alaska state legislator will go on trial Nov. 27, accused of misconduct during Alaska’s 2018 primary and general elections. Former Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, was indicted by state prosecutors in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic and several subsequent delays have put off her trial until now. LeDoux’s former chief of staff, Lisa Simpson, […]
Alaska Department of Health turns down new hospital facility in South Anchorage
The Alaska Department of Health has rejected a new $18 million emergency hospital facility in South Anchorage, saying in an analysis that there isn’t enough demand for it. In a public notice published Friday, the state said it will not issue what is known as a “certificate of need” for the facility. Alaska is one […]
After being bailed out by Alaska’s state government, North Slope oil field is eyed for sale
Alaska’s state-owned development bank is planning to sell a troubled North Slope oil field development that previously received a state bailout loan. At a regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 21, the board of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority agreed to open final negotiations for the sale of Mustang Holdings LLC to the subsidiary of […]
As oil companies show little interest, feds cancel plans for drilling off Alaska shores
There will be no new offshore oil and gas sales in federal waters near Alaska anytime soon. In a plan released Friday, the Department of Interior said it will hold just three oil and gas lease sales in American federal waters between 2024 and 2029. All three will take place in the Gulf of Mexico. […]
Alaska Permanent Fund leaders discuss whether to seek exemption from open-government law
The trustees of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are considering whether to back legislation that could exempt the corporation from the state’s open meetings act and the state’s procurement rules, as well as conceal personnel records from public records requests. Trustees could also find themselves supporting a proposed constitutional amendment that restructures the spendable portion […]
U.S. military pay in question, including thousands in Alaska, as government shutdown approaches
The three members of Alaska’s congressional delegation are trying to ensure that members of the U.S. military, civilian Department of Defense workers and military contractors remain paid during a partial federal government shutdown that could begin as soon as Sunday. In separate statements, Republican Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola […]
Alaska Permanent Fund improves after money-losing year but withdrawals still exceed earnings
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.’s investment earnings were again less than withdrawals in the 12 months ending in June, according to preliminary data scheduled to be released at the corporation’s annual meeting this week in Anchorage. The corporation, which manages the $74.9 billion Alaska Permanent Fund, earned a 5.18% return, less than its goal of […]
Alaska relaxes rules for marijuana ads, allows free samples
Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom has signed new regulations that allow the state’s legal marijuana businesses to advertise more widely and to distribute free samples of marijuana at retail stores. The regulations, signed Sept. 8, go into effect Oct. 8, and are part of a broad wave of regulatory changes affecting the state’s marijuana industry. […]