Justice
New lawsuit challenges Anchorage Democrat’s eligibility for legislative election
Four Anchorage residents have sued the Alaska Division of Elections, saying Democratic state House candidate Jennie Armstrong is ineligible to run for office. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Anchorage Superior Court, claims that a social media post and fishing licenses prove Armstrong did not live in Alaska for three years before registering on June 1 […]
After sexual-harassment lawsuit, Alaska governor candidate says it is ‘honorable’ to finish campaign
Republican governor candidate Charlie Pierce confirmed on Wednesday that he will continue his campaign despite a lawsuit accusing him of sexually harassing a Kenai Peninsula Borough employee while he served as the borough’s mayor. “We’re in this race to the very end,” he said during a broadcast of KSRM-AM radio’s “Sound Off” program. “I think […]
Alaska Corrections reports 16th death of 2022, surpassing previous decade-high number of in-custody deaths
Paul Harris, 69, died on Oct. 23 at Goose Creek Correctional Center, becoming the 16th person to die in the state’s prison system this year, according to an Alaska Department of Corrections press release on Tuesday. With this death, Corrections surpassed the highest number of in-custody deaths the department has seen in the past decade, […]
Alaska governor candidates react to sex-harassment lawsuit against Pierce
Independent governor candidate Bill Walker called for Republican candidate Charlie Pierce to quit his campaign after Pierce and the Kenai Peninsula Borough were sued by a borough employee who said she was sexually harassed by Pierce when he served as mayor. The lawsuit was filed Friday by Pierce’s former executive assistant. Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy, […]
U.S. Supreme Court case from North Carolina could unleash profound changes to elections nationwide
A U.S. Supreme Court case originating in North Carolina could bring far-reaching changes to elections and the balance of political power in nearly every state. North Carolina Republicans want the nation’s highest court to rule that state courts cannot throw out congressional districts that legislatures draw, arguing that the U.S. Constitution’s Elections Clause makes legislatures […]
Alaska regulators will hear complaint against national Republican group on Friday
The Alaska Public Offices Commission will meet on Friday to determine whether the national Republican Governors Association violated state campaign law in its support of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican. On Thursday afternoon, commissioners voted 3-2 to act before Election Day on a complaint filed by two nonprofits against the association and A Stronger Alaska, […]
Administration says Corrections deaths not ‘unusual,’ ACLU says it’s deflecting responsibility
None of the 15 people to die in Alaska Department of Corrections custody in 2022 so far “died as a result of others,” according to Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Acting Corrections Commissioner Jen Winkelman also said the deaths were not “unusual.” “The investigations of deaths indicate that none of these inmates at this time have died […]
Alaska campaign regulator finds no ongoing illegal coordination by pro-Dunleavy group
Alaska’s political campaign regulator has found no evidence of ongoing coordination between Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s re-election campaign and a third-party group supporting Dunleavy, the Alaska Public Offices Commission said Monday. The decision means no action by the commission before the Nov. 8 general election, though commission staff will continue to investigate whether the campaign and […]
Dunleavy plans longer prison terms for drug dealers linked to overdose deaths
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Monday that if re-elected, he intends to propose legislation increasing the prison sentence for drug dealers who sell products that kill someone. The as-yet-unreleased legislation would also make convicted dealers ineligible for a particular type of parole and would create a vehicular homicide statute. The proposal would still have to pass […]
A two-year drive successfully renames two Southcentral Alaska mountains
The federal Board of Geographic Names has renamed two mountains near Anchorage after a two-year push by the founder of an anti-suicide group. Thursday’s unanimous vote by the board means North Suicide Peak and South Suicide Peak will now be officially known as North Yuyanq’ Ch’ex and South Yuyanq’ Ch’ex, respectively. The new names are […]
A brother seeks answers over Alaska deaths in custody
Ever since his brother, 31-year-old James Rider, became the 12th person to die while in Alaska Department of Corrections custody, Mike Cox has been trying to get the department to answer his questions. “I want to know what their procedures are and how they intend on fixing them, so this doesn’t keep happening,” Cox said. […]
Alaska Supreme Court takes up union-dues argument advanced by former AG
Seeking to change the way public-employee unions work in Alaska, the State of Alaska attempted to convince skeptical state Supreme Court justices on Thursday that a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision requires union members to opt into their unions annually. That decision addressed only nonunion workers who were required to pay fees to unions, but […]