Alaska leaders who support President Donald Trump have frequently noted the state is the only one he bestowed an executive order upon when returning to office 13 months ago. But of the 10,616 words he spoke during a record-length 108-minute State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, “Alaska” was not among them. He said […]
Posted inNews, Alaska Legislature
Legislators Question Alaska ICE Arrests
JUNEAU – The Alaska House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Monday to examine actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the wake of the ICE arrest and deportation of a Soldotna mother and her children last week. Committee Chair Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat, said lawmakers want to understand ICE officials’ decision to detain […]
Posted inEnvironment, Southeast News
Legislation would loosen restrictions on Board of Fisheries members’ deliberations
During his 20 years as a member of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, Petersburg commercial fisherman John Jensen relied on a lifetime of experience harvesting salmon, crab and other shellfish as he voted on statewide fisheries regulations. But he couldn’t always weigh in with his wisdom. Jensen couldn’t participate in the board’s deliberations on state […]
Posted inHaines Borough, Local News
Listen: Assembly to consider Porcupine Road, daycare reimbursement, cell towers, ore containers
Melinda Munson: Will, there are several issues that are reoccurring that will be discussed again at this next meeting. Give us a refresher. Will Steinfeld: Porcupine Road – we’ve talked in the past few weeks about how the borough has to decide if they want to continue along with this project, which has a phase two […]
Posted inNews, Education
UA Board of Regents to continue anti-DEI policy, despite federal court ruling
The University of Alaska Board of Regents says the university will continue the policy to ban references to “DEI,” or “diversity, equity and inclusion,” enacted last year, despite a federal court ruling that struck down the policy and the U.S. Department of Education agreeing to drop an appeal. Jonathon Taylor, a spokesperson for the university, said even […]
Posted inNews, Economy
Jobs report shows a historic stall in hiring last year
U.S. jobs increased by 130,000 in January, buoyed by hires in health care, social assistance and construction. But in another sign of anemic hiring last year, estimates for 2025 were revised down by more than a million jobs to a level of low growth rarely seen outside of recessions. The revisions show the United States added only […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Transportation
Alaska Marine Highway summer bookings open
The Alaska Marine Highway System on Thursday announced that its summer 2026 schedule is open for bookings. The 2026 summer schedule starts on May 1 and continues through Sept. 30. For most of that time, the Chilkat Valley’s schedule is packed, with just one day without a ship in May, three in June, and two […]
Posted inNews
Sullivan focuses on partisan attacks during election year speech to Alaska Legislature
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued a barrage of attacks against former President Joe Biden and other Democrats during the senator’s annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday. Sullivan, who is seeking reelection to a third term this fall, reiterated a range of talking points from previous speeches in recent months while touting Alaska’s […]
Posted inSoutheast News
Public comment opens on new Tongass plan
The U.S. Forest Service announced in the Federal Register Wednesday that it is preparing to update the Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan to align with executive orders that President Trump issued when he took office last year. Also on Wednesday, the Forest Service opened a 30-day public comment period on the planned […]
Posted inLocal News
Q&A: A first-place finisher’s guide to the Kat to Koot
The winning Kat to Koot team made it to the finish line nearly an hour ahead of the rest of the pack of 27 racers during the Valentine’s Day race. Despite that commanding lead, one half of the winning duo, Erik Stevens, said the snow conditions were among the worst he’s ever skied during the […]