Alaska Legislature

Liz Snyder, candidate for House District 27, is seen in a May photo from her campaign. (Courtesy photo)

Ruling may allow more professors to campaign for office

The Alaska Public Offices Commission may approve a legal opinion today that could encourage University of Alaska professors to run for state office. In March,… Continue reading

Liz Snyder, candidate for House District 27, is seen in a May photo from her campaign. (Courtesy photo)
Zach Fansler

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler withdraws from Democratic primary

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler has officially dropped out of the race for Democratic primary for House District 38. Fansler sent a letter to Division… Continue reading

Zach Fansler
Zach Fansler

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler withdraws from Democratic primary

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler has officially dropped out of the race for Democratic primary for House District 38. Fansler sent a letter to Division… Continue reading

Zach Fansler
Walker signs anti-crime bills

Walker signs anti-crime bills

Correction: The Office of Victims’ rights, not the Violent Crimes Compensation Board, is in charge of restitution to victims under House Bill 216. This article… Continue reading

Walker signs anti-crime bills

Walker signs anti-crime bills

Correction: The Office of Victims’ rights, not the Violent Crimes Compensation Board, is in charge of restitution to victims under House Bill 216. This article… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signs state spending bills during a ceremony Wednesday at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Walker did perform some line-item vetoes, including rejecting funding for a bridge project that would link Anchorage to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and a Vitamin D deficiency study. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Analysis: Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signs deficit-slashing budget, but ‘shadow deficit’ remains

On Wednesday in Anchorage, Gov. Bill Walker signed a $10.4 billion state operating budget, a $1.5 billion capital construction and renovation budget, a mental health… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signs state spending bills during a ceremony Wednesday at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Walker did perform some line-item vetoes, including rejecting funding for a bridge project that would link Anchorage to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and a Vitamin D deficiency study. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Walker keeps funding for Juneau Access but nixes money for Anchorage bridge

Gov. Bill Walker declined to veto additional money for the Juneau Access Project, but he did nix funding for another Alaska road-building project before signing… Continue reading

James Hart and Tom Morphet are seen in courtesy photos. Hart is seen in a 2017 image provided by KHNS-FM radio in Haines. Morphet is seen in a headshot he provided on Tuesday. (Juneau Empire composite)

Two more jump into Alaska House Democratic primary

Two late entries in the race for Alaska House District 33 have made the contest one of the biggest in the state. Just before Friday’s… Continue reading

James Hart and Tom Morphet are seen in courtesy photos. Hart is seen in a 2017 image provided by KHNS-FM radio in Haines. Morphet is seen in a headshot he provided on Tuesday. (Juneau Empire composite)

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler to plead guilty

A former Alaska lawmaker who was accused of hitting a woman earlier this year will plead guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge as part of… Continue reading

Andi Story, with her husband, Mike, and son, Ryan, announces her run for the Mendenhall Valley house seat at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Thursday, May 31, 2018. ( Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Juneau school board member Andi Story will run for Valley House seat

Update: This story has been updated to include comments from Story’s announcement event Thursday afternoon. Juneau School Board member Andi Story is seeking higher office.… Continue reading

Andi Story, with her husband, Mike, and son, Ryan, announces her run for the Mendenhall Valley house seat at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Thursday, May 31, 2018. ( Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Former fishing company CEO Larry Cotter has announced he will withdraw his candidacy for Senate District Q. (Courtesy photo)

Candidate drops out of race to replace Sen. Dennis Egan

One of the three candidates running for the Alaska Senate seat covering northern Southeast has dropped out of the race. In an emailed statement Wednesday… Continue reading

Former fishing company CEO Larry Cotter has announced he will withdraw his candidacy for Senate District Q. (Courtesy photo)
Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, is seen in a 2016 file photo. (Juneau Empire file)

Reinbold, Saddler to clash in Alaska Senate race

Two incumbent Republicans in the Alaska House of Representatives will clash in a fall election for the Alaska Senate. On Thursday, Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle… Continue reading

Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, is seen in a 2016 file photo. (Juneau Empire file)
Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

‘You have to fight these things:’ Why two Juneau men are standing in the way of the Alaska Legislature, Gov. Bill Walker and a billion-dollar debt

The odds are not in their favor. The State of Alaska is against them. So is Gov. Bill Walker. The Alaska Legislature doesn’t side with… Continue reading

Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Jesse Kiehl, left, meets with supporters before his announcement to run for the Senate District Q seat in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 17, 2018. The seat is currently held by Sen. Dennis Egan who is not running for reelection. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau Assembly member Jesse Kiehl announces run for state senate

A crowd of about 60 people gathered in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday morning for the most expected news of the political… Continue reading

Jesse Kiehl, left, meets with supporters before his announcement to run for the Senate District Q seat in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 17, 2018. The seat is currently held by Sen. Dennis Egan who is not running for reelection. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Lawmakers approve legislation, funding to test backlog of rape kits

Lawmakers approve legislation, funding to test backlog of rape kits

An effort to solve a backlog of untested evidence from rape cases across Alaska received a major boost from the Alaska Legislature this week, but… Continue reading

Lawmakers approve legislation, funding to test backlog of rape kits
Alaska Legislature’s last call is for more cocktails

Alaska Legislature’s last call is for more cocktails

At last call, the Alaska Legislature saved a cocktail for you. In the final hours of the 30th Alaska Legislature, Rep. Adam Wool, D-Fairbanks, offered… Continue reading

Alaska Legislature’s last call is for more cocktails
Don Etheridge is running for the senate seat currently held by Sen. Dennis Egan. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lobbyist seeks to run for Juneau’s state senate seat

Longtime Juneau resident and AFL-CIO lobbyist Don Etheridge is running for the Alaska Senate seat representing northern Southeast Alaska. On Sunday, Etheridge filed a letter… Continue reading

Don Etheridge is running for the senate seat currently held by Sen. Dennis Egan. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A road north of Juneau would have to negotiate the steep terrain of the east side of Lynn Canal, pictured here in a February 2014 Juneau Empire file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau Access money stays in Alaska’s capital budget

A proposal to transfer $21.3 million into the accounts of the Juneau Access project stayed within the state’s $1.5 billion capital construction and renovation budget,… Continue reading

A road north of Juneau would have to negotiate the steep terrain of the east side of Lynn Canal, pictured here in a February 2014 Juneau Empire file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on May 10, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Alaska hospitals, nursing homes face budget gap in Legislature’s bill

Alaska’s Medicaid program may run out of money as soon as the second week of June, leaving doctors, hospitals and nursing homes with unpaid bills… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on May 10, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage (left) speaks to Rep. Dan Saddler, R-Eagle River (standing center), Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton (standing right) and Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River (seated) before the final vote Friday, May 11, 2018 on House Bill 44. (Brian Hild | Alaska House Majority)

Legislature will boot ballot measure if governor signs ‘government accountability’ bill

The Alaska Legislature has likely removed a ballot measure from this fall’s statewide election. In a 39-1 vote Friday night, the Alaska House of Representatives… Continue reading

Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage (left) speaks to Rep. Dan Saddler, R-Eagle River (standing center), Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton (standing right) and Rep. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River (seated) before the final vote Friday, May 11, 2018 on House Bill 44. (Brian Hild | Alaska House Majority)