Advertisement

Politics

State

Alaska lawmakers reach tentative deal on budget, dividend

Updated: Jun. 13, 2021 at 8:04 PM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
Alaska budget negotiators have reached a tentative agreement on a state spending package that includes an estimated $1,100 dividend for residents this year.

National

AP Exclusive: State bar investigating Texas attorney general

Updated: Jun. 9, 2021 at 6:10 PM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
The investigation is yet another liability for the embattled attorney general, who is facing a years-old criminal case, a separate, newer FBI investigation, and a Republican primary opponent who is seeking to make electoral hay of the various controversies.

State Legislature

Alaska Legislature enters special session

Updated: May. 20, 2021 at 4:56 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
Starting Thursday, May 20th, the Alaska State Senate and House of Representatives have entered special session.

State Legislature

Bill ending abortion in Alaska introduced in state legislature

Updated: May. 19, 2021 at 4:04 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
A bill banning abortion in the state of Alaska has been introduced in the Alaska House of Representatives.
Advertisement

State Legislature

Alaska Legislature votes to establish holiday marking ratification of state constitution

Updated: May. 18, 2021 at 4:48 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
On Monday, March 18th, the Alaska House of Representatives voted to establish “Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill Constitution of the State of Alaska Day.”

National

Attorney: US makes concessions to ease asylum restrictions

Updated: May. 18, 2021 at 4:35 AM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
The move is part of negotiations to settle a lawsuit over pandemic-related powers that deny migrants a right to apply for asylum.

Politics

Don Young co-sponsors national cannabis legalization bill

Updated: May. 17, 2021 at 5:39 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
Congressman Don Young has co-sponsored a bill that would legalize cannabis on a national level.

State Legislature

Alaska House of Representatives passes bill aligning state banking with national standards

Updated: May. 17, 2021 at 5:03 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
The Alaska House of Representatives voted to alter Alaskan banking laws, bringing them into alignment with national laws.

State

Alaska Legislature passes bill protecting Unangax̂ cemetery at WWII internment site

Updated: May. 17, 2021 at 12:13 PM AKDT
|
By Sean Maguire
The Alaska Legislature has passed legislation to protect an Unangax̂ cemetery in Funter Bay.

Politics

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act passes in U.S. Senate

Updated: May. 14, 2021 at 5:14 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act passed the U.S. Senate yesterday.

Politics

Governor Dunleavy calls for PFD special session as budget deadline approaches

Updated: May. 14, 2021 at 4:12 PM AKDT
|
By Richard Atkin
Governor Dunleavy calls for PFD special session as budget deadline approaches.

Community

Alaska Congressman Don Young’s ‘Native American Child Protection Act’ passes House

Updated: May. 14, 2021 at 4:10 PM AKDT
|
By Richard Atkin
Alaska Congressman Don Young’s ‘Native American Child Protection Act’ passes in the House.

Politics

Congressman Don Young discusses issues facing Alaska and the nation

Updated: May. 11, 2021 at 4:42 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
On Thursday, May 6th, Alaska Congressman Don Young spoke with KTVF about multiple topics in the news today.

State Legislature

Senator Dan Sullivan addresses Alaska Senate and House

Updated: May. 4, 2021 at 4:18 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
Senator Dan Sullivan gave an address to a joint session of the Alaska House and Senate.

National

Powell’s high-stakes bet: More jobs but only mild inflation

Updated: May. 1, 2021 at 7:56 AM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
Getting the timing right on interest rate policy is a tricky task that has bedeviled Fed chairs for decades.

State Legislature

Dunleavy proposes legislation opening certain state lands for private ownership

Updated: Apr. 29, 2021 at 4:32 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
Governor Mike Dunleavy has introduced legislation which would allow certain state lands to be purchased by Alaskans.

Candidate Profiles & Election Information

Rep. Don Young announces intention to run for reelection in 2022

Updated: Apr. 28, 2021 at 5:18 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
U.S. Representative Don Young has announced his intention to run for reelection in 2022.

State

Alaska candidate shadowed by anti-gay article, election post

Updated: Apr. 28, 2021 at 8:05 AM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
A candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Alaska has previously written articles in support of an organization that espoused gay conversion therapy, questioned the integrity of elections and described the “Twilight” books and movies as evil.

Politics

Biden to propose free preschool, a $200B investment

Updated: Apr. 27, 2021 at 3:57 PM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
President Joe Biden will call for free preschool for all three- and four-year-old children as part of his American Families Plan.

Politics

Houston-area sheriff is named to lead immigration agency

Updated: Apr. 27, 2021 at 2:49 PM AKDT
|
By JUAN A. LOZANO and ELLIOT SPAGAT
President Joe Biden has nominated the sheriff of one of the nation’s most populous counties to lead the agency that deports people in the country illegally.

Politics

US orders big drawdown at Kabul embassy as troops leave

Updated: Apr. 27, 2021 at 12:40 PM AKDT
|
By MATTHEW LEE
The State Department has ordered a significant number of its remaining staff at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to leave Afghanistan as the military steps up the pullout of American troops from the country.

State

Sen. Lora Reinbold temporarily banned from Alaska Airlines flights

Updated: Apr. 24, 2021 at 9:37 PM AKDT
|
By Kristen Durand
Alaska Airlines has banned Eagle River Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold from its flights until further notice.

State

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski breaks with GOP, helps confirm Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general

Updated: Apr. 21, 2021 at 4:00 PM AKDT
|
By Megan Pacer
President Joe Biden's nominee Vanita Gupta was confirmed as associate attorney general with a vote from Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

State Legislature

Alaska legislator proposes state constitutional amendment denying federal land control

Updated: Apr. 20, 2021 at 4:58 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
A proposed amendment to the Alaskan Constitution hopes to give the state full rights to its land, waters and resources.

State Legislature

State Senator Reinbold removed from Senate Judiciary Chair

Updated: Apr. 19, 2021 at 6:08 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
The Alaska State Senate has voted to remove Senator Lora Reinbold from her position as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee

Politics

Congressman Don Young signals support for Puerto Rican statehood

Updated: Apr. 16, 2021 at 4:16 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
Congressman Don Young has indicated his support of Puerto Rican statehood.

State Legislature

Alaska legislative committee plans spending of federal COVID aid

Updated: Apr. 16, 2021 at 4:04 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
The Alaska House Finance Committee is meeting to determine how best to spend about one billion dollars in incoming Federal Aid.

Politics

The national push for ranked-choice voting

Updated: Apr. 8, 2021 at 7:16 PM AKDT
|
By Kristin Kasper
According to experts, ranked-choice voting is used in 25 cities across the country. It’s used for statewide elections in Maine, and in 2024, it will be the way residents of Alaska vote for the next U.S President.

State Legislature

Alaska Legislature urges Congress to allow cruise ships

Updated: Apr. 1, 2021 at 4:57 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
On Wednesday, March 31st, the Alaska State House voted to urge Congress to exempt certain cruise ships from having to stop at Canadian ports on their way to the state.

Politics

Alaska Congressional Delegation declares support for state control of navigable waters

Updated: Apr. 1, 2021 at 4:55 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
Alaska’s Congressional Delegation has indicated its support of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s move to assert state control over many of its navigable rivers and lakes.

State Legislature

Alaska seeing eight-year migration deficit, according to report

Updated: Mar. 31, 2021 at 4:06 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
On Wednesday, March 31st, the Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development about economic trends in Alaska.

State

Head of the Alaska Department of Administration resigns, seeks run for Murkowski’s US Senate seat

Updated: Mar. 29, 2021 at 11:13 AM AKDT
|
By Gilbert Cordova
Tshibaka led the DOA since early 2019. She was born and raised in Alaska and took the at the DOA to replace former Commissioner Jonathan Quick.

State

Former Alaska House Speaker Gail Phillips dies

Updated: Mar. 25, 2021 at 4:06 PM AKDT
|
By Beth Verge
Fmr. House Speaker Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said during an address on the House floor in Juneau that Phillips was announced to have passed earlier in the day.

News

House passes bill to expand Alaska tribal law enforcement

Updated: Mar. 22, 2021 at 6:14 PM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
The U.S. House has passed a bill to renew the Violence Against Women Act that includes a pilot program that would expand tribal law enforcement in five Alaska Native villages.

News

Arctic intersection: Alaska, the US and China

Updated: Mar. 18, 2021 at 8:13 PM AKDT
|
By Jill Burke
The U.S. and China meet in Anchorage, Alaska, where shared arctic interests could provide common ground.

State

What some groups in Alaska are saying about the new US Secretary of the Interior

Updated: Mar. 16, 2021 at 7:39 PM AKDT
|
By Marlise Irby
The Senate voted 51 to 40 making her the first Native American to run interior and the first Native American cabinet secretary in U.S. history.

State Legislature

Alaska State Representative Kurka leaves house chamber after removing mask

Updated: Mar. 16, 2021 at 4:48 PM AKDT
|
By Alex Bengel
Mask mandates and safety protocols came under fire in the Alaska Legislature on Monday, March 15th.

National

US: Putin approved operations to help Trump against Biden

Updated: Mar. 16, 2021 at 2:27 PM AKDT
|
By Associated Press
U.S. officials found no evidence that foreign actors changed votes or otherwise disrupted the voting process in last November’s presidential election, according to government reports Tuesday affirming the integrity of the contest won by President Joe Biden.

State

Discord in Juneau continues, Senate leaders elect to remove one of their own from Capitol over mask policies

Updated: Mar. 11, 2021 at 8:26 PM AKST
|
By Hank Davis
On Wednesday, Sen. Gary Stevens called for the vote to “exclude any senator from the Capitol building, until such a time as they follow legislative council policies.”

State Legislature

Alaska House Republicans outline vision, principles in declaration

Updated: Mar. 11, 2021 at 4:55 PM AKST
|
By Alex Bengel
On Thursday, March 11th, the 18-member House Republicans group of the Alaska State Legislature released a declaration of their principles and their vision for Alaska.

Politics

Senate confirms Merrick Garland to be US attorney general

Updated: Mar. 10, 2021 at 12:27 PM AKST
|
By Associated Press
Garland will now inherit a Justice Department embattled by a turbulent era under Trump.

Politics

Tanana Chiefs Conference signals support for Interior Secretary nominee Deb Haaland

Updated: Mar. 5, 2021 at 4:19 PM AKST
|
By Alex Bengel
Tanana Chiefs Conference has signalled its support for Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior.

Politics

House impeachment manager sues Trump, allies over riot

Updated: Mar. 5, 2021 at 8:01 AM AKST
|
By COLLEEN LONG and MICHAEL BALSAMO
The California Democrat’s suit was filed Friday in federal court in Washington.

National

Trump State Department aide charged with assault at Capitol

Updated: Mar. 5, 2021 at 7:11 AM AKST
|
By Associated Press
Court papers say Federico Klein was seen wearing a “Make America Great Again" hat amid the throng of people trying to force their way into the Capitol.

Politics

Lora Reinbold responds to admonishing letter from Dunleavy

Updated: Mar. 4, 2021 at 4:12 PM AKST
|
By Alex Bengel
Alaska Senator Lora Reinbold held a press conference on March 4th, in which she responded to criticisms leveled against her in a letter from Governor Dunleavy in February.

National

Solid sign-ups for Biden’s new ‘Obamacare’ coverage offer

Updated: Mar. 3, 2021 at 6:23 AM AKST
|
By Associated Press
The solid start to the three-month special enrollment period indicates a pent-up demand for health insurance as the COVID-19 pandemic approaches the one-year mark.

National

Biden directive expands jobless aid to more unemployed

Updated: Feb. 25, 2021 at 2:48 PM AKST
|
By Associated Press
The federal program, known as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, made the self-employed and gig workers eligible for jobless aid for the first time.

National

Conservative gathering to feature Trump’s false fraud claims

Updated: Feb. 25, 2021 at 12:06 PM AKST
|
By Associated Press
Matt Schlapp, chairman of the Conservative Political Action Conference and a Trump ally, said discussion panels on election integrity would highlight “huge” evidence of illegal voting in Georgia, Nevada and elsewhere that ultimately swung the election for Democrat Joe Biden.

National

Group asks Supreme Court justices to ban use of race in college admissions

Updated: Feb. 25, 2021 at 9:50 AM AKST
|
By Associated Press
The high court could decide in the spring whether to take up the issue.

National

Republican wants to require national anthem in Wisconsin

Updated: Feb. 25, 2021 at 9:26 AM AKST
|
By Associated Press
The sweeping proposal from state Sen. Patrick Testin, of Stevens Point, comes after the Dallas Mavericks did not play “The Star-Spangled Banner” before home games earlier this season.