In races for the Alaska Legislature, the five candidates who raised the most between early August and early October were all Democrats or independents running for seats held by Republicans.
State Government
Alaska Supreme Court rules that absentee voters won’t need witnesses
The Arctic Village Council and others sued to block the requirement this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Superior Court Judge Dani Crosby ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, but the order was put on hold after the Division of Elections appealed.
State may have illegally directed $5 million contract, former officials tell Alaska Legislature
Three former state employees told state legislators that they believe a $5 million contract was so narrowly written that it was illegal.
Rep. Don Young says feds should compensate Alaska if Army Corps or EPA blocks Pebble
Congressman Don Young said he thinks the state should be the one deciding whether or not the mine goes forward.
State elections watchdog orders ‘No on 2’ campaign to fix or take down ads
Ads opposing Measure 2 identified John Sturgeon, Mark Begich and Sean Parnell as two of the ‘No on 2’ campaign’s top contributors. But once the ads aired, the Alaska Republican Party and other groups had contributed more than 100 times as much.
With new letter, Alaska GOP Gov. Dunleavy stands alone in Pebble’s defense
This week Gov. Dunleavy rejected calls to condemn Pebble and stop his administration’s work on it.
Alaska candidates promise painless budget cuts, but experts say not so fast
Veterans of state budget battles say that after years of spending cuts, it’s unlikely that further reductions can fill much of the deficit without major impacts to services.
State offers extension for mine lease payments until September 2021
Miners unable to travel to their leases and claims because of COVID-19 can apply for a one-year extension to pay the state.
Christian, conservative groups organize to oust Supreme Court justice
Social conservatives tried and failed to oust a former Alaska Supreme Court justice, Dana Fabe, in 2010, and an Anchorage Superior Court judge, Sen Tan, in 2012.
Judge says she’ll toss the witness signature requirement for Alaskans who vote by mail
Lack of a witness signature is the most common reason the Division of Elections rejects ballots, and for now, the requirement remains in effect.