SOUTHERN ALASKA

May 09 2026ENVIRONMENT

When Alaska starts warning about summer heat

Alaska is getting ready for a new kind of weather warning. Normally, people think of wild winds or heavy snow when they hear weather alerts. But now, forecasters will also issue heat advisories for Anchorage and parts of southern Alaska as temperatures climb higher than usual. The change is partly

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May 08 2026POLITICS

Alaska's Election Race Brings Unexpected Surprises

Alaska's political scene is heating up ahead of the 2026 midterms, and this year's races might not go the way most people expect. With no sitting governor running again, the state’s unique voting system could shake things up. Instead of the usual party battles, candidates from all sides will face of

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May 08 2026POLITICS

Alaska’s Future Hangs on Smart Resource Choices

Alaska’s next governor race is already getting messy. With so many candidates running, some are trying weird new ideas just to stand out. One surprising shift? Even self-proclaimed "pro-resource" candidates are suddenly talking about putting limits on trawl fishing—the way big nets scoop up fish lik

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Apr 29 2026OPINION

Finding a better way for Alaska's schools

Alaska's schools face tough problems today. Many classrooms have fewer students than before. Some people think closing schools is the only answer. But that misses the real issue. Years of decisions have left schools struggling. Money problems make it hard to help students. When schools can't give k

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Apr 28 2026EDUCATION

School spending cuts hurt Anchorage students more than you think

Alaska’s school funding has dropped behind other states in a big way. While most states increased education spending by 26% from 2017 to 2022, Alaska only managed a 13% increase — barely enough to cover rising costs. Even when adjusted for Alaska’s high living expenses, the state still spends 15% le

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Apr 26 2026POLITICS

Why Alaska's Pension Plan Rewrite Gets Controversial Fast

Alaska’s government is updating how thousands of public workers save for retirement—but not everyone likes the changes. A new bill pushes the state to bring back guaranteed pensions after an old system collapsed in 2006. That earlier plan failed because lawmakers didn’t pay enough into it, leaving w

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Apr 22 2026OPINION

Keeping Bears and People Safe This Spring

Alaska’s snow is melting, and soon the bears will wake from their winter sleep. When they start hunting for food, people need to change how they keep their homes and neighborhoods safe. Every year more than a hundred bears are killed in Alaska by residents or local authorities, usually after the

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Apr 20 2026EDUCATION

Alaska sees growth in early childhood teachers after school changes

Alaska’s shortage of early childhood educators just got some help from an unlikely source: a University program that nearly lost its license but came back stronger. The University of Alaska Anchorage’s early childhood program was in trouble in 2019 when it lost important accreditation, leaving hundr

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Apr 14 2026OPINION

Alaska’s charity gaming needs a tech update to help veterans

Alaska’s veteran groups rely heavily on pull-tab games to fund their work, from fixing up buildings to hosting community events. These paper-based games have been the backbone of their income for years. But times have changed. Most people now handle their money, shopping, and social lives through ap

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Apr 12 2026POLITICS

A Fresh Path to Keep Alaska’s Workers and Services Strong

Alaska is losing its public workers faster than it can hire new ones. About 3, 000 jobs are empty right now, which is nearly one‑sixth of all state positions. The loss costs the budget a lot of money in temporary help, bonuses and overtime, and it slows down everything from fire fighting to health

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