For the first time, women will hold the majority of seats in Alaska’s House of Representatives, with 21 out of 40 members being women, according to unofficial election results. This milestone increases women’s representation in the Alaska Legislature to 43%, surpassing the previous record of 23 women lawmakers in 2019. The state Senate will include five women, unchanged from the previous session. The shift reflects a broader national trend, as women now hold one-third of all state legislative...

Alaska voters have upheld the state’s open primary and ranked choice voting system by a narrow margin of 664 votes. Meanwhile, Republican Nick Begich has defeated Democratic Representative Mary Peltola in the U.S. House race, ending her historic tenure as Alaska's first Democratic House member since 1972. Begich secured over 164,000 votes, finishing more than 8,000 ahead of Peltola. Election results will be finalized after all hand-counted ballots are scanned, though significant changes are...

The race over Alaska’s voting system is tightening, with votes to retain the system leading by just 45—a sharp drop from the 192-vote margin reported Monday. The razor-thin difference, just over 0.01% of votes counted, could lead to a recount after results are certified on November 30. Another 5,800 ballots are set to be counted today, alongside ranked choice sorting for undecided races. The 34th Alaska Legislature is forming, with Democrats and independents expected to lead a bipartisan...

For the first time since Election Day, votes against repealing Alaska's ranked-choice voting system now lead by 192 votes. With roughly 5,100 ballots left, trends suggest the current system will remain for at least two more years. The margin is razor-thin, under 0.1%, and recounts can be requested by December 5 following certification on November 30. Meanwhile, Republican Nick Begich’s lead in Alaska's U.S. House race narrowed to 7,223 votes over Democrat Mary Peltola. Ranked-choice...

Republicans have taken control of the U.S. House, joining the Senate majority and President-elect Donald Trump to cement GOP power. With this majority, Republican leaders plan to advance Trump’s vision, including tax cuts and stricter immigration policies.In Alaska, final election results remain pending, including for the state’s lone U.S. House seat. Ballot Measure 2, which seeks to repeal Alaska’s open primaries and ranked-choice voting system, leads by just over 2,400 votes. Ranked-choice...

Alaska officials added over 8,500 ballots to the statewide count on Wednesday, but no changes occurred in race leaders. The additional ballots continue to narrow the lead for “yes” votes on Ballot Measure 2, which would repeal Alaska’s ranked-choice voting and open primary system. Meanwhile, U.S. House candidate Nick Begich holds a lead over Rep. Mary Peltola, though ranked-choice tabulation scheduled for Nov. 20 could shift the outcome if Peltola gains enough second-choice votes. Governor...

With fewer than 20 races left to call, control of the U.S. House remains undecided. In Alaska’s lone House seat race, Republican Nick Begich holds a narrow lead over Democrat Mary Peltola. Thousands of absentee, early, and questioned ballots are still being counted, with more results expected by Nov. 15 and Nov. 20. Ranked-choice voting will ultimately determine the winner if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote. Alaska’s state-owned development agency has allocated $750,000 for legal...

The Alaska Division of Elections processed an additional 677 votes from rural precincts, narrowing the number of uncounted areas to four. No race leaders shifted, but the ballot measure to repeal ranked-choice voting is now closer, with “yes” votes leading by just over 4,000 out of nearly 247,000 total votes. On Nov. 12, Alaska will begin counting at least 46,000 early and absentee ballots, though some “questioned ballots” still await further ID verification. Alaska’s House of...

Today, Alaskans will vote for president, a U.S. House representative, and state legislature seats, while also deciding on two ballot measures. Ballot Measure 1 would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2027 and provide sick leave. Ballot Measure 2 seeks to repeal the ranked-choice voting and open primary system. Voters need identification and have until tonight to drop off ballots, with absentee ballots accepted until later dates depending on their origin. Initial results are expected by 9 p.m.,...

With Election Day close, Juneau voters are casting ballots in record numbers, deciding on Alaska’s U.S. House seat, ranked-choice voting, and a minimum wage increase. The House race between Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Nick Begich is highly competitive, though Juneau has seen limited direct outreach. Over 80,000 ballots have been cast statewide, and Juneau’s early voting locations remain open today, with citywide polling sites open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. KINY’s presidential...

Alaska state troopers Joseph Miller and Jason Woodruff have been indicted by a grand jury in Kenai on first-degree assault charges. The charges stem from an incident where they allegedly caused severe injuries to a man they misidentified as having an outstanding arrest warrant. Initially charged with fourth-degree assault in August, the charges were upgraded following a review of body camera footage, described as "sickening" by Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. The troopers face up...

Alaska voters head to the polls on November 5 to select their preferred presidential candidate and decide on the U.S. House race. Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola faces Republican Nick Begich in a contest that could affect the Republican House majority. If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, ranked-choice voting will determine the winner. Alaskans will also vote for their choice of presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and other third-party options. In the 2024...

A pedestrian accident on Douglas Highway in Juneau early yesterday involved a 69-year-old woman driving a red Honda CRV and a 61-year-old male pedestrian, who was critically injured and transported to Bartlett Regional Hospital. Both lanes near Cordova Street were closed for two hours as police and rescue teams responded. The Juneau Police Department’s Major Accident Response Team is investigating the incident. In the final week of Alaska’s U.S. House race, campaigns have started airing ads...

The IRS announced disaster tax relief for Juneau residents and businesses impacted by the Mendenhall Glacier flood. Taxpayers have until May 1, 2025, to file federal tax returns and make payments. Relief is automatic for those with IRS-registered addresses in the disaster area, but those outside it must contact the IRS. Uninsured losses from the disaster can be claimed on either this year's or next year’s tax return. More details and additional relief may be provided on IRS.gov. After 142...

Through Thursday, early voting in Alaska reached 20,001 ballots, with the pace ahead of both 2020 and 2022 turnout. Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher reported that 9,882 Alaskans voted in person within the first two days, marking a faster rate than previous years. Currently, Republicans account for 37% of early voters, even though they make up just 24% of registered voters, while absentee ballots, primarily from Democrats, total 19,586. Combined early and absentee turnout already...

President Joe Biden will formally apologize on Friday for the U.S. government’s role in forcibly assimilating Indigenous children through boarding schools, a system where thousands suffered abuse and loss of cultural identity. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who spearheaded an investigation into these schools, will join him in Arizona for this historic address. The investigation documented at least 18,000 children removed from their families, many never returning, with close to 1,000 known...

Federal prosecutors in Anchorage have requested that a man's 2019 assault conviction be vacated due to a conflict of interest involving U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred and Prosecutor Karen Vandergaw. The two were involved in a relationship during the trial of Johnny-Lee Preston Burk, who was convicted of assaulting federal officials. Prosecutors are now seeking to vacate Burk's conviction, citing concerns about his right to an impartial trial. This request follows a broader review of...

Alaska Native educators have developed reading standards for the state’s 23 official Native languages, presented to the Board of Education on October 9. If adopted, these standards will fulfill the state's reading requirements while emphasizing cultural literacy and oral traditions. The standards, created with the support of Sealaska Heritage Institute, aim to integrate Alaska Native knowledge into the education system, allowing students to showcase not only reading but also listening and...

Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola and Republican Nick Begich debated in Anchorage, touching on issues like Alaska’s economy, transgender athletes, and ranked choice voting. Begich criticized Peltola’s stance on oil drilling and voiced support for banning transgender women from women’s sports, while Peltola emphasized her bipartisan work. The two also debated ranked choice voting, with Peltola defending the system and Begich advocating for its repeal. They, along with two other candidates, are...

Juneau facing more flooding due to another glacial release, a number of trees and debris have been reported in the river and have may washed downstream into Stephen's Passage. some homes along view drive may have up to 3 feet of water in their yards, At 3am it was down to 8.67 feet as of 4:13 this morning Flood waters have receded below flood stage. Flooding is no longerexpected to pose a threat. Water levels will continue to fallthrough the morning. Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said...

Early voting for Alaska's election begins on Monday, October 21, with the deadline to request absentee ballots approaching. Voters will rank their choices for president, U.S. House, and state races. They will also vote on two statewide ballot measures: Ballot Measure 1: Proposes raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027 and adding sick leave benefits.Ballot Measure 2: Aims to eliminate ranked-choice voting and the state’s top-four nonpartisan primary system.Absentee ballots must...

The Alaska Division of Elections has discontinued its ballot dropbox program, requiring absentee voters to either mail ballots with $1.46 postage or drop them off at election offices across the state. Absentee ballots need to be postmarked by Election Day, but voters are encouraged to mail them early to ensure timely processing. A recent report shows an increase in cold-related injuries among Alaska's homeless population, with unhoused individuals experiencing significantly higher rates of...

Nearly 18 months after a fatal collision on Egan Drive, 57-year-old Patrick Dealexandro has been arrested on charges including manslaughter and DUI. The incident involved a truck crossing over a median and hitting a turning car, resulting in the death of a 27-year-old Juneau resident. Dealexandro is currently held on $30,000 bail, with his next court date scheduled for late November. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has reopened the Bering Sea snow crab harvest with a conservative limit...

The Legislative Affairs Agency is considering implementing a new security screening system at the Alaska Capitol, similar to airport checkpoints. The plan would involve hiring a private firm to screen visitors and incoming packages. The proposal, still awaiting approval, will be discussed by the Legislative Council on Dec. 12. On Indigenous Peoples Day, Native communities across the U.S. celebrated culture and heritage, with events aimed at registering voters for the upcoming presidential...