Juneau Independent

11-year research project by New York University shows concerns that recipients will quickly use funds in harmful ways are unfounded The Michael J. Burns Building, which houses the main offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., on Aug. 20, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent) By James Devitt New York University Cash transfer programs, which provide money directly to recipients, are growing in the United States, but face significant scrutiny, with questions over their

University maintains its ‘unwavering’ commitment to equal rights and points to federal funding threat.

The Alaska Department of Corrections spent over $24 million more than the budget approved by the Legislature last year, with a large portion for staff overtime, raising alarm from lawmakers.

Matt Heilala, who says he is a golfing partner of President Donald Trump, has most campaign cash available among Alaska’s 17 governor candidates.

Delegation of lawmakers made an impromptu visit to the school on Feb. 6, calling the conditions and deteriorating facilities ‘deplorable’

In December, the Interior Department scrapped an agreement with the village of Nuiqsut to restrict oil development near important caribou grounds. Now, the village is suing.

State requires ads to bear the names of the top three contributors to a campaign; the Alaska Policy Forum had challenged the constitutionality of that rule.

A newly filed lawsuit and a revived six-year-old case from environmental groups and an Alaska Native organization are challenging the Trump administration’s proposal to open more parts of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to oil and gas drilling.

Officials with the Alaska Department of Corrections told lawmakers a “large fight” with a hefty price tag broke out at the state’s maximum security prison in January, amid downsizing and cost-cutting efforts. 

Here’s what’s happening in the Alaska Capitol and elsewhere across the state.

State auditors found the Office of Children’s Services, which runs the foster care system, had failed to make progress on caseworker shortages despite lawmakers appropriating millions.

Memo signed by the head of the Division of Elections in December, says the state ‘will clean’ its voter roll of people identified by Justice Department, putting them on track for removal.