Back to normal: Alaska House goes fully off the rails for the kids
February 21, 2025
We are a month into the legislative session and, until Wednesday, the vibe in the Capitol was calm and subdued. It was so boring...
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The Sunday Minefield – February 16, 2025
Jeff Landfield February 16, 2025
We are nearly a month into session and things are moving right along. The big news this week in Juneau was a bill that…
Brad Keithley’s Chart of the Week: Revenues
Brad Keithley February 14, 2025
Those who follow these columns know that we have been discussing for nearly all of the time we have been writing them the fiscal…
Jet setter: North Slope Borough funded lavish travel for Mayor Josiah Patkotak and family
Jeff Landfield February 12, 2025
In December, the Landmine published a story that detailed numerous trips that North Slope Borough (NSB) Mayor Josiah Patkotak took to various cities...
The Sunday Minefield – February 9, 2025
Jeff Landfield February 9, 2025
We are already entering week four of the legislative session! The group of eight legislators (two from each caucus) have been meeting with Governor…
Brad Keithley’s Chart of the Week: A couple of updates
Brad Keithley February 7, 2025
This week, we are updating the charts in our two previous columns – last week’s on the budget (“This is brutal”)…
State of Alaska files competing lawsuit to stop Eklutna casino in… Washington D.C.?!
Jeff Landfield February 5, 2025
On February 4, the State of Alaska filed a lawsuit in the federal district court of Washington D.C. to obtain a ruling that former...
Eagle River Assembly candidate owes back property taxes, denies ownership of porn-laden X account
Jeff Landfield February 3, 2025
Republican David Littleton filed to run for the open Chugiak/Eagle River Assembly seat a week before...
The Sunday Minefield – February 2, 2025
Jeff Landfield February 2, 2025
The second week of session was definitely eventful. Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska) delivered his seventh State of State to a joint session…
Senators Murkowski and Sullivan: FBI Anchorage’s misconduct is critical for confirming Kash Patel
Tyler Vose February 1, 2025
Following the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on “The Nomination of Kashyap Pramod Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation”...
Brad Keithley’s Chart of the Week: This is brutal
Brad Keithley January 31, 2025
Over the past few years, one of the documents we have come to rely on most in assessing Alaska’s fiscal situation is the Legislative…
Rep. Andrew Gray may have won $40,383 in PFD Education Raffle
Jeff Landfield January 29, 2025
Representative Andrew Gray (D – Anchorage) may have won $40,383 in the annual PFD education raffle. But because of government bureaucracy, officials from the…
The Sunday Minefield – January 26, 2025
Jeff Landfield January 26, 2025
The first session of the 34th Alaska Legislature is underway! The House and Senate both gaveled in on Tuesday with no drama or shenanigans….
Brad Keithley’s Chart of the Week: The real Permanent Fund reform that’s needed
Brad Keithley January 24, 2025
Earlier this month, three groups - Alaska Common Ground, the Institute of the North, and Commonwealth North - co-hosted a forum entitled “Protecting the...
The Sunday Minefield – January 19, 2025
Jeff Landfield January 20, 2025
It’s the Monday Minefield again this week! I flew to Juneau yesterday and had a ton of work getting settled in. By the time…
Native Village of Eklutna rushes to open Birchwood casino before Trump takes office
Jeff Landfield January 17, 2025
Trucks, excavators, heavy equipment, lumber, trailers, lights, construction workers, and security guards currently occupy a site about a mile west of the...
Brad Keithley’s Chart of the Week: WHICH working-age Alaska families are outmigrating?
Brad Keithley January 17, 2025
Earlier this month, the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) issued a press release summarizing its most recent population...
The Sunday Minefield – January 12, 2025
Jeff Landfield January 13, 2025
Apologies for the late column again. I am at the tail end of my vacation before session and time got away from me yesterday….
To bolster Anchorage economy and tribal sovereignty, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance advocates for casino gambling
Paxson Woelber January 10, 2025
Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance ran on a platform of “safe streets and trails, good schools, real solutions to homelessness, and a vibrant, affordable city...
Brad Keithley’s Chart of the Week: Permanent Fund “Performance”
Brad Keithley January 10, 2025
Last June, during the height of the issues surrounding former Permanent Fund Corporation (PFC) Trustee Ellie Rubenstein, we wrote a column…