Suzanne Downing

An Anchorage Superior Court judge last week upheld the State of Alaska’s decision to repeal the long-standing “80th percentile rule,” a regulation that for nearly two decades had governed how health insurers reimbursed out-of-network medical providers. The ruling from Judge Yvonne Lamoureux came after a four-day bench trial in February, in which a coalition of […]

By SUZANNE DOWNING It should come as no surprise that Outside nonprofit groups have an oversized interest in controlling Alaska. With our vast oil reserves, strategic Arctic location, and undeniable influence on national resource policy, Alaska is prime real estate for those who want to push a political agenda. What is surprising, however, is just […]

A new report from the Honest Elections Project highlights sweeping election integrity reforms passed in conservative-led states this year—but Alaska was not among them. According to the report, “Securing the Vote 2025: States Make Major Gains Banning Foreign Funding and Ranked-Choice Voting,” legislatures in 17 states considered bills in 2025 to stop foreign nationals and […]

The Alaska Permanent Fund has reached an all-time high, climbing to just under $85 billion, as the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) prepares for a pair of Board of Trustees meetings on Thursday, Sept. 4. The day will begin with the Board’s Ethics, Audit & Cybersecurity Committee Meeting, which runs from 9 am to 1 pm […]

The University of Alaska Board of Regents is considering revisions to its nondiscrimination and equal employment policies in order to comply with executive orders issued by President Donald Trump that require public institutions to ensure policies do not permit discrimination in hiring, promotion, or education through so-called “diversity, equity, inclusion” policies that show preference to […]

US Sen. Lisa Murkowski is once again carving out a solitary path in Washington, this time over the sudden firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez. While most Republican leaders are echoing the White House’s call for “radical transparency” at the troubled agency, Murkowski instead suggested the ouster was proof that “politics are taking precedence over […]

Anchorage lawmakers are advancing an ordinance that could significantly raise the costs of being a landlord in the city. The measure would require rental property owners to provide tenants financial relocation assistance equal to twice the tenant’s monthly rent, plus any deposits and prepaid rent, if a building is deemed unsafe and tenants are ordered […]

The Chelsea Inn Motel’s windows are boarded up and the building is under federal control following a dramatic dawn raid Friday morning that involved FBI SWAT officers, Anchorage Police, and the US Marshal. The operation, which targeted a suspected narcotics distribution hub, led to the federal seizure of the property amid an ongoing criminal investigation. […]

A woman was seen being sexually assaulted in the parking lot of Anchorage City Hall late Wednesday morning, just another instance in the rapidly disintegrating public safety profile of the downtown core. According to witnesses, the assault took place before 11:30 am in broad daylight. A passerby who witnessed the attack from her vehicle said […]

On Oct. 7 ballot, Kenai Peninsula voters to decide on hand-counting paper ballots