The Alaska Current

06/06/2026

OPINION: Lawmakers spent another week digging into the project and found that many of the biggest savings for Alaskans hinge on export markets that don't yet exist.

The AKLNG special session continued this week, giving more clarity on what will be an undeniably difficult project, no matter the subsidy lawmakers ultimately approve.

06/04/2026

The filing period for Alaska’s statewide races closed on Monday, setting up an expansive, 17-candidate field for the state’s next governor — and there’s just about someone for everyone.

Having trouble wading through the 17 candidates for governor? We've got our latest VIBES breakdown of the field.

06/03/2026

Haines is small, remote and packed with artists. In the latest Pressing Silence, Baylee Pearson shares how printmaking, community and life in Southeast Alaska inspire her work under the name Misfit Prints.

A Sitka native and current Haines resident, Baylee Pearson spent the last 10 years between the two locales taking inspiration from the lands she’s spent a lifetime on.

06/02/2026

The Ninth Circuit has rejected former Sen. Lora Reinbold’s lawsuit against Alaska Airlines, ruling that enforcing COVID mask mandates didn’t make the airline a state actor subject to constitutional claims.

The right-wing state lawmaker temporarily lost her flying privileges after refusing to follow masking rules.

05/30/2026

Unclear costs, unknown gas sources, future demands on state cash and unanswered questions about whether the project pencils out at all.

The big question is whether the project makes sense in the first place when even the most generous of subsidies might not be enough.

05/30/2026

“Alaskans are natural nurturers — we take pride in what it means to exist in the harshness of northerness,” writes Emily Mesner in this month’s “Where We’re Anchored” column. “I think our ability to care for ourselves and others is strengthened by this and I don’t think I would want it any other way.”

May’s photos follow the stream of sprouting greens and bustle of vendors at local farmers markets. Link in bio!

The theme for May is nurture, so I typed, “what does it mean to be nurtured?” into Google’s search bar and hit “enter."

05/28/2026

Some Alaska officials are pushing to turn the state into a hub for AI data centers, tying massive energy and gas projects to growing tech demand — a shift that could reshape the state’s landscapes, energy use and economy for decades. Illustration by Holly Todd.

05/28/2026

In case you missed it: We're four episodes into Hello Alaska with Matt & Pat!

Matt Buxton and Pat Race talk Alaska — what's working, what isn't and what they think Alaska should do about it.

🎧 Spotify: https://buff.ly/mFbvJIl
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/cC8obnx

05/26/2026

Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles, the last Democrat to win Alaska's governorship, has endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles, the last Democrat to win Alaska's governorship, has endorsed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the 2026 gubernatorial race.

05/20/2026

On a 21-19 vote, the Alaska House on Tuesday approved a change to Senate Bill 24 that would legalize new cigar lounges in Alaska.

Republicans breathlessly talked about how fun cigar lounges will be.