The Alaska Current

05/08/2026

A pop-up apartment gallery tradition that began in Burlington, VT has evolved into [Insert Art], a new residency and community arts space helping emerging artists build careers in Ketchikan. Learn more in the newest installment of the Pressing Silence series.

It all started back in 2017 across the country in Burlington, VT, at an empty-walled apartment on Hungerford Terrace.

05/07/2026

As legal efforts to revive Pebble Mine continue, campaign records show Sen. Dan Sullivan accepted donations from a Northern Dynasty Minerals-linked executive in Dec. 2025 and Feb. 2026, despite longstanding opposition in Alaska. Read the full story on our website, at the link in our bio.

05/06/2026

A bill to restore pensions for Alaska’s public workers cleared the Legislature for the first time in nearly two decades, despite opposition from some lawmakers who have benefited from pensions themselves. They insist younger workers would rather work forever than have the same retirement security. Illustration by Holly Todd.

05/05/2026

Our Current Cravings columnist checked out Sofra, Anchorage’s newest Turkish breakfast and lunch spot, where sprawling spreads, strong coffee and standout baklava offer something new to the city’s breakfast scene. Read her review here:

Enter Sofra (1443 W Northern Lights Blvd), the new Turkish breakfast and lunch cafe.

05/05/2026

A look back at last month: Emily Mesner centered April’s photo column around Anchorage’s municipal election. She wanted to explore the theme “voices”— and in doing so, gave herself space to move more slowly and connect with people along the way.

“So, when I look through these images, I don’t necessarily think the extra time helped with my creativity this month,” she writes. “Instead, obvious as it sounds, time gave me the ability to slow down and opened me to conversations with people in Anchorage I’ve never met.”

Making April’s theme, “Voices”, was my attempt at centering my photo column around a current event, like Anchorage’s municipal election.

05/05/2026

Two Southeast Republicans voted for Alaska’s bipartisan elections bill last month—then voted to uphold Mike Dunleavy’s veto today, killing reforms supporters said would reduce barriers for rural voters.

Neither Republican explained their decision to betray the legislation during the debate, though the fact that they both represent the same region was hard to overlook.

05/04/2026

At a packed Loussac Library forum focused on Medicaid, five gubernatorial candidates pitched themselves as alternatives to Alaska’s status quo.

The only person who was booed during the event was Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

05/01/2026

Mike Dunleavy vetoes a bipartisan elections bill aimed at ballot curing, tracking and easing barriers for rural voters — setting up a potential override after it passed with 39 votes.

The fearmongering over Alaska Native voters, much like the national push for redistricting, relies on outdated assumptions about how minority voting blocs vote.

04/29/2026

Alaska scrapped pensions in 2006. Now, amid staffing crises and costly turnover, the Senate votes 12-8 to bring them back — arguing the current system costs more than it saves.

Republicans stood by their bold claim that people nowadays just want to work forever.

04/28/2026

Decades in the making and still not adding up: Gov. Mike Dunleavy is calling it “do-or-die” for the gas pipeline — while lawmakers question who really pays the price.

Legislators are trying to balance the costs and benefits of the megaproject, while the industry and Gov. Mike Dunleavy have pushed to maximize profits.

04/28/2026

In the face of mounting scrutiny, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority is set to spend $700,000 a year on public relations — fueling criticism that taxpayer dollars are being burned not on solutions, but on trying to make the smoke look better. Illustration by Holly Todd.