AGP Executive Report

Anchorage Politics: Two Assembly members, Jared Goecker and Donald Handeland, have filed a resolution to start removal proceedings against George Martinez, alleging misuse of taxpayer-funded travel tied to airline loyalty status and questions about disclosure tied to his private business. Juneau Local Economy: Eaglecrest, Juneau’s municipally run ski area, is struggling after repeated mechanical and infrastructure failures left it barely operating during a snowiest stretch, raising questions about how long the city can keep covering losses. Alaska Military & Arctic Readiness: BAE Systems delivered 19 Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicles to the U.S. military, including the Vermont National Guard’s Army Mountain Warfare School, with additional vehicles headed to Alaska’s Arctic Region Test Center. Federal Contracting: JAG Ketchikan LLC won a nearly $100M NOAA contract for modernization of the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, adding major backlog for Ketchikan Shipyard. National Policy Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down an effort to end birthright citizenship, a ruling advocates say strengthens Guam’s citizenship fight—an issue that also echoes for some American Samoans in Alaska. Tech & Governance: OpenAI is reportedly in early talks to give the U.S. government a 5% stake, while Reuters reports Anthropic and the White House deny any such discussions.

Alaska LNG Tax Talks: A conference committee adopted a new draft of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Alaska LNG tax-break plan in a second special session, but lawmakers say more work is needed before House and Senate votes. SNAP Accuracy: Alaska again led the nation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment errors for a fourth straight year, with 23% of recipients seeing major over- or underpayments. Local Governance: Dunleavy vetoed a bill that would have expanded the Local Boundary Commission, arguing it would shift representation for Alaska’s unorganized areas. Public Safety & Courts: Alaska State Troopers arrested two men in Bethel in an alleged bootlegging operation tied to selling alcohol without a license. Business & Community: Anchorage jury awarded nearly $7.5 million to the family of a Czech billionaire killed in a 2021 heli-ski crash, with jurors citing delayed rescue by the lodge. Wildfire Response: Alaska’s incident management team took command of Colorado’s Aspen Acres fire as it surged to become the 11th largest in state history. National Tech Watch: OpenAI is reportedly in early talks to offer the U.S. government a 5% stake, a move that could reshape AI oversight and politics.

Alaska LNG & state politics: Alaska lawmakers delayed a vote on the LNG tax bill until mid-July as negotiations continue, while Gov. Dunleavy pushed lawmakers back into special-session work to pass Trump-backed LNG tax breaks. Alaska courts & elections: The Alaska Supreme Court ruled a “decoy” candidate with the same name as Sen. Dan Sullivan could still run, keeping ballot confusion in play as election officials try to distinguish between the two. Child well-being: Oklahoma ranked 44th in a new KIDS COUNT report, still in the bottom 10 despite a small improvement—an issue Alaska advocates may watch as they track outcomes. AI governance: OpenAI is reportedly in early talks to give the U.S. government a 5% stake—modeled on Alaska’s Permanent Fund idea—to share AI profits and ease political pressure. Business in Alaska: Nova Minerals added a former JP Morgan metals-and-mining specialist to its board as it advances its Alaska critical-minerals push. Travel: Alaska Airlines’ Global Getaways offer discounted award trips to London, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Dublin and Honolulu for fall 2026 travel.

Alaska LNG Tax Fight: Alaska lawmakers are being pulled back into LNG tax negotiations as the governor pushes Trump-backed LNG tax breaks, with critics warning the state could be left holding the bag if the project stalls. Courtroom Election Drama: The Alaska Supreme Court kept a same-name challenger, Dan J. Sullivan, on the ballot, raising fresh concerns about ranked-choice “traps” and election confusion. U.S. Senate Race Watch: A new NYT/Siena poll shows Sen. Dan Sullivan leading Mary Peltola by a slim margin among likely voters, keeping Alaska’s 2026 contest in play. Public Safety: Two people died in a Seward Highway crash near Potter Marsh involving multiple vehicles submerged in water. Health & Kids: A statewide initiative aims to prevent and reduce Alaska’s high rates of child sexual abuse. Energy Mapping: Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. John Hickenlooper introduced a bill to extend the Earth MRI program through 2031, a boost for Alaska’s critical minerals work. Local Economy: Nome youth turned lemonade stands into real business lessons with help from Northrim Bank.

Alaska Politics: Alaska’s Division of Elections released a sample ballot meant to distinguish between two Dan Sullivans in the U.S. Senate race after the Alaska Supreme Court ordered Petersburg Dan J. Sullivan reinstated; the incumbent is listed as “Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) Incumbent,” while the challenger appears as “Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.” with no party shown. Elections & Courts: A Superior Court judge ruled the “good-faith” standard used to remove the Petersburg candidate wasn’t authorized, ordering he be placed on the August Republican primary ballot, with an appeal expected to go to the Alaska Supreme Court. Fisheries: Sen. Dan Sullivan updated his Bycatch Reduction Act, aiming for stronger limits on trawling gear and seafloor contact while increasing transparency around bycatch monitoring. State Law Changes: Several new Alaska laws take effect July 1, including a minimum wage increase to $14 an hour and a major criminal and public safety package that raises the age of consent from 16 to 18. Business & Industry: Nova Minerals appointed a former JP Morgan metals and mining finance professional to its board as it pushes forward U.S. critical minerals work, including antimony production plans. Community Safety: Alaska Department of Fish and Game urged people to give newborn wildlife space—don’t approach or feed fawns and bear cubs, and keep dogs leashed.

Alaska LNG Tax Break: Alaska lawmakers delayed a vote on a multibillion-dollar LNG tax break after negotiations dragged on, pushing work into mid-July. Elections: The Alaska Supreme Court cleared a “decoy” Dan Sullivan namesake to appear on the U.S. Senate primary ballot, and the Division of Elections released a sample ballot trying to distinguish the two candidates. Anchorage Politics: Anchorage Assembly members questioned George Martinez’s Puerto Rico travel tied to a push for his resignation after campaign finance violations. Juneau Utilities: Juneau residents face a 5% water and sewer rate hike starting Wednesday, plus higher parks and recreation fees. Public Safety: Anchorage police arrested Joseph Kippi Jr. on arson charges after a weekend string of fires and a home explosion. Environment: A petition seeks federal Endangered Species Act protections for the gray-headed chickadee, last documented in Alaska in 2018. Health: A cyclospora outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea has sickened people across multiple states, with some cases reported in Alaska.

Alaska Politics: The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that Dan J. Sullivan (the Petersburg namesake) can stay on the Aug. 18 U.S. Senate primary ballot, after earlier removal by the Division of Elections sparked a legal fight over “good faith” filings and voter confusion. Elections Law: The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to Trump’s election push by ruling states may count mail ballots received after Election Day as long as they’re postmarked by then, a decision that preserves “grace period” practices in Alaska and other states. Local Governance & Flooding: Juneau is pressing for faster, long-term solutions to glacial lake outburst flooding, with local mining expertise being pitched as a way to apply tunneling methods to Bullard Mountain. Business & Industry: Nova Minerals says flotation test work at its Korbel gold project in Alaska produced high-grade concentrate (up to 26.7 g/t) with strong recoveries, pointing to potential cost savings as the company advances feasibility work. Transportation & Tech: Anchorage Digital Bank’s USDGO stablecoin has gone live on Ethereum’s Morph network, expanding federally regulated settlement options for businesses.

Capital Budget: Gov. Dunleavy signed Alaska’s capital budget, steering major K-12 deferred maintenance dollars plus Southeast Alaska projects tied to schools, ports, and infrastructure. Ballot Fight in Juneau: The Alaska Supreme Court ordered that a man with the same name and party as Sen. Dan Sullivan be placed on the Aug. primary ballot, sending back how he’ll be listed under ballot-design rules. SNAP Scrutiny: Alaska again led the nation in SNAP payment error rates for the fourth straight year, tied to ongoing processing delays. Energy & LNG Politics: Lawmakers are negotiating a final version of HB 381 after Dunleavy rejected the Senate draft, with supporters arguing it’s needed to keep Interior LNG financing on track. Local Governance: Eagle River/Chugiak residents seeking to break from Anchorage moved into signature gathering for a proposed new borough. Public Safety: A whale washed ashore near Anchor Point, triggering a marine wildlife response; Anchorage also saw multiple weekend fires, including a reported gas-meter tampering case.

Alaska Courts & Elections: An Alaska judge is set to decide on an expedited basis whether the “other Dan Sullivan” can stay on the U.S. Senate primary ballot, after ruling the namesake removal was unlawful—keeping the unusual race in play. Public Safety: Anchorage firefighters responded to multiple structure fires over a short span, including incidents tied to suspected gas meter tampering, according to local reporting. State Government & Policy: Lawmakers are negotiating on an Alaska LNG tax break, while other candidates debate whether to raise oil taxes—signaling a busy path toward a special session compromise. Health & Community: The state Supreme Court is taking up a case involving Sen. Dan Sullivan, with a decision expected soon. Local Media: The Anchorage Press alternative weekly is relaunching online and in print under new ownership, aiming to bring back a long-running local voice. Federal Funding: The federal government is sending $99 million in aid to address three declared Alaska fishery disasters.

Alaska Politics: A judge ruled Alaska can keep a “name game” challenger on the U.S. Senate primary ballot, meaning two Dan Sullivans could appear while the state Supreme Court weighs the fast-moving dispute. Elections & Voting Access: The U.S. Justice Department lost a bid in Pennsylvania to get voters’ personal identifying information from the state voter roll, with the judge calling the request a “fishing expedition.” Energy & Utilities: GVEA’s board will consider a major fuel-based generator purchase in July as it plans for future capacity after a brutal winter. Local Governance: Fairbanks’ Carlson Center/UAF hockey partnership was paused after cost concerns raised by borough assembly members. Opinion & Community: Alaska’s $10,000 debate and childcare funding veto fallout are driving fresh arguments about how state money should be spent. Wildfire Safety: Across the West, three firefighters died battling fast-moving Colorado-Utah border fires as extreme heat and wind fueled outbreaks.

Wildfire Tragedy in the West: Three firefighters died and two were hurt battling fast-growing blazes on the Colorado-Utah border, as hot, dry, windy weather pushed the Cottonwood Fire to more than 144 square miles and damaged a ski resort. Alaska Politics—Ballot Fight: An Alaska judge ruled a second candidate with the same name as Sen. Dan Sullivan must be allowed on the August primary ballot, saying election officials used an unstated “good faith” standard not grounded in law. Alaska LNG Tax Talks: Lawmakers met to negotiate a compromise on Alaska LNG tax-break terms, including whether to pair pipeline incentives with changes to the state corporate income tax. Anchorage Race Update: State Sen. Matt Claman and Sarah Skeel withdrew from the governor and lieutenant governor race, narrowing a crowded field. Ukraine Diplomacy: Ukraine’s foreign minister pushed back on Russian references to the “spirit of Anchorage,” urging direct peace talks.

Ballot Fight in Alaska Senate: A judge ruled Dan J. Sullivan, the Petersburg man with the same name as Sen. Dan Sullivan, must be allowed on Alaska’s Aug. 18 Republican primary ballot, overturning the Division of Elections’ “good faith” disqualification; the state says it will appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court. Gubernatorial Race Shake-Up: Democrat Matt Claman exited Alaska’s crowded governor’s race, leaving 17 candidates as the Aug. primary field narrows. Energy Policy Debate: Commentary and reporting keep spotlighting Alaska LNG uncertainty and rising costs, with questions about what tax breaks and incentives would be required to make the project pencil out. Public Lands and Hunting: A push for “expanded” hunting and fishing access is drawing backlash from hunters and anglers who say cuts and rule changes have already tightened opportunities. Wildfire Watch (West): Extreme heat and wind are driving a fast-moving Utah wildfire, prompting an emergency declaration and fireworks restrictions.

Ballot Fight in Alaska’s U.S. Senate Race: An Alaska judge ruled Petersburg resident Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is eligible to run against Sen. Dan Sullivan, rejecting the Division of Elections’ “good-faith” disqualification and sending the dispute toward the Alaska Supreme Court as ballots near a printing deadline. Election Reform Push: President Trump renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, calling for photo ID, proof of citizenship, and tighter limits on mail voting, and he singled out Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as opposing the plan. Public Media Under Threat: Trump escalated calls to defund NPR and PBS, arguing Congress should cut federal support for public broadcasting. Water Policy Watch: A group is criticizing proposed changes to Alaska’s water reservation rules, which could affect how much water is kept in streams for fish and wildlife. Cultural Respect in Southeast: The Sitka Tribe of Alaska is urging visitors to stop disrespectful social media trends involving totem poles and sacred sites. Turnagain Arm Safety: Local surfers say more people are riding the bore tide, but there’s little formal safety infrastructure and rescues are increasingly common.

Anchorage Politics: The Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved childcare code changes to better match state standards, aiming to cut extra city requirements as providers say the city is short on care. State Government: Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed bills on invasive species coordination and polystyrene food containers, arguing they expand government too far. Elections & Courts: A judge is set to issue an expedited decision in the fight over whether a Petersburg man named Dan J. Sullivan can stay on Alaska’s U.S. Senate ballot, after the state blocked him. U.S.-Russia Diplomacy: Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Moscow’s claim that last year’s Alaska summit produced an agreement to end the Ukraine war, saying there was “no agreement in Alaska.” International Security: Russian hardliners are urging Putin to abandon diplomacy and escalate after Ukrainian drone strikes. Environment & Shipping: A pregnant fin whale was found dead on a Royal Caribbean ship’s bow in Alaska, renewing calls for slower speeds near whale areas. Local Business: New owners took over Bloom & Vine in Glendive, aiming to grow its community role. Iditarod: CEO Rob Urbach announced he’ll step down after seven years.

Alaska State Budget: Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Alaska’s FY27 budget into law, using one-time revenue to cover rising K-12 costs like energy, fuel, shipping and maintenance, while vetoing items including early learning funding and some health and education increases. University of Alaska: The same budget package boosts University of Alaska funding for FY27, with leaders saying it will support raises, deferred maintenance, recruitment and student mental health services. Alaska LNG Leak: Alaska Gasline Development Corp. says a confidential draft analysis tied to the Alaska LNG tax-break deal was leaked to senators and is under internal investigation, raising concerns about trust with Glenfarne and future financing. Elections Court Fight: A judge is set to issue an expedited decision in the dispute over whether two Dan Sullivans can appear on Alaska’s U.S. Senate ballot, as legal challenges continue. Anchorage Walmart Shooting: Anchorage police say the fatal June 16 shooting involved a shoplifting suspect who had an accomplice and turned to gunfire in a narrow loss-prevention hallway, with officers recovering. Public Safety/Rescue Response: After a Turnagain Arm paddleboarder death, Girdwood Fire and the Coast Guard released timelines, with questions swirling about aerial support and resource availability.

Ballot Fight in Alaska U.S. Senate Race: An Anchorage judge heard arguments Thursday in the case over whether a namesake challenger, “Petersburg Dan Sullivan,” can appear on the Aug. 18 ballot against Sen. Dan Sullivan. The challenger’s attorney argued Alaska can’t add extra qualifications for federal office, while the state’s elections attorney said the agency could differentiate the two candidates but argued it isn’t required to “fix” confusion created by the challenger. State Budget & Vetoes: Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed the FY27 budget into law, directing new money for school infrastructure, energy-related costs, and disaster response, while vetoing nearly $90 million in health and education increases. Health Care Policy: Dunleavy signed a new law creating a license for “Complex Care Residential Homes” to fill a gap for Alaskans with severe behavioral and medical needs. Medicaid Fraud Crackdown: Alaska charged 15 defendants with about $1.83 million in Medicaid fraud as part of a nationwide takedown. SNAP Pressure on States: USDA reported Alaska’s SNAP payment error rate at 23.15%—the highest in the nation—raising the risk of new federal penalties. Community & Civic Life: The League of Women Voters highlighted election integrity concerns in a new letter, while Anchorage’s Boom Coffee continues 24-hour service as other restaurants scale back.