Her First Deneege
"SHOOT THAT M*****F*****!"
BY Brittany Woods-OrrisonOct 24, 2026
REPORTING DESK
NEWS & DISPATCHES
What happened in Anchorage and across Alaska — from the Muni to the North Slope.
No trivial pursuit: Lifetime of knowledge pays off for Mat-Su Jeopardy! champion
A jack of many trades takes on Jeopardy!, with Alaska flair.
BY Matt TunsethOct 23, 2026
There’s no free lunch. But in Anchorage this week, there’s really free coffee.
A mysterious donor spots everyone at Dark Horse Coffee downtown during the AFN convention.
BY Hannah DoroughOct 22, 2026
“When we’re divided, we get ignored”: AFN’s president seeks unity amid a generational shift
Ben Mallott looks backward and forward in a conversation with Cordelia Kellie.
BY Cordelia KellieOct 22, 2026
Igyamcuk and bricks of gold: A conversation with a Yup’ik artist and advocate
Nikki Quluqaaq Corbett runs the Sew Yup'ik business and has advocated against the proposed Donlin mine.
BY Dewey Kk’ołeyo Putyuk HoffmanOct 21, 2026
Seeing Dena’ina clearly: A new exhibition at the Alaska Native Heritage Center
A new exhibition at the Alaska Native Heritage Center features Dena'ina belongings that had been taken outside the state.
BY Melissa Nenantaxnen ShaginoffOct 20, 2026
Revealed: The money behind the last-minute fringe candidate ad blitz in Alaska’s U.S. Senate primary
Groups exploited what one critic describes as an “outrageous” loophole allowing donor information to remain hidden until after ballots are cast.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 16, 2026
Alaska faces a statewide spike in fuel costs. This state agency chose three tiny villages for $25,000 relief checks.
Alaska’s economic development agency wrote $25,000 checks to communities near a proposed mining project.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 15, 2026
A U.S. president meets a venerable Alaska tradition: Bingo
Will the name of Mary Peltola's chameleon be uttered at Trump's Wasilla rally? What about "Sarah Palin"?
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 13, 2026
Opinion: How pro-business Republicans see an impending 'calamity' in November elections
A resource industry executive weighs in anonymously.
BY AnonymousOct 8, 2026
Dancing in the dark: the rise of Terrorwave
A biweekly goth party at Chilkoot Charlie's has become wildly popular since launching five months ago.
BY Robin O'DonoghueOct 6, 2026
In Alaska governor’s race, millions of state dollars for mining roads and oil exploration are at stake
The leading candidate for governor wants to "completely reassess” the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority and the projects it’s funding.
BY Max GrahamOct 5, 2026
Opinion: Who gets grace and who gets the sword?
Why a call for an apology from Mary Peltola falls short.
BY Amber BattsOct 2, 2026
After Democrats boost JKT, national Republicans send $1.6 million to Alaska for governor’s race
The GOP money matches the more than $1 million that Democratic-aligned groups have put into the race in recent days.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 2, 2026
Alaska's congressional elections pit "thousandaires" against millionaires and "billionaire buddies"
There's a stark contrast between candidates in the U.S. Senate and House races.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 1, 2026
Opinion: Peltola's words create a teachable moment, but an apology is required.
Matt Schultz writes: "We should require basic human decency from all candidates, and apologies for when they fall short of it."
BY Matt SchultzSep 28, 2026
An oral history of the Crossroads Hot Dogs (not the Crossroads hot dogs)
A remembrance of the iconic, now-closed Anchorage drinking establishment, from those who knew it best.
BY Alex TroutmanSep 28, 2026
National group backing Democrat Kreiss-Tomkins puts $650,000 into Alaska campaign
The Democratic Governors Association is backing Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, known as JKT, while Republicans haven’t reported similar spending – yet.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 28, 2026
Newsletter
109 Stories
Biden administration advances conservation group's bid to list Gulf of Alaska king salmon as endangered or threatened
Experts say that the request, if granted, could force restrictions not just on salmon fishermen but also on activity that affects river habitat, like road and residential construction.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 23, 2024
Shell abandons North Slope oil leases, raising questions about the industry’s future in Alaska
As the world pivots toward lower-carbon energy sources in response to global warming, experts say some of the state’s hard-to-tap oil prospects are becoming less attractive.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 22, 2024
Something woolly is afoot in Alaska 🦣🦣
A mammoth investigation.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 11, 2024
Could Alaska be the final destination for Japan’s carbon pollution? The Biden administration wants to find out.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s new study is a reflection of the growing interest in injecting and storing climate-warming carbon pollution in underground reservoirs in Alaska.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 7, 2024
This oil platform stopped pumping 30 years ago. Alaska still won’t make the owner tear it down.
Removing all the offshore oil infrastructure from Cook Inlet could cost $1 billion. But some platforms have sat idle for decades, as inspectors say they're in an "advanced state of disrepair."
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 6, 2024
Northern Journal goes multi-platform
Introducing the Northern Journal podcast.
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 29, 2024
+ 103 more stories in Newsletter
General News
16 Stories
Plot twist or red flag? Our dating column debuts.
A big breakup leads to a fling with a friend—one week later.
BY Max GrahamSep 23, 2026
A California cloud-seeding company created rain near Homer — and an uproar
Local officials say they weren’t informed before a recent ‘cloud-seeding’ test on the Kenai Peninsula.
BY Max GrahamSep 4, 2026
Alaska's economic development agency plans a Mat-Su industrial park, with data centers
The AIDEA proposal is generating some enthusiasm, and some concerns about its inclusion of data centers.
BY Amy BushatzJul 15, 2026
Meet the Spanish company at the heart of Alaska’s oil industry revival
Repsol is emerging as one of the state’s most bullish oil companies.
BY Max GrahamJun 10, 2026
New Trump administration proposal aims to accelerate drilling amid Alaska oil industry’s revival
"It’s pretty extreme,” said one longtime Alaska environmental advocate.
BY Max GrahamMay 26, 2026
Olympics face new blowback from skiers, activists over oil sponsorship
The Olympic torch relay stopped at the headquarters of Italian oil giant ENI. Some winter sports athletes aren't pleased.
BY Nathaniel HerzFeb 6, 2026
+ 10 more stories in General News
Alaska governor
9 Stories
Fractured GOP field, candidate's improbable rise could clear path for a Democrat in Alaska governor's mansion
It's been more than two decades since Alaska elected a Democratic governor.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 2, 2026
This podiatrist spent $325 per vote in his bid to be Alaska governor. Here's how the other candidates did.
Independent Bill Walker, meanwhile, spent a mere $10 to win each of his 7,333 votes.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 30, 2026
Alaska governor's race survey: AI policy and news sources
Candidates weigh in on how they'd use AI in their administration, as well as safeguards they'd adopt.
BY Nathaniel HerzJun 25, 2026
Alaska’s 18-ticket gubernatorial race: The pundits weigh in
Need help making sense of the crowded field? Northern Journal has your back.
BY Nathaniel HerzJun 12, 2026
Alaska governor's race survey: how much should companies pay in oil taxes?
We also ask what album candidates would bring if they were stranded on the remote Bering Sea island of St. Matthew.
BY Nathaniel HerzJun 5, 2026
New independent group, 'Build the Damn Roads!', will support Alaska GOP governor candidate Wilson
The super PAC-type group hasn’t reported any fundraising yet, but it’s working with professional political operatives.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 20, 2026
+ 3 more stories in Alaska governor
arts-culture
8 StoriesHer First Deneege
"SHOOT THAT M*****F*****!"
BY Brittany Woods-OrrisonOct 24, 2026
No trivial pursuit: Lifetime of knowledge pays off for Mat-Su Jeopardy! champion
A jack of many trades takes on Jeopardy!, with Alaska flair.
BY Matt TunsethOct 23, 2026
There’s no free lunch. But in Anchorage this week, there’s really free coffee.
A mysterious donor spots everyone at Dark Horse Coffee downtown during the AFN convention.
BY Hannah DoroughOct 22, 2026
Igyamcuk and bricks of gold: A conversation with a Yup’ik artist and advocate
Nikki Quluqaaq Corbett runs the Sew Yup'ik business and has advocated against the proposed Donlin mine.
BY Dewey Kk’ołeyo Putyuk HoffmanOct 21, 2026
Seeing Dena’ina clearly: A new exhibition at the Alaska Native Heritage Center
A new exhibition at the Alaska Native Heritage Center features Dena'ina belongings that had been taken outside the state.
BY Melissa Nenantaxnen ShaginoffOct 20, 2026
Dancing in the dark: the rise of Terrorwave
A biweekly goth party at Chilkoot Charlie's has become wildly popular since launching five months ago.
BY Robin O'DonoghueOct 6, 2026
+ 2 more stories in arts-culture
alaska
6 Stories
Alaska's 17 governor candidates have raised nearly $9 million. This chart shows who gave it.
Alaska's gubernatorial campaigns have raised nearly $9 million. We broke down where it came from.
BY Will KoeppenJul 27, 2026
Alaska's candidates for governor weigh in on oil taxes, and how to cook fish
New from Northern Journal: a recurring survey of candidates for governor.
BY Nathaniel HerzJan 12, 2026
Hilcorp chairman: We’re going to Venezuela
Two big players in Alaska’s oil industry say they’re keen on investing in post-Maduro Venezuela.
BY Nathaniel HerzJan 10, 2026
When will the deep freeze end? Alaska holds its breath.
A long-running weather pattern shows no sign of relenting. “Cranky’s a good way to describe it,” says one mayor whose village hit minus 50.
BY Nathaniel HerzDec 24, 2025
On rivers and in courtrooms, Alaska battles for land inside national parks and preserves
For decades, Alaska land managers have been working to confirm the state's ownership of land beneath navigable rivers and lakes inside national parks and refuges.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 29, 2025
On small planes, gold mines and Alaska summers
A dispatch from the most happily chaotic time of year in the 49th state.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 1, 2025
Typhoon Halong
5 Stories
After Halong: Return and recovery
Second in a series on the impacts of the typhoon that hit Western Alaska last year.
BY Katie Baldwin BasileJul 31, 2026
After Halong: The ones who stayed
First in a series from Bethel-based photojournalist Katie Baldwin Basile.
BY Katie Baldwin BasileJun 9, 2026
Typhoons and other climate threats could cost Alaska billions. After last month’s storm, advocates say it’s time to act.
A study published before the storm said there's an $80 million-a-year gap in money needed to protect or move coastal communities.
BY Nathaniel HerzNov 7, 2025
'A whole new concrete jungle': A typhoon evacuee lands in urban Alaska.
Jeron Joseph has no driver's license, and he's barely ever left his home village. Now he's navigating life on the road system.
BY Jeron JosephOct 23, 2025
An ‘orchestra from Hell’: A firsthand account of the Halong flood
A displaced survivor from Kwigillingok tells his story.
BY Jeron JosephOct 20, 2025
Red Dog Mine
5 Stories
Mine workers ready respirators and go-bags as Red Dog contends with hazardous gas buildup
A recent uptick in sulfur dioxide emissions has fueled health concerns and a public response from the Indigenous-owned corporation that owns the land beneath the mine.
BY Max GrahamJan 8, 2026
Thawing permafrost is causing trouble for the Red Dog mine. Solutions could be costly.
Rusting rivers and huge rainfall have complicated pollution control at Northwest Alaska’s massive zinc mine.
BY Max GrahamDec 2, 2025
A global megadeal would give one of Alaska's largest mines a new operator
Red Dog mine powers the Northwest Alaska economy, and its future is uncertain. But the planned merger appears unlikely to change much for the operation.
BY Max GrahamSep 12, 2025
A major Alaska mine could end up in the crossfire of Trump’s trade war with Canada
Teck's Red Dog mine in Northwest Alaska supplies the U.S. with zinc and germanium — but only after those minerals get processed in Canada.
BY Max GrahamJan 30, 2025
Feds approve key step toward expansion at major Northwest Alaska zinc mine
Red Dog mine, a regional economic linchpin, is running low on ore. With a new permit in hand, the multinational company that operates the project is now moving quickly to try to extend its life.
BY Max GrahamDec 6, 2024
Mary Peltola
4 StoriesOpinion: Who gets grace and who gets the sword?
Why a call for an apology from Mary Peltola falls short.
BY Amber BattsOct 2, 2026
Opinion: Peltola's words create a teachable moment, but an apology is required.
Matt Schultz writes: "We should require basic human decency from all candidates, and apologies for when they fall short of it."
BY Matt SchultzSep 28, 2026
“Nothingburger.” “She should apologize.” “Arghhh!”: Readers react to Peltola exposé
More than 115 readers have responded.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 24, 2026
National Democrats are “salivating” over a Mary Peltola bid for U.S. Senate. But Alaska’s governor’s race could be “wide open” too.
The filing deadline for the 2026 elections is still nearly a year away. But Democrats in Alaska and Outside are anxiously awaiting a decision about which office Peltola will run for.
BY Nathaniel HerzJul 14, 2025
halibut
4 Stories
Commission again sets Pacific halibut harvest at rock-bottom levels amid U.S.-Canada tensions
A Trump appointee threatened sanctions on Canadian halibut exports if the country’s negotiators didn’t accept a cut to the British Columbia catch, according to multiple sources.
BY Hal BerntonJan 28, 2026
Halibut managers contend with scientific uncertainty as fishery hits record lows
Scientists remain hopeful halibut will rebound, as in decades past. But they are unsure when that will happen.
BY Hal BerntonNov 17, 2025
Bottom trawlers face renewed scrutiny amid halibut decline
The bottom trawl fleet accidentally catches and kills millions of pounds of halibut each year, stoking a fierce, long-running debate.
BY Hal BerntonNov 15, 2025
Shrinking prize: Amid halibut's decline, challenges mount for Alaska and Washington fishing crews
Scientists haven't reached a consensus about the forces that have driven down halibut stocks. But the decline is hitting the harvest hard.
BY Hal BerntonNov 15, 2025
mining
4 Stories
In Canada’s ‘Silicon Valley’ of mining, speculators power a hunt for Alaska’s minerals
Vancouver, British Columbia, home to dozens of companies searching the world for minerals, has a special interest in the northernmost U.S. state.
BY Max GrahamJun 17, 2025
Who will benefit from melting glaciers?
In a remote corner of North America, salmon and mining companies are vying for new territory.
BY Max GrahamMay 22, 2025
Why a surge in gold prices won’t solve Alaska’s budget woes
New calls to raise Alaska’s mining taxes and royalties come as state officials face difficult fiscal decisions.
BY Max GrahamApr 22, 2025
Juneau’s push to expand renewable power could boost the region’s mines — or cost them
Amid proposals to electrify Juneau’s cruise docks and build a new hydroelectric plant, one of the area’s major mines has a lot to gain. The other has more to lose.
BY Max GrahamFeb 19, 2025
U.S. Senate
3 StoriesRevealed: The money behind the last-minute fringe candidate ad blitz in Alaska’s U.S. Senate primary
Groups exploited what one critic describes as an “outrageous” loophole allowing donor information to remain hidden until after ballots are cast.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 16, 2026
This Democratic Socialist could cost Mary Peltola votes in November. But he says he’d actually boost her.
David Leslie, a longtime Fairbanks activist, scored a surprise fourth-place finish in preliminary results in Alaska’s U.S. Senate primary.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 21, 2026
Opinion: Want to set your money on fire? Use it to boost Alaska’s false flag candidates.
Scott Kendall says efforts by incompetent Outside consultants are more likely to help the very candidates that they’re intended to harm — and in reality, the real-world impact will be nothing at all.
BY Scott KendallAug 15, 2026
AIDEA
3 StoriesAlaska faces a statewide spike in fuel costs. This state agency chose three tiny villages for $25,000 relief checks.
Alaska’s economic development agency wrote $25,000 checks to communities near a proposed mining project.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 15, 2026
In Alaska governor’s race, millions of state dollars for mining roads and oil exploration are at stake
The leading candidate for governor wants to "completely reassess” the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority and the projects it’s funding.
BY Max GrahamOct 5, 2026
Alaska’s embattled economic development agency approves $700,000 PR budget
Amid continuing opposition to its oil drilling and road projects, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority says the public should know about its less controversial small business loan programs.
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 20, 2026
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
3 Stories
With industry wary of Arctic Refuge, Alaska's own government plans a lonely quest for oil
AIDEA is spending as much as $175 million to look for petroleum in the refuge.
BY Max GrahamJul 16, 2026
Alaska development agency approves $190 million budget for Arctic refuge oil exploration, leasing
AIDEA intends to move ahead with geologic testing on its leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and to bid on new ones in an upcoming federal sale.
BY Max GrahamMay 14, 2026
The state of Alaska could spend nearly $200 million on oil exploration, leasing in Arctic refuge
Alaska’s economic development agency, AIDEA, wants to conduct geologic testing on its existing oil leases — and to bid on new ones — in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
BY Max GrahamMay 11, 2026
trans-Alaska pipeline system
3 Stories
With tens of millions at stake, feud over trans-Alaska pipeline value heads to court
Alaska’s major oil companies, and three municipalities, have filed separate appeals of a state tax board decision that set the value of the pipeline at $13 billion.
BY Max GrahamJun 29, 2026
In setback for oil companies, tax board raises trans-Alaska pipeline value by $3 billion
But the decision is likely to head to be appealed to the courts.
BY Max GrahamMay 28, 2026
After 10-year truce, a major tax dispute looms over the trans-Alaska pipeline system
Hundreds of millions of dollars in property taxes for the state, the North Slope and Fairbanks boroughs and the city of Valdez could be at stake.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 12, 2026
commercial fishing
3 Stories
Alaska’s board of fish restricted a commercial fleet to protect Western Alaska salmon. Then the AG stepped in.
Subsistence fishermen are fighting the attorney general’s decision to overturn the board’s action.
BY Olivia EbertzJun 4, 2026
Coastal Alaskans see commercial fishing limits as a ‘crisis.’ Lawmakers don’t.
Alaska’s Legislature adjourned last week without addressing an issue that many residents of coastal, Native villages see as urgent: expanding access to commercial fishing careers.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 28, 2025
The last skipper in Ouzinkie: How Gulf of Alaska villages lost their Native fishing fleets
A permitting system designed in the 1970s was supposed to make Alaska’s commercial fishing industry more sustainable and more profitable. But over the last 50 years, it has hollowed out many Indigenous coastal villages where residents no longer can earn a living by harvesting salmon.
BY Nathaniel HerzFeb 5, 2025
Regulatory Commission of Alaska
3 Stories
A lawmaker thought regulators were “on board” with a plan to speed review of utility price hikes. They weren’t.
In a letter to lawmakers, two regulators said they "strongly oppose" the plan.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 6, 2026
Advocates decry lawmakers’ push to tighten regulators' deadline to review utility price hikes
Under a last-minute proposal from Anchorage Democratic Rep. Carolyn Hall, regulators would have nine months instead of 15 months to vet utility proposals.
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 30, 2026
Interesting stuff: Anchorage water wars, a Doyon pipeline deal and a law firm’s look at the Permanent Fund
Interesting Stuff is back from hibernation. Items include a feud between bottled water companies and Anchorage's water utility, a Doyon subsidiary's acquisition of a share of a major pipeline on the North Slope and continuing turnover at the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 18, 2024
Hilcorp
3 Stories
With one of two wells drilled, Hilcorp to pull out of Yukon Flats
The wells was drilled on Indigenous-owned land, in a program that prompted sharp opposition from area tribes.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 1, 2026
Above the Yukon River, on Native land, Hilcorp is set to drill for oil this summer
Hilcorp has signed oil leases with Doyon, the Indigenous-owned corporation for Interior Alaska, which hopes the drilling effort will yield the state’s next big oil field. But there’s fierce opposition from local tribes.
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 7, 2025
Arctic Bitcoin? Hilcorp, tech firm aim to test North Slope data center
A Hilcorp oil field in Alaska’s Arctic is set to host a tech firm that wants to use natural gas-fired power to mine digital currency.
BY Nathaniel HerzNov 18, 2024
natural gas
3 Stories
Alaska’s energy cliff isn’t coming. It’s already here.
The state’s gas shortage is hitting electricity consumers in Fairbanks and the Mat-Su, and will likely affect home heating prices, as well.
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 27, 2026
Utilities say Alaska needs an LNG import terminal. Here’s how consumers could end up paying not for one, but two.
Planning for two separate projects is currently moving ahead.
BY Nathaniel HerzNov 21, 2025
Regulators, advocates warn of utility inaction as Alaska gas shortfall looms
“The window for making decisions is closing,” said one top regulator. “If things just sort of slide and there’s no leadership, and we’re in the same position 12 months from now, we are looking at a dire, dire, situation. And people should get angry.”
BY Nathaniel HerzDec 24, 2024
Pebble
3 Stories
In court, Pebble developer says 27 salmon stand in the massive mine’s way
"I'll kill them all right now, with my bare hands," one mine booster said in a recent video posted online.
BY Max GrahamApr 22, 2026
Trump is all in on mining in Alaska. With one glaring exception: Pebble.
Lawyers for the Trump administration are defending a Biden-era decision to veto the controversial Pebble project in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region.
BY Max GrahamFeb 25, 2026
In court filing, Trump administration hints at a lifeline for embattled Pebble project
After a landmark veto, Trump administration officials say they’re “open to reconsideration” and are negotiating a potential settlement of a lawsuit filed by Pebble’s developer.
BY Max GrahamJul 11, 2025
oil
3 Stories
A giant lease sale could launch a new era of oil on Alaska's North Slope
Two huge companies thought to have little interest in Alaska investment, Shell and ExxonMobil, spent millions to buy new leases on the North Slope — though drilling still faces obstacles.
BY Max GrahamMar 26, 2026
A small Texas firm is gearing up for a $150 million search for oil beneath the Arctic Ocean
Narwhal Exploration is one of three small, privately owned companies with offshore leases in West Harrison Bay, a promising but largely unexplored area once controlled by Shell.
BY Max GrahamSep 5, 2025
Small Cook Inlet producers say they need state government help before drilling for new natural gas
One company, Bluecrest, said it will need more support even after a state agency agreed to forgive some $7 million in loans. Another company, HEX, says it needs the state to agree to a royalty reduction before it will drill a well.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 26, 2024
Ambler Road
3 Stories
Ambler Road agreement calls for private access, subsistence safeguards and Native corporation contracts
Northern Journal obtained a copy of a recent agreement between Alaska Native corporations and the state agency pushing the contentious Ambler Road project.
BY Max GrahamFeb 20, 2026
In new agreement with state, Indigenous landowners soften resistance to Ambler Road
Three Alaska Native corporations and the state agency pushing the Ambler Road quietly signed a nonbinding agreement late last year.
BY Max GrahamFeb 4, 2026
Trump has given new life to the Ambler Road. But it’s still not a sure thing.
Litigation, financing and skepticism from Alaska Native landowners still stand in the project's way.
BY Max GrahamOct 9, 2025
Lisa Murkowski
3 Stories
Lisa Murkowski weighs in on public broadcasting, transboundary mining and Peltola's options
Alaska's senior senator speaks to some of the major congressional debates from the past year.
BY Nathaniel HerzJan 2, 2026
Sunday listening: Lisa Murkowski on her 'One Big Beautiful Bill' vote
"The problem with standing on principle is when your constituents get hurt, and that was what was going to happen," Murkowski said.
BY Nathaniel HerzJul 20, 2025
'We're not heading in the right direction': A Q&A with Murkowski on health care
"I'm worried about the current situation, because we've got some demographics that are working against us," U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in an interview. "Alaskans are getting older, and our chronic conditions are just getting chronically worse."
BY Nathaniel HerzJan 1, 2025
Mike Dunleavy
3 Stories
Alaska’s governor said he texts Trump. I asked for copies.
"Give them all MY LOVE. Wow!" Trump said in one of his messages to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who says he tries not to abuse his access to one of the most powerful men in the world.
BY Nathaniel HerzDec 18, 2025
Alaska’s governor flew to Taiwan to sell LNG. China's not happy.
China says Dunleavy's trip "sends a very wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces."
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 18, 2025
Data centers face growing opposition Outside. Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants them in Alaska.
The Republican governor says Alaska has in excess what the data industry is finding increasingly scarce Outside: land and water, if not cheap electricity. He also says new data centers would boost the case for Alaska’s proposed natural gas pipeline.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 16, 2024
Chugach Electric Association
3 Stories
With gas crunch looming, Alaska's utilities won’t get big wind before tax credits expire. Here’s why.
One utility leader points to private developers and the Trump tax bill. But advocates say utilities share some of the blame.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 29, 2025
Anchorage electricity prices could go up again. Blame the warm winter.
Anchorage utility executives say that a mild winter translated into lower electricity sales — and a hole in their budget.
BY Nathaniel HerzJul 18, 2025
Inside the “titanic” legal case that will help determine Alaska’s energy future: an analysis of what’s at stake
Northern Journal waded through hundreds of pages of written testimony and hours of recorded public hearings to explain how an Anchorage electric utility’s proposal to raise its rates could affect consumers — and the region’s scarce supply of natural gas.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 8, 2024
Northern Journal
3 Stories
An update from the Northern Journal trail
Some news and notes, including a leg wrestling video, about my work and travels over the past couple of months.
BY Nathaniel HerzFeb 24, 2025
News from, and about, Northern Journal
Two years in, an update on this media business, and hot tips on how to claim your Northern Journal hoodie and stickers.
BY Nathaniel HerzNov 26, 2024
The mining industry is booming. Help us cover it in Alaska.
I want to hire a talented, young reporter to do more of what Northern Journal is already doing — independent journalism on Alaska’s lands and natural resources.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 15, 2024
Donald Trump
2 StoriesA U.S. president meets a venerable Alaska tradition: Bingo
Will the name of Mary Peltola's chameleon be uttered at Trump's Wasilla rally? What about "Sarah Palin"?
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 13, 2026
Anchorage spent more than $200,000 to support the Trump-Putin summit. Will it get the money back?
Other cities’ efforts to recoup spending to protect Trump have failed. “We have sent demand letters, phone calls and made public statements. We have received no response.”
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 3, 2025
Bill Hill
2 StoriesAlaska's congressional elections pit "thousandaires" against millionaires and "billionaire buddies"
There's a stark contrast between candidates in the U.S. Senate and House races.
BY Nathaniel HerzOct 1, 2026
A Q&A with Alaska congressional candidate Bill Hill
The independent says he's best situated to unseat incumbent Republican Nick Begich III.
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 26, 2026
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
2 StoriesNational group backing Democrat Kreiss-Tomkins puts $650,000 into Alaska campaign
The Democratic Governors Association is backing Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, known as JKT, while Republicans haven’t reported similar spending – yet.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 28, 2026
An Alaska candidate for governor sparked a backlash by taking AI employees’ money. But he says he’s the opposite of an AI candidate.
“I absolutely should have seen this coming,” said Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 3, 2026
Favorite Plate
2 Stories
Favorite plate: La Michoacana’s mangonada is the perfect respite from Anchorage winter
Okay, it’s maybe more of a favorite slurp, but this salty-sweet slushy takes the edge off, no alcohol needed.
BY Adelyn BaxterSep 21, 2026
Favorite Plate: My love-at-first-bite affair with Ginger’s General Tso’anders Fried Chicken
The Anchorage Press' 'Favorite Plate' feature debuts with a fried chicken dish from Downtown Anchorage's Ginger.
BY Lily MillerAug 26, 2026
Dan Sullivan
2 Stories
Trump says Petersburg Sullivan 'hasn't voted in years' and 'never voted.' He's actually voted more than 30 times since 2000.
Former President Donald Trump claimed Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan has not voted in years, but state voting records confirm Sullivan has cast ballots more than 30 times since 2000.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 3, 2026
Results suggest left-leaning voters buoyed Petersburg Sullivan in Alaska's U.S. Senate primary
In urban areas where the leading Democrat performed well, the retired teacher from Petersburg also saw strong results.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 28, 2026
Yukon River
2 Stories
After historic crash, Yukon River’s iconic king salmon run shows early signs of rebound
The jump in salmon numbers has also inflamed a debate about fishing bans amid reports of illegal harvests.
BY Max GrahamAug 14, 2026
A Canadian gold mine spill raises fears among Alaskans on the Yukon River
Officials say cyanide pollution at Victoria Gold’s Eagle Mine poses no health risks to Alaskans. But advocates worry it could compound a yearslong salmon crisis on the Yukon River — and should draw new attention to Canadian mines in areas that drain into Alaska waterways.
BY Max GrahamJul 24, 2024
data centers
2 Stories
Data center critics flood Alaska land managers with opposition to North Slope project
Hundreds of comments have been filed, with subject lines like "HELL NO! To ANY DATA CENTERS" and "NO AI".
BY Nathaniel HerzJul 3, 2026
A huge data center could rise on Alaska’s North Slope
The $500 million project could consume twice as much natural gas as urban Alaska’s grid.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 13, 2026
Nuiqsut
2 Stories
A major new Arctic oil field prompted a deal to protect caribou. Then Trump officials backed out.
In December, the Interior Department scrapped an agreement with the village of Nuiqsut to restrict oil development near important caribou grounds. Now, the village is suing.
BY Max GrahamFeb 17, 2026
Alaska's oil renaissance has arrived at the doorstep of an Iñupiaq village
'Do you want your kids to see a drilling rig right outside your window?' asked one local leader in Nuiqsut.
BY Max GrahamJan 20, 2026
ConocoPhillips
2 Stories
ConocoPhillips says North Slope drilling will continue mostly as planned after rig collapse
The company said it will replace “The Beast” with another Doyon rig.
BY Max GrahamJan 26, 2026
In latest sign of North Slope’s evolution, privately owned Texas company targets Chevron’s Alaska assets
A little known Texas company is buying a share of a key North Slope pipeline and asked to buy all of Chevron's oil interests in the region — reviving questions about the Alaska oil industry’s capacity to decommission aging infrastructure and pay damages in the event of a spill.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 16, 2024
Greenland
2 Stories
‘Harm against our family’: Alaska’s Indigenous leaders call for solidarity with Greenlanders amid Trump’s threats
“We are essentially the same people."
BY Max GrahamJan 22, 2026
Opinion: Trump would never eat muktuk. Why Alaskans should stand with Greenlanders now.
I’ve worked as a climate and ice scientist in Greenland for almost a decade. Alaskans share language, wild foods and culture with the people who live there.
BY Aurora RothJan 21, 2026
Contango Ore
2 Stories
Alaska mining company pushing Cook Inlet, Hatcher Pass projects will merge with Canadian firm
Contango Ore helped build Alaska’s newest major mine. Its merger with and Dolly Varden Silver comes amid a flurry of deals in the state’s mining industry.
BY Max GrahamDec 9, 2025
This company helped build an Alaska mine without a tailings dump. Can it build two more?
Touting an unconventional approach, Contango Ore says it can develop mines faster and with a smaller environmental footprint. But some Alaskans fear an influx of ore trucks on state roads.
BY Max GrahamJan 2, 2025
orca whales
2 Stories
Bottom trawlers that snagged orcas are testing new technology to avoid them
The trawl industry has scrambled to try to find a way to keep the whales out of their nets after nine were accidentally taken in 2023.
BY Hal BerntonNov 16, 2025
In Alaska, fishing skippers and hungry orcas vie for halibut pulled from the deep
An intensifying arms race between fishermen and the whales has crews testing cutting edge equipment.
BY Hal BerntonNov 16, 2025
antimony
2 Stories
Fueled by trade tensions and foreign wars, a rush for an obscure mineral heats up in Alaska
A Texas company recently acquired 50 square miles of mining claims across interior Alaska. Now it wants to start trucking antimony — a mineral used in weapons and solar panels — to its processing plant in Montana.
BY Max GrahamJun 5, 2025
America needs antimony for weapons and solar panels. The mining industry is looking to Alaska.
Two Australian companies are pursuing federal funding to jump-start antimony mining near Fairbanks and Anchorage.
BY Max GrahamNov 15, 2024
Palmer project
2 Stories
A contentious mining project in Southeast Alaska just changed hands. Its new owner is already looking to sell.
Opponents are celebrating the news as a setback for the Palmer Project near Haines, one of the state’s most advanced — and polarizing — mining projects.
BY Max GrahamMay 8, 2025
Japanese smelting giant pulls out of major Southeast Alaska mining project
The Palmer development, near a glacier above the salmon-bearing Chilkat River, has for years fueled political divisions in the town of Haines. Now it's getting a new owner, raising questions about the project's future.
BY Max GrahamNov 21, 2024
Kensington
2 Stories
Months after fish died near an Alaska mine, state regulators and the mine’s owner still don’t know what killed them.
“Sometimes you’re just never going to have data that says, ‘Yes, that’s what it was,” said a top state regulator.
BY Max GrahamMar 19, 2025
Dozens of fish died near a Southeast Alaska gold mine. Two months later, state regulators haven’t determined what killed them.
State fish scientists say the circumstances of the fish kill suggest that it stems from a water quality problem. But regulators say they're still waiting from data from the Kensington gold mine's operator.
BY Max GrahamOct 4, 2024
black cod
2 Stories
Interesting Stuff: How Alaska regulators ignored a gas conservation scheme. And: What happened to those Kodiak king salmon?
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska rejected a proposal to increase electricity rates for heavier users. And: updates on the Kodiak king salmon bycatch incident and the future of Peter Pan Seafood.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 30, 2024
A public serv-fish announcement: You should be eating more black cod.
Alaska caught black cod is oily and delicious, and it's selling at rock bottom prices right now in part because of the devaluation of the Japanese yen.
BY Nathaniel HerzAug 30, 2024
Alaska Federation of Natives
1 Storieselections
1 StoriesRepublican Governors Association
1 StoriesCrossroads Lounge
1 StoriesAlok Vaid-Menon
1 Stories
Horoscope
1 Stories
Your September horoscope!
Did you know the Anchorage Press is a Gemini?
BY Kaitlin Jade ArmstrongSep 19, 2026
AI
1 Stories
Beets
1 Stories
We went to a conference
1 Stories
Mineral Exploration
1 Stories
Van's Dive Bar
1 Stories
Van’s is on Fire
At a legendary local venue, a fire, a recovery and now, a transition.
BY Brian 'BMac' MacMillanSep 9, 2026
Mechanical bull
1 Stories
Candi English
1 Stories
Dena'ina
1 Stories
opinion
1 Stories
Alaska politicians sport beards and bear-hunting bona fides to claim authenticity. But those tropes originated Outside.
The ‘Real Alaskan’ is cheap repackaging of what one historian describes as hunter-heroes, Kaitlin Jade Armstrong writes in an opinion piece.
BY Kaitlin Jade ArmstrongAug 14, 2026
National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska
1 Stories
Fair Deal Alaska
1 Stories
Currie Dixon
1 Stories
Anchorage Community Development Authority
1 Stories
Halong
1 Stories
Haunted by Halong
Western Alaska youth are grappling with trauma they suffered during last year's climate disaster.
BY Jess Zhang, The MarginJul 9, 2026
Eaglecrest
1 Stories
Anchorage Press
1 Stories
Northern Journal 🤝 Anchorage Press
We're (re-)launching a newspaper.
BY Nathaniel HerzJun 16, 2026
gas prices
1 Stories
lieutenant governor
1 Stories
Crude oil
1 Stories
placer mining
1 Stories
Livengood
1 Stories
Matt Schultz
1 Stories
A Northern Journal spring update, and a Q&A with Matt Schultz
Catching up on the Northern Journal trail.
BY Nathaniel HerzApr 25, 2026
Nick Begich III
1 Stories
Click Bishop
1 Stories
Deep-Sea Mining
1 Stories
fuel prices
1 Stories
Metlakatla
1 Stories
bycatch
1 Stories
Falconry
1 Stories
Red Dog
1 Stories
John Paulson
1 Stories
Rich Mauer
1 Stories
Gus Schumacher
1 Stories
governor
1 Stories
Andrew Kastning
1 Stories
Winter Olympics
1 Stories
A break — sort of — from Northern Journal’s regularly scheduled programming
An update from Italy.
BY Nathaniel HerzFeb 3, 2026
Alaska LNG
1 Stories
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
1 Stories
Tahltan Nation
1 Stories
China
1 Stories
Johnson Tract
1 Stories
trawlers
1 Stories
First Alaskans Institute
1 Stories
Western Alaska flooding
1 Stories
military
1 Stories
oil spills
1 Stories
Suzanne Downing
1 Stories
Kotzebue
1 Stories
A run through the tundra in Kotzebue
A weekend well-spent in rural Alaska.
BY Nathaniel HerzSep 9, 2025
sculpin
1 Stories
public radio
1 Stories
Panther Minerals
1 Stories
Elim
1 Stories
Julius R
1 Stories
BlueCrest Energy
1 Stories
Mission: Impossible
1 Stories
bitcoin mining
1 Stories
Susitna hydro
1 Stories
king salmon
1 Stories
podcast
1 Stories
Northern Journal news and a side of Interesting Stuff
The podcast is back! And other news.
BY Nathaniel HerzMay 7, 2025
Treg Taylor
1 Stories
CPB
1 Stories
renewable energy
1 Stories
yukon flats
1 Stories
Donlin
1 Stories
arctic
1 Stories
volcano
1 Stories
gold
1 Stories
climate change
1 Stories
Whitehorse
1 Stories
Peter Pan Seafood
1 Stories
railbelt utilities
1 Stories
roads
1 Stories
Moose
1 Stories
health care
1 Stories
ChatGPT
1 Stories
pollock
1 Stories
Taiwan
1 Stories
Mike Sfraga
1 Stories
Galore Creek
1 Stories
Joe Nelson
1 Stories
trawling
1 Stories
residential schools
1 Stories
Rodger May
1 Stories
sitka
1 Stories
Cache Energy
1 Stories
Craig Richards
1 Stories
pink salmon
1 Stories
fisheries
1 Stories 2026
DISPATCH ARCHIVE
117 ARTICLES
October 2026 (15 dispatches)
arts-culture ·
arts-culture ·
arts-culture ·
Alaska Federation of Natives ·
arts-culture ·
arts-culture ·
Revealed: The money behind the last-minute fringe candidate ad blitz in Alaska’s U.S. Senate primary
U.S. Senate ·
AIDEA ·
Donald Trump ·
elections ·
arts-culture ·
AIDEA ·
Mary Peltola ·
Republican Governors Association ·
Bill Hill ·
September 2026 (20 dispatches)
Mary Peltola ·
Crossroads Lounge ·
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins ·
Alok writes and jokes about gender, and they're coming to Anchorage. First, they took our questions.
Alok Vaid-Menon ·
arts-culture ·
Mary Peltola ·
NEWS ·
Favorite Plate ·
arts-culture ·
Horoscope ·
AI ·
Beets ·
We went to a conference ·
Mineral Exploration ·
Van's Dive Bar ·
Mechanical bull ·
NEWS ·
Dan Sullivan ·
Alaska governor ·
Candi English ·
August 2026 (11 dispatches)
Alaska governor ·
Dena'ina ·
Dan Sullivan ·
Favorite Plate ·
U.S. Senate ·
U.S. Senate ·
opinion ·
Yukon River ·
Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins ·
National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska ·
Fair Deal Alaska ·
July 2026 (8 dispatches)
Typhoon Halong ·
alaska ·
Currie Dixon ·
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ·
NEWS ·
Anchorage Community Development Authority ·
Halong ·
data centers ·
June 2026 (10 dispatches)
trans-Alaska pipeline system ·
Eaglecrest ·
Alaska governor ·
Anchorage Press ·
Alaska governor ·
NEWS ·
Typhoon Halong ·
Alaska governor ·
commercial fishing ·
gas prices ·
May 2026 (14 dispatches)
trans-Alaska pipeline system ·
NEWS ·
Alaska governor ·
lieutenant governor ·
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ·
data centers ·
trans-Alaska pipeline system ·
Crude oil ·
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ·
Alaska governor ·
A federal mining inspector wanted to investigate a Fairbanks property. Then, a state trooper called.
placer mining ·
Regulatory Commission of Alaska ·
Livengood ·
Hilcorp ·
April 2026 (14 dispatches)
Regulatory Commission of Alaska ·
natural gas ·
Bill Hill ·
Matt Schultz ·
Nick Begich III ·
Click Bishop ·
Pebble ·
Alaska governor ·
AIDEA ·
Deep-Sea Mining ·
fuel prices ·
Metlakatla ·
bycatch ·
Falconry ·
March 2026 (5 dispatches)
oil ·
Alaska governor ·
Red Dog ·
John Paulson ·
Rich Mauer ·
February 2026 (9 dispatches)
Pebble ·
Ambler Road ·
Nuiqsut ·
Gus Schumacher ·
governor ·
Andrew Kastning ·
NEWS ·
Ambler Road ·
Winter Olympics ·
January 2026 (11 dispatches)
halibut ·
Alaska LNG ·
ConocoPhillips ·
Greenland ·
Greenland ·
Nuiqsut ·
alaska ·
alaska ·
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport ·
Red Dog Mine ·
Lisa Murkowski ·
2025
DISPATCH ARCHIVE
77 ARTICLES
December 2025 (5 dispatches)
alaska ·
Tahltan Nation ·
Mike Dunleavy ·
Contango Ore ·
Red Dog Mine ·
November 2025 (11 dispatches)
natural gas ·
China ·
halibut ·
orca whales ·
orca whales ·
halibut ·
halibut ·
Johnson Tract ·
trawlers ·
Typhoon Halong ·
First Alaskans Institute ·
October 2025 (7 dispatches)
alaska ·
Typhoon Halong ·
Typhoon Halong ·
Western Alaska flooding ·
Ambler Road ·
military ·
NEWS ·
September 2025 (7 dispatches)
oil spills ·
Red Dog Mine ·
Suzanne Downing ·
Kotzebue ·
oil ·
Donald Trump ·
NEWS ·
August 2025 (3 dispatches)
July 2025 (6 dispatches)
public radio ·
Panther Minerals ·
Lisa Murkowski ·
Chugach Electric Association ·
Mary Peltola ·
Pebble ·
June 2025 (7 dispatches)
Elim ·
mining ·
Julius R ·
BlueCrest Energy ·
antimony ·
Mission: Impossible ·
bitcoin mining ·
May 2025 (8 dispatches)
commercial fishing ·
mining ·
Susitna hydro ·
king salmon ·
Palmer project ·
podcast ·
Treg Taylor ·
CPB ·
April 2025 (7 dispatches)
renewable energy ·
yukon flats ·
Donlin ·
mining ·
arctic ·
Mike Dunleavy ·
Hilcorp ·
March 2025 (4 dispatches)
volcano ·
gold ·
Kensington ·
climate change ·
February 2025 (6 dispatches)
Whitehorse ·
Northern Journal ·
mining ·
Peter Pan Seafood ·
NEWS ·
commercial fishing ·
January 2025 (6 dispatches)
Red Dog Mine ·
railbelt utilities ·
roads ·
Moose ·
Contango Ore ·
Lisa Murkowski ·
2024
DISPATCH ARCHIVE
69 ARTICLES
December 2024 (7 dispatches)
natural gas ·
health care ·
ChatGPT ·
pollock ·
Red Dog Mine ·
NEWS ·
Taiwan ·
November 2024 (5 dispatches)
Northern Journal ·
Mike Sfraga ·
Palmer project ·
Hilcorp ·
antimony ·
October 2024 (5 dispatches)
Galore Creek ·
Joe Nelson ·
Mike Dunleavy ·
Kensington ·
black cod ·
September 2024 (7 dispatches)
trawling ·
residential schools ·
Rodger May ·
Regulatory Commission of Alaska ·
ConocoPhillips ·
sitka ·
Cache Energy ·
August 2024 (6 dispatches)
black cod ·
oil ·
Craig Richards ·
Northern Journal ·
pink salmon ·
Chugach Electric Association ·
July 2024 (5 dispatches)
fisheries ·
Yukon River ·
NEWS ·
NEWS ·
NEWS ·
June 2024 (2 dispatches)
May 2024 (5 dispatches)
Newsletter ·
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April 2024 (6 dispatches)
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March 2024 (8 dispatches)
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February 2024 (5 dispatches)
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January 2024 (8 dispatches)
Newsletter ·
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Newsletter ·
2023
DISPATCH ARCHIVE
62 ARTICLES
December 2023 (7 dispatches)
Newsletter ·
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November 2023 (10 dispatches)
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October 2023 (2 dispatches)
September 2023 (4 dispatches)
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August 2023 (6 dispatches)
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July 2023 (4 dispatches)
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June 2023 (6 dispatches)
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May 2023 (9 dispatches)
Newsletter ·
Newsletter ·
News Donuts: Ambler delays, a North Slope tax dispute and growing opposition to Alaska's LNG project
Newsletter ·
Newsletter ·
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April 2023 (4 dispatches)
Newsletter ·
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March 2023 (4 dispatches)
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Newsletter ·
February 2023 (3 dispatches)
January 2023 (3 dispatches)
2022
DISPATCH ARCHIVE
16 ARTICLES
December 2022 (8 dispatches)
Newsletter ·
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November 2022 (6 dispatches)
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August 2022 (1 dispatch)
Newsletter ·
June 2022 (1 dispatch)
NEWS ·