For the first time, women will hold the majority of seats in Alaska’s House of Representatives, with 21 out of 40 members being women, according to unofficial election results. This milestone increases women’s representation in the Alaska Legislature to 43%, surpassing the previous record of 23 women lawmakers in 2019.

The state Senate will include five women, unchanged from the previous session. The shift reflects a broader national trend, as women now hold one-third of all state legislative seats in the U.S., setting a new record for female representation.

The Palmer Project, a contentious mining venture near Haines and Klukwan, is undergoing a major ownership change. Canadian-based American Pacific Mining Corp. will assume full ownership after Japanese company Dowa Metals and Mining, which held a 70% stake, exits the project.

Dowa invested tens of millions in the copper and zinc mine since 2013 but announced its departure, raising questions about its reasoning. The project has long divided the region, with concerns over potential environmental impacts on the Chilkat River watershed, a vital salmon habitat, and its economic benefits.

Native American voters face significant obstacles at the polls, according to a Brennan Center study, contributing to lower turnout on tribal lands. Barriers include long travel distances, lack of public transportation, and limited access to early or mail-in voting.

Issues such as jurisdictions refusing to send ballots to P.O. boxes or denying the use of tribal IDs exacerbate the problem. Experts recommend targeted measures, including passing the stalled Native American Voting Rights Act, to address these systemic inequities and improve access to elections.

Alaska’s seafood processing industry saw a decline in its workforce but an increase in wages in 2023, according to a state labor report. The number of jobs fell 20% from 2014 to 8,495 workers, while total wages rose 30%, reaching $626 million. The average monthly wage climbed to $6,100, higher than the statewide average.

Employers relied heavily on nonresidents, who made up 82% of the workforce. Despite wage increases, recruitment challenges persist due to industry struggles like low fish prices and rising costs. The report highlights a shift in Alaska’s seafood workforce as plant closures loom.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general and longtime ally, as his pick for attorney general. Bondi defended Trump during his first impeachment and supported him in his New York criminal trial earlier this year.

The nomination follows the withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick, Matt Gaetz, amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations. Some Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, demanded further vetting, citing the need for transparency. Bondi gained prominence partly through an endorsement from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin during her early career.

Alaska voters have upheld the state’s open primary and ranked choice voting system by a narrow margin of 664 votes. Meanwhile, Republican Nick Begich has defeated Democratic Representative Mary Peltola in the U.S. House race, ending her historic tenure as Alaska's first Democratic House member since 1972. Begich secured over 164,000 votes, finishing more than 8,000 ahead of Peltola. Election results will be finalized after all hand-counted ballots are scanned, though significant changes are not expected.

A powerful atmospheric river brought heavy rain, hurricane-force winds, and snow to the Pacific Northwest, causing widespread damage and at least two deaths. Washington state suffered the most, with trees downing power lines and over 460,000 outages at the peak. Flood watches extend to Northern California and southwestern Oregon, while mountain areas face blizzards with snowfall rates of up to three inches per hour.
In Juneau, wind gusts of up to 60 mph disrupted power, ferry services, and schools. Cleanup and recovery efforts are underway as officials urge caution in affected areas.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski is among those demanding the release of a House Ethics Committee report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz, now President-elect Trump’s attorney general nominee. The investigation probed allegations of misconduct, including claims of illicit drug use and payments for sex, with one accuser alleging Gaetz’s involvement with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz denies the allegations, as the controversy raises questions about his nomination.

Alaska was among the states affected by misdirected ballots during the recent election, as mail ballots intended for voters in Wasilla were mistakenly sent to an election office in Cascade County, Montana. This issue, part of a broader pattern observed nationwide, raised concerns about the U.S. Postal Service's ability to manage election mail effectively.

The race over Alaska’s voting system is tightening, with votes to retain the system leading by just 45—a sharp drop from the 192-vote margin reported Monday. The razor-thin difference, just over 0.01% of votes counted, could lead to a recount after results are certified on November 30. Another 5,800 ballots are set to be counted today, alongside ranked choice sorting for undecided races.

The 34th Alaska Legislature is forming, with Democrats and independents expected to lead a bipartisan House coalition focused on the budget, education funding, and workforce challenges. The Senate's leadership remains unchanged, prioritizing energy cost reductions, pension reform, and election integrity. Collaboration is likely, but tensions may arise with Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Speculation about Dunleavy’s potential move to a federal role could further shift the political landscape.

Grimmway Farms has recalled specific organic carrots distributed in Alaska due to possible E. coli contamination. Affected products include organic whole carrots sold from August 14 to October 23, 2024, and organic baby carrots with best-by dates from September 11 to November 12, 2024. While no longer available in stores, they may remain in consumer homes. Consumers are urged to discard these products to avoid health risks, as E. coli can cause severe illness.

Juneau Assembly meetings are discussing the installation of Hesco barriers to protect homes from glacier outbursts. Homeowners would share costs of approximately $8,000, amortized over 10 years. The project aims to prevent future damage from glacial flooding events.

With freezing temperatures on the way, the City and Borough of Juneau advises residents to take precautions to prevent water pipes from freezing or bursting. Recommendations include running a small trickle of water, closing crawl space vents, insulating pipes, and checking heat tapes. The city does not thaw frozen pipes, so residents should contact a plumber if issues arise.