Elections/Politics

Woman in white vest stands next to Alaska Native painting and shelves of vinyl records.

Savoonga’s Viola “Vi” Waghiyi is one of the 26 members chosen by President Biden and Vice-President Harris for the new White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Improvement projects for the Nome-Beltz gym were some of the main beneficiaries of the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation’s 2020 year-end Community Benefits Share.

Man and woman sitting at same side of table discussing topic with audience.

Nome’s Public Safety Advisory Commission did not hold its scheduled discussion on the use of force policy during their Monday meeting. The intent was to gain input from a drafted use of force policy before it is approved by the City Manager’s office.

Double doors with a small placard reading "Council Chambers."

During tonight’s Nome Common Council regular meeting the council will discuss a resolution allowing for temporary animal trapping at Nome’s Inner Harbor. The resolution is likely a response to widespread community concern about a large and active fox population roaming the streets of Nome.

President Biden's hands sigining paperwork

President Joe Biden passed several climate-related executive orders on his first day in office earlier this week. Among those is an order reinstating the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area, an Obama-era executive order that includes protections from off-shore oil and gas leasing in the Norton Sound and waters around St. Lawrence Island.

The Coast Guard Cutter Healy breaks ice in the Nome Harbor Jan. 13, 2012. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. Department of the Navy is shifting its focus to be more visibly present in the Arctic. Their newly released Blue Arctic plan recognizes the increasingly navigable waters present from the Arctic’s rapidly melting sea ice and remarks that these open waters will require a sustained American naval presence.

Stack of papers and a rape kit supplies on a table.

Rep. Geran Tarr pre-filed House Bill 5 earlier this month which includes rape kit testing reform, further protections for underage victims of sexual abuse, and updates the state’s sexual consent law.

Rep. Neal Foster, left, and Sen. Donny Olson during a discussion of legislative priorities with the City Council and the pubic.

Based on the votes tallied by the Division of Elections so far, both incumbent representatives for Western Alaska have commanding leads. But, only 360 of 441 precincts have reported at this time.

If you still need to cast your ballot, one option is to vote in-person at your community’s local polling place. The polls are open from 7am -8pm today. The other is to use a special needs ballot.

The three components encompassed in Ballot Measure 2 are increased campaign financing disclosure requirements, a top-four primary election open to all Alaskan voters, and ranked choice voting.