James Brooks
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State reporter for @alaskabeacon, formerly @adndotcom, @juneauempire, @newsminer and @kodiakmirror. He/him.
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Articles by James Brooks
Alaska Legislature opens third gasline special session with no fanfare and even less optimism Original
13:04 News Story The Alaska Legislature opened its third special session of 2026 with no bill, few lawmakers and little hope. A handful of legislators gathered Monday in the state Capitol at Juneau to begin a 30-day session called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy after the failure of a compromise bill that would have provided a tax break to the developer of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.
Alaska Democratic U.S. House candidate says he had support but not enough money Original
On July 17, the leading Democratic candidate in Alaska’s U.S. House race suspended his campaign and announced his support for independent House candidate Bill Hill. In an interview last week, Democrat Matt Schultz said his decision didn’t come from a lack of desire or a lack of support — it was simply a matter of money. “One of the most disturbing things about the election process is how much … is determined by money, and I did not have a viable financial path forward,” Schultz said on July 17.
A Q&A with Alaska Democratic U.S. House candidate Matt Schultz about the end of his campaign Original
Alaska Beacon government and politics reporter James Brooks spoke with Matt Schultz for 15 minutes about the end of his campaign for Alaska’s sole U.S. House seat. Their conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. Q: Well, how are you feeling? A: For the first time in months, I’m feeling well rested. … There’s an upside to what was a difficult decision, but there’s definitely an upside in terms of that I could take a moment for myself once in a blue moon.
Alaska removes thousands from state’s active voter list, erroneously flagging some citizens Original
The state of Alaska has removed an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 Alaskans from the state’s active voter list, claiming they may be noncitizens. The removals leave those residents able to vote only if they provide extra identity information, and removal puts them on track to be purged from the state’s voter roll altogether.
Seventeen governor candidates vie for votes in Alaska’s primary election
The first two votes in Alaska’s Aug. 18 primary election have already been cast. According to records published by the absentee and petition office of the Alaska Division of Elections, two voters — one in South Carolina and another in Hawaii — returned their ballots on July 17. Thousands more voters will cast their ballots in the coming weeks. Absentee ballots were mailed to overseas and military voters starting July 2, and absentee ballots will start going out to the general public on July 24.
Unions sue Alaska Gov. Dunleavy over vacant seats on state’s pension-management board Original
Two of Alaska’s largest labor organizations have sued Gov. Mike Dunleavy for failing to promptly fill two seats on the board that governs the state’s public employee pension plans. The Alaska AFL-CIO, National Education Association-Alaska and five individuals filed suit Wednesday in Anchorage Superior Court, seeking a court order that would require the governor to fill seats on the Alaska Retirement Management Board that are designated for the teachers’ and public employees’ unions.
Alaska bush pilot’s bootlegging case heads to the U.S. Supreme Court later this year Original
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether or not to overrule the state of Alaska’s decision to seize the airplane of a bush pilot who flew a bootlegger and beer to a dry village in 2012. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up an appeal brought by the libertarian-leaning nonprofit public interest law firm Institute for Justice on behalf of the pilot, Ken Jouppi.
Hilcorp killed Alaska LNG bill, some legislators say, but governor calls the claim ‘bulls**t’
On Wednesday, one day before the Alaska Legislature voted on a multibillion-dollar tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska gas pipeline, Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, gave the pipeline’s lead developer a sneak preview of the bill. For weeks, Schrage had been in charge of negotiating a compromise version of the tax break that could get approval from the state House, Senate and Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Hilcorp killed Alaska LNG bill, some legislators say, but governor calls the claim ‘bulls**t’ Original
On Wednesday, one day before the Alaska Legislature voted on a multibillion-dollar tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska gas pipeline, Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, gave the pipeline’s lead developer a sneak preview of the bill. For weeks, Schrage had been in charge of negotiating a compromise version of the tax break that could get approval from the state House, Senate and Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Hilcorp killed Alaska LNG bill, some legislators say, but governor calls the claim ‘bulls**t’
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Alaska state legislator chases bear away from fellow lawmaker outside state Capitol Original
Rep. Garret Nelson, R-Sutton, chased a black bear away from Rep. Julie Coulombe, R-Anchorage, in front of the Alaska State Capitol during a late-night encounter this week. “It was a real safari night,” Nelson said on social media. According to Coulombe, she was walking toward the Assembly Building, home to apartments used by legislators, when she saw the bear approaching her on Wednesday night. “I am not good with bears. They freak me out,” she said by phone on Friday.
After governor’s veto threat, Alaska House votes down tax break for proposed natural gas pipeline Original
19:16 News Story The Alaska House of Representatives on Thursday voted down a multibillion-dollar tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project. Glenfarne LLC, the project’s lead developer, has said the tax break is necessary for it to obtain financing from banks and equity investors. The Alaska Senate voted 11-8 to approve a compromise version of House Bill 381, which contains the tax break.
After gasline tax bill, pipeline developers plan to ask Alaskans for a few billion dollars Original
A few months from now, if developers of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline move forward with the project, they will ask Alaskans for something between a few hundred million and a billion and a half dollars. The request is optional, but if the state doesn’t chip in, Alaska’s 25% ownership of the pipeline will dwindle to a smaller fraction, and any profits will similarly shrink.
Alaska Democrats sue elections officials after they approved candidate who didn’t disclose finances Original
The Alaska Democratic Party is suing the Alaska Division of Elections, alleging that officials improperly approved a Republican candidate who failed to disclose his personal finances, as required by state law. The candidate in question is Jose Anthony Tagle, the lone challenger to Democratic incumbent Rep. Ted Eischeid in Anchorage’s House District 22.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy sets state record for most vetoes in a single Legislature Original
Amid a series of disagreements with lawmakers in the state House and Senate, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has set a record for the most vetoes by an Alaska governor during a single two-year Legislature. Through Friday morning, Dunleavy had vetoed 29 of the 115 bills passed by the 34th Alaska Legislature. The previous record, 25 vetoes, was held by Gov. Tony Knowles in the 19th Alaska State Legislature, which ran from 1995 through 1996.
Alaska governor vetoes new limits on political donations Original
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have reimposed limits on the amount of money that individual people can donate to political candidates. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Alaska’s prior limits in 2021, and the Dunleavy administration declined to appeal the decision. Alaska has been without limits on political contributions since then.
Under new agreement, federal government limits obstacles to oil leasing in Alaska’s Arctic refuge
The federal government has agreed to permanently loosen rules for oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, according to a draft settlement agreement filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.
Alaska’s news organizations are collaborating on voter guides — and you can help, too Original
Every election, Alaska’s candidates for public office are bombarded by questionnaires from politically active groups, individuals and members of the media. To cut down on the workload and increase response rates, some of Alaska’s biggest statewide news organizations are trying something new — collaboration. The Alaska Beacon, Alaska Public Media, KTOO and the Anchorage Daily News are cooperating this year on a single questionnaire for candidates.
Many gas pipeline construction jobs will go to non-Alaskans, 2020 study indicates Original
If built as proposed, the trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline is expected to create thousands of jobs. Many, if not most, will go to people who don’t live in Alaska. A six-year-old study, commissioned by the Alaska Gasline Development Corp.
After University of Alaska objects, Dunleavy vetoes bill naming park, research group for Vic Fischer Original
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed a bill naming a state park and a University of Alaska research group after one of the signers of the Alaska Constitution, Vic Fischer. Fischer, who died in 2023, was the last living signer of the constitution at the time of his death and was the first director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research, which would have been named in his honor.
Dunleavy vetoes some health and education increases approved by Alaska lawmakers Original
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy canceled funding increases for a variety of state health and education programs on Wednesday, vetoing a combined $57.8 million in general-purpose money from state budget bills passed by the Legislature. Under the Alaska Constitution, the governor has the ability to eliminate or reduce individual line items from the budget.
Confidential document guided Alaska senators working on natural gas pipeline tax break Original
5:00 News Story Economy & Environment Government & Politics A secret agreement provides the most detailed insight yet into one of the world’s largest prospective natural gas projects Members of the Senate Finance Committee convene on the first day of a special legislative session on the proposed LNG gas line project on May 27, 2026.
New law allows Alaska’s local governments to offer more property tax breaks
JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) - Under a new law, Alaska boroughs and cities will be able to offer property tax breaks to first-time homebuyers, new trailer parks and homeowners who convert short-term rentals into long-term rentals, according to James Brooks with the Alaska Beacon. Those breaks and more are included in House Bill 13, which became law this week after Gov. Mike Dunleavy declined to veto it. Eight other bills also became law without the governor’s signature.
Nonprofit foundation gifts Alaska Legislature 16 apartments in Juneau Original
by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon June 22, 2026 The Juneau Community Foundation is giving the Alaska Legislature 16 two-bedroom apartments as part of a long-term effort to keep the state’s capital in Juneau. Members of the House-Senate Legislative Council voted unanimously to accept the apartments, which are spread across two four-plexes and one eight-plex in the Starr Hill and Chicken Ridge neighborhoods, respectively.
For trans-Alaska gas pipeline operator, carbon dioxide may be a lucrative sideline
The trans-Alaska pipeline extends from Pump Station 1 in Prudhoe Bay on June 2, 2025. (Marc Lester / ADN) Carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project, could net the pipeline’s operators more than $285 million per year from the federal government, the Alaska Department of Revenue estimated in a forecast released this month.
Alaska legislative attorney says U.S. Senate candidate’s removal could violate Constitution
© Pixabay - Wokandapix Discover more newspaper County Maps Obituaries Service An attorney advising the Alaska Legislature said Wednesday that Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom may have violated the U.S. Constitution when she disqualified Petersburg’s Daniel J. Sullivan from this year’s U.S. Senate race in Alaska. Representative Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage and chair of the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a legislative hearing on Monday to discuss the disqualification.
Alaska Senate approves gas pipeline tax break, but governor and others indicate it isn’t enough Original
The Alaska Senate has approved a multibillion-dollar tax cut for the developers of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline, but some changes adopted late Friday by the Senate reduced the size of the break. Speaking to reporters after the 12-8 Senate vote, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, said the Senate amendments — unless reversed — likely kill the bill.
Dunleavy vetoes nine bills, but Alaska lawmakers override two in special session flurry
Posted 6/19/26 Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy extended his record-high veto rate Thursday by vetoing nine of the 82 bills passed by lawmakers in the second year of the 34th Alaska State Legislature. Among the vetoed bills were measures that would have provided mental health lessons to kids in public schools, created a retirement plan for private-sector workers […] This item is available in full to subscribers.
Dunleavy vetoes nine bills, but Alaska lawmakers override two in special session flurry Original
by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon June 19, 2026 Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy extended his record-high veto rate Thursday by vetoing nine of the 82 bills passed by lawmakers in the second year of the 34th Alaska State Legislature. Among the vetoed bills were measures that would have provided mental health lessons to kids in public schools, created a retirement plan for private-sector workers who don’t have one and updated the state’s corporate income tax system.
Federal government appeals decision that blocked oil drilling in Alaska caribou protection area Original
The federal government is continuing to push for oil drilling in a North Slope conservation area intended to protect caribou. Last month, the U.S. Department of the Interior asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason that blocked oil and gas lease sales in part of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska near Teshekpuk Lake.
As Alaska gasline special session nears end, additional session looms and Senate prepares to vote Original
by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon June 18, 2026 If Alaska lawmakers do not vote by 11:59 p.m. Friday on a bill offering a tax break to the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project, Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he will call them into another 30-day special session.
Gas pipeline would be worth almost $800 million annually to Alaska treasury, new estimate says Original
by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon June 18, 2026 The proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project would generate an average of almost $800 million per year for the state treasury for 30 years starting in 2033, according to a new estimate from the Alaska Department of Revenue that includes a proposed tax break approved by the state House.
Alaska legislative attorney says U.S. Senate candidate’s removal could violate Constitution Original
by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon June 18, 2026 An attorney advising the Alaska Legislature said Wednesday that Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom may have violated the U.S. Constitution when she disqualified Petersburg’s Daniel J. Sullivan from this year’s U.S. Senate race in Alaska. Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage and chair of the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a legislative hearing on Monday to discuss the disqualification.
Gas pipeline deadlock continues in Alaska Senate as special session nears end Original
by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon June 17, 2026 The 14 members of Alaska’s Senate coalition majority met behind closed doors twice on Wednesday to decide the fate of a multibillion-dollar tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. The state House voted 34-5 on Friday to approve the break, which also has the approval of Gov. Mike Dunleavy and pipeline developer Glenfarne, but the tax break won’t become law unless it also has the approval of the Senate.
For trans-Alaska gas pipeline operator, carbon dioxide may be a lucrative sideline Original
by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon June 17, 2026 Carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project, could net the pipeline’s operators more than $285 million per year from the federal government, the Alaska Department of Revenue estimates in a forecast released this month. “It’s a benefit to the project and to whatever investors there are in the project,” said Dan Stickel, chief economist for the Department of Revenue, on June 2.
Natural gas pipeline tax break lacks needed Senate votes, Alaska lawmakers say Original
Members of the Alaska Senate’s majority coalition said on Tuesday that a tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline currently lacks the votes to advance in the Senate. Because lawmakers are meeting in a special session that ends on Friday, even a short delay could kill the bill containing the tax break. Gov. Mike Dunleavy could also call legislators back into another special session on the issue. The Senate is led by a 14-person coalition of Republicans and Democrats.
New icebreakers are coming to Alaska. Cities need to prepare housing, ports and more.
The Coast Guard is offering early warning for Kodiak and Seward, which will host the new ships in 2028 and the 2030s, respectively. A computer-generated image of an Arctic Security Cutter is seen in this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard in February 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard image) The U.S. Coast Guard will base two new icebreakers in Kodiak and one in Seward, it announced Thursday.
Alaska House advances gas pipeline tax break to state Senate for further work Original
The Alaska House of Representatives has voted to advance a multibillion-dollar tax break for the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project. The House’s 34-5 action sends the tax break to the state Senate, which is expected to take up the issue next week. Legislators are in a 30-day special session devoted to the issue, and the session ends June 19.
New icebreakers are coming to Alaska. Cities need to prepare housing, ports and more. Original
The U.S. Coast Guard will base two new icebreakers in Kodiak and one in Seward, it announced Thursday. The first two ships are expected in Kodiak in 2028, and the third ship is expected in Seward in the early 2030s, said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. The new ships are part of an 11-ship medium icebreaker flotilla approved by Congress last year as part of a $25 billion Coast Guard funding package. The Coast Guard hasn’t yet announced where it will station the other eight ships.
Alaska House appears likely to pass 85% tax cut for proposed gas pipeline Original
The Alaska House of Representatives is planning to vote as soon as Friday morning on a proposal to cut state taxes in order to encourage construction of the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. On Wednesday, the House Finance Committee voted unanimously to advance a bill that would effectively cut taxes on the project by about 85% for 30 years.
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