Thursday, June 25, 2026

Matt Acuña Buxton

Matt Acuña Buxton
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Matt Acuña Buxton is a long-time political reporter who has written for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and The Midnight Sun political blog. He also authors the daily politics newsletter, The Alaska Memo, and can frequently be found live-tweeting public meetings on Bluesky.

Dunleavy’s latest vetoes are a reminder that a lot will have to wait for a new governor

Alaska’s 2026 regular legislative session came to a largely smooth ending last week.

Following bruising last-minute push for AKLNG subsidy, legislators slow it down for the special session

Lawmakers adjourned the regular session on Wednesday in a largely uneventful final day, at least compared to the mayhem of Monday's attempt to force through a multibillion-dollar subsidy in the form of state and local tax cuts.

Alaska Republicans commandeer anti-smoking bill to legalize ‘super cool’ cigar lounges

A measure aimed at curbing youth smoking and vaping will now also legalize what one Republican insisted are “super popular, super cool” cigar lounges.

Long-running fight for public-sector pensions ends, for now, with failed veto override

The 33-27 vote fell short of the 40 votes needed to enact House Bill 78, which would have given public-sector employees the option to opt into a pension system.

Dunleavy vetoes pension bill after legislators try and fail to pass massive pipeline subsidy

Under the gun to pass a bill by midnight or face a veto of the public pension bill, lawmakers in the House tried to slam through the AKLNG bill.

No Alaska experience? No problem. Gov. Dunleavy rehires AG Cox after legislators reject his appointment

Legislators have sparred with Gov. Mike Dunleavy throughout his time in office, especially when it comes to his picks for the state’s boards and commissions.

‘We’re trying.’ Legislators warn AKLNG project may be too large a lift for session’s final days

On Monday, the Alaska Legislature appointed the conference committee on the operating budget, kicking off the 24-hour period that allows meetings to be noticed a day in advance and starting the final mad dash to adjournment on May 20.

Amid shifting enrollment, House OKs bill to smooth funding roller coaster

There are many factors contributing to Alaska’s chronically tight public school district budgets, but one of the big ones is an exodus of students.

Two Southeast Alaska Republicans just made sure Dunleavy’s election bill veto stands

The Alaska Legislature was poised to override another one of Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes this morning.

Like-minded candidates for Alaska’s governor meet in pro-Medicaid forum

The five candidates most likely to be on the short list of progressive and moderate voters in the 2026 race for Alaska’s next governor shared a stage this week for a forum with a decidedly progressive message.

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy vetoes election bill amid pressure campaign driven by GOP anxiety over rural voters

Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy today vetoed the bipartisan elections bill legislators approved in March amid an intense conservative pressure campaign driven by fear that it would empower Alaska Native voters.

Public pension bill clears Senate, marking the first time it’s cleared both chambers

On a 12-8 vote, the Senate on Tuesday approved legislation to reinstate a pension system for the state's public-sector employees, a move that backers say is a key fix to some 20 years of chronic vacancies and experience issues across the state.

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