Alaska
Alaska Senate approves austere budget with $1,000 PFD ahead of final negotiations
JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate on Wednesday approved an austere operating budget for the next fiscal year ahead of final negotiations expected with the House.
Legislators are grappling this year with a dire fiscal outlook due to diminished oil revenue. The Legislature is facing a $680 million-plus deficit over two fiscal years based on status quo spending. In response, the Senate has proposed cuts across the board.
The Senate’s budget would pay a $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend and $172 million for a one-time school funding boost, in case a permanent increase is not approved this year.
The Senate approved the spending plan Wednesday on a 16-4 vote.
Republican Senate minority members applauded reductions in the budget before the final vote. But they called for a larger dividend to be paid this year.
All 14 members of the bipartisan Senate majority voted for the budget, alongside Republican minority Sens. Mike Cronk and James Kaufman. Four GOP minority members — Sens. Mike Shower, Shelley Hughes, Rob Yundt and Robert Myers — voted no.
In December, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed a budget with a statutory $3,900 dividend that was anticipated to lead to a roughly $2 billion deficit. Dunleavy also proposed around $60 million in additions to the budget that were rejected by the Senate. On Tuesday, Dunleavy formally requested that lawmakers withdraw most of his spending requests, citing a “precipitous” drop in state revenue.
Members of the bipartisan Senate majority have favored new revenue measures, and opposed using savings, to balance the budget. The Legislature approved a bill Wednesday that was intended to raise revenue by taxing out-of-state businesses that operate online. But the House has shown little appetite for other Senate bills that would hike oil taxes.
Bethel Democratic Sen. Lyman Hoffman, who manages the Senate’s operating budget, said this year’s spending plan was preparing for fiscal “headwinds” that could hit Alaska. He cited potential deep cuts at a federal level and diminishing oil revenue. He said that the state’s fiscal outlook could be even more dire next year.

“We all wish we could provide all the services that every Alaskan desires, but that is not reality. The bottom line is our constituents want and deserve more,” he said.
The Senate’s budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 would make reductions across state agencies. It includes $25 million in cuts to the Department of Corrections, around $15 million in cuts to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., and $12 million in reductions to the Department of Public Safety by rejecting Dunleavy’s plans to reopen an Alaska State Troopers post in Talkeetna, along with additional Village Public Safety Officers in the Arctic.
Some of the Senate’s proposed cuts have proven controversial. Child care advocates are urging the Legislature to keep at least $14 million in the budget for subsidies and grants for a sector in crisis.
Wasilla Republican Sen. Shower, the Senate minority leader, voted no on the budget, but he joined his colleagues in thanking the majority for a collaborative process. He said the state’s fiscal picture meant the Senate Finance Committee was “handed a bag of lemons and was told to make lemons.” But he said that he remained concerned how the state’s budget would be sustainable in the long term.
The Senate’s budget is substantially different from one approved by the House last month. The House’s budget was projected to have a roughly $250 million deficit. It includes a $1,400 dividend and a backup, one-time, $253 million increase in school funding. The Legislature in April failed to override Dunleavy’s veto of a school funding boost of that size.
Lawmakers noted that the Senate’s $1,000 PFD would be the smallest dividend ever paid to Alaskans when adjusted for inflation. But it would free up $264 million in revenue for other spending.
The Republican Senate minority proposed a handful of amendments. Most were withdrawn before a vote was held.
Shower proposed the same $1,400 dividend as the House, which follows the “75-25” formula where three-quarters of an annual draw from the Permanent Fund goes to the state services, and the rest goes to the dividend.
The $1,400 PFD would be paid by overdrawing the Permanent Fund beyond an annual limit in state law that is intended to protect the fund. Shower’s amendment was rejected along caucus lines on a 14-6 vote.
North Pole Republican Sen. Myers suggested that overdrawing the Permanent Fund would not necessarily be “a bad thing.” He said that would help the Legislature prioritize the private sector over the public sector.
The Senate’s budget bill now heads to the House for a concurrence vote. The House could agree to the Senate’s changes to the budget or reject them and continue negotiations.
Typically, a conference committee hammers out differences between the two legislative chambers’ budgets. That way, the same budget bill can pass through both chambers and onto Dunleavy’s desk for his consideration.
Senators said that they expect a budget conference committee to start its work next week. The regular legislative session must end by midnight of May 21.
Alaska
Alaska Sports Scoreboard: Feb. 28, 2026
High school
Basketball
Girls
Monday
Kenai Central 63, Nikiski 33
Colony 68, Grace Christian 46
Tuesday
South 33, East 22
Service 62, Dimond 47
Redington 47, Houston 17
Wasilla 60, Mountain City Christian Academy 44
Kenai Central 54, Homer 27
Bartlett 53, Chugiak 29
Mt. Edgecumbe 59, Sitka 50
Wednesday
Shishmaref 82, Aniguiin 34
Shaktoolik 73, Anthony Andrews 25
Savoonga 61, White Mountain 56
Glennallen 68, Nenana 26
Seward 72, Houston 8
Service 65, South 26
Brevig Mission 65, Koyuk Malimiut 47
Chief Ivan Blunka 67, Manokotak 30
Thursday
White Mountain 76, Anthony Andrews 50
Hoonah 44, Skagway 21
Koyuk Malimiut 53, Aniguiin 51
Nunamiut 74, Kali 17
Glennallen 25, Delta 20
Birchwood Christian 42, Nanwalek 24
Ninilchik 33, Lumen Christi 30
Dimond 59, Chugiak 54
Shaktoolik 57, Savoonga 24
Colony 43, Mountain City Christian 41
Alak 67, Meade River 66
Lathrop 42, West Valley 34
Seward 78, Nikiski 32
Grace Christian 56, Soldotna 41
Kenai Central 56, Houston 10
Wasilla 72, Palmer 27
Bristol Bay 55, Chief Ivan Blunka 30
Nome-Beltz 33, Bethel 24
Scammon Bay 46, Ignatius Beans 28
Aniak 83, Akiachak 45
Shishmaref 53, Brevig Mission 51
Metlakatla 64, Haines 21
Friday
Chief Ivan Blunka 68, Togiak 38
Meade River 80, Nuiqsut Trapper 34
Nunamiut 68, Alak 50
Cook Inlet Academy 33, Birchwood Christian 32
Meade River 71, Kali 46
Kalskag 62, Akiachak 47
Hoonah 39, Kake 37
Soldotna 36, Palmer 23
Delta 54, Valdez 45
Unalakleet 61, Chevak 45
Minto 46, Hutchison 26
West 71, Bartlett 65
Seward 63, Homer 19
North Pole 61, West Valley 25
Newhalen 78, Chief Ivan Blunka 40
Birchwood Christian 43, Nanwalek 28
Bethel 42, Nome-Beltz 35
Aniak 65, Tuluksak 50
Scammon Bay 49, St. Mary’s 38
Monroe Catholic 84, Galena 42
Ketchikan 57, Redington 24
Meade River 69, Alak 62
Fort Yukon 60, Jimmy Huntington 19
Grace Christian 50, Kenai Central 45
Shaktoolik 44, Shishmaref 34
Wrangell 44, Petersburg 31
Saturday
Unalakleet 41, Chevak 37
Meade River 54, Nunamiut 51
Monroe Catholic 68, Galena 32
Newhalen 32, Bristol Bay 26
Cook Inlet Academy 65, Birchwood Christian 32
Soldotna 55, Palmer 42
Nunamiut 48, Meade River 46
Boys
Sunday
SISD 51, Yakutat 18
Monday
Eagle River 54, Birchwood Christian 52
Colony 69, Grace Christian 64
Kenai Central 68, Nikiski 30
Tuesday
Susitna Valley 48, Lumen Christi 46
Dimond 54, Service 47
South 50, East 46
Houston 53, Redington 40
Wasilla 63, Mountain City Christian Academy 50
Kenai Central 74, Homer 47
Chugiak 66, Bartlett 45
Wednesday
SISD 59, Yakutat 17
Shishmaref 85, Savoonga 45
Hydaburg 58, Hoonah 51
Shaktoolik 103, Martin L Olson 49
Skagway 68, Gustavus 24
Davis-Romoth 108, Kobuk 31
Klawock 68, SISD 27
Glennallen 61, Nenana 57
Gambell 46, James C Isabell 31
South 63, Service 60
Seward 81, Houston 73
Bristol Bay 80, Chief Ivan Blunka 61
Mt. Edgecumbe 68, Sitka 59
Scammon Bay 79, Ignatius Beans 34
Brevig Mission 73, Aniguiin 67
Thursday
Savoonga 69, James C Isabell 61
Hoonah 64, Yakutat 45
Alak 88, Meade River 38
Shaktoolik 110, Brevig Mission 30
Chief Ivan Blunka 62, Tanalian 39
Nunamiut 66, Kali 48
Davis-Romoth 91, Buckland 45
Ninilchik 83, Lumen Christi 38
Monroe Catholic 43, North Pole 42
King Cove 57, Bristol Bay 41
Metlakatla 52, Haines 46
Nome-Beltz 62, Bethel 45
Skagway 79, Angoon 30
Birchwood Christian 69, Nanwalek 63
Dimond 60, Chugiak 57
Colony 75, Mountain City Christian Academy 49
Wasilla 66, Palmer 40
Klawock 63, Hydaburg 49
Shishmaref 58, Gambell 47
Grace Christian 63, Soldotna 52
Seward 66, Nikiski 51
Kenai Central 61, Houston 48
Nuiqsut Trapper 64, Alak 51
West Valley 51, Lathrop 44
Akiachak 83, Akiak 64
Scammon Bay 62, Marshall 54
Friday
Hoonah 71, SISD 38
Hydaburg 61, Kake 50
Chief Ivan Blunka 73, Bristol Bay 68
Kali 63, Meade River 45
Nunamiut 80, Nuiqsut Trapper 62
Service 58, East 50
Angoon 61, Hoonah 56
Cook Inlet Academy 73, Birchwood Christian 34
King Cove 75, Newhalen 39
Petersburg 53, Wrangell 20
Skagway 46, Klawock 43
Metlakatla 50, Haines 42
Nome-Beltz 71, Bethel 43
Juneau-Douglas 67, Tri-Valley 45
Wasilla 73, Chugiak 43
West 83, Bartlett 36
Colony 73, Kodiak 32
Delta 62, Valdez 54
West Valley 72, North Pole 46
Palmer 57, Soldotna 47
Nenana 55, Cordova 53
Chief Ivan Blunka 63, Manokotak 48
Scammon Bay 67, St. Mary’s 54
Unalakleet 87, Chevak 64
Shaktoolik 73, Shishmaref 54
Saturday
Unalakleet 95, Chevak 44
Cook Inlet Academy 95, Birchwood Christian 50
South 73, Eagle River 35
Palmer 45, Soldotna 40
• • •
College
Hockey
Friday
UAF 2, UAA 0
Saturday
UAA vs. UAF (Late)
• • •
Women’s basketball
Thursday
UAA 79, Western Oregon 58
Saint Martin’s 99, UAF 59
Saturday
Western Oregon 73, UAF 58
UAA vs. Saint Martin’s (Late)
• • •
Men’s basketball
Thursday
Saint Martin’s 77, UAF 65
UAA 80, Western Oregon 59
Saturday
UAF 82, Western Oregon 74
UAA vs. Saint Martin’s (Late)
• • •
NAHL
Friday
Anchorage Wolverines 5, Chippewa Steel 4
Saturday
Anchorage Wolverines vs. Chippewa Steel (Late)
• • •
2026 Fur Rondy Frostbite Footrace
5K Women
1. Courtney Spann, Anchorage, AK 26:05; 2. Racheal Kerr, Alakanuk, AK 26:07; 3. Anne-Marie Meyer, Yakima, WA 27:06; 4. Riann Anderson, Anchorage, AK 27:09; 5. Nevaeh Dunlap, Anchorage, AK 27:47; 6. Rita McKenzie, Anchorage, AK 27:55; 7. Marta Burke, Anchorage, AK 28:08; 8. Rachel Penney, Eagle River, AK 29:24; 9. Victoria Grant, Eagle River, AK 29:33; 10. Gretchen Klein, Craig, AK 29:36; 11. Penny Wasem, Willow, AK 29:42; 12. Chantel Van Tress, JBER, AK 29:51; 13. Janet Johnston, Anchorage, AK 30:18; 14. Dianna Clemetson, Anchorage, AK 31:33; 15. Sarah Hoepfner, Anchorage, AK 32:02; 16. Ireland Hicks, Seward, AK 33:21; 17. Lilly Schoonover, Seward, AK 33:21; 18. Suzanne Smerjac, Anchorage, AK 33:32; 19. Mindy Perdue, Wasilla, AK 34:12; 20. Oxana Bystrova, Anchorage, AK 34:23; 21. Charlene Canino, Anchorage, AK 34:49; 22. Tami Todd, Wasilla, AK 34:50; 23. Kaiena Tuiloma, Anchorage, AK 34:57; 24. Meg Kurtagh, Anchorage, AK 35:05; 25. Larue Groves, Chugiak, AK 35:13; 26. Rose Van Hemert, Anchorage, AK 36:12; 27. Morgan Daniels, Crestview, FL 36:25; 28. Elle Kauppi, Anchorage, AK 37:31; 29. Miranda Gibson, Wasilla, AK 37:46; 30. Caroline Secoy, JBER, AK 37:46; 31. Jordyn McNeil, Palmer, AK 38:29; 32. Ryan Plant, Palmer, AK 38:30; 33. Samantha Williams, Anchorage, AK 39:00; 34. Wendy Heck, Willow, AK 39:33; 35. Stephanie Kesler, Anchorage, AK 43:29; 36. Denise Wright, Anchorage, AK 43:50; 37. Brie Flores, Anchorage, AK 46:14; 38. Anabell Lewis, Anchorage, AK 46:15; 39. Jessica Lose, Anchorage, AK 46:18; 40. Kaylie Bylsma, Anchorage, AK 46:18; 41. Alicyn Giannakos, Anchorage, AK 46:38; 42. Natasha Henderson, Anchorage, AK 46:39; 43. Shannon Thompson, Anchorage, AK 48:40; 44. Heather Holcomb, Palmer, AK 48:40; 45. Debora Milligan, Iron Mountain, MI 57:36; 46. Rondy McKee, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, 57:37
5K Men
1. James Miller, Anchorage, AK 18:28; 2. Barefoot Bogey, Woburn, MA 18:37; 3. Keaden Dunlap, Anchorage, AK 19:22; 4. Maximus Tagle-Martinez, JBER, AK 20:03; 5. Gavin Hanks, Eagle River, AK 20:59; 6. Patrick McAnally, Anchorage, AK 21:37; 7. Anthony Gomez, Anchorage, AK 22:37; 8. Christopher Hilliard, JBER, AK 23:20; 9. Terry Schimon, University Place, WA 23:37; 10. Ryan Moldenhauer, Anchorage, AK 24:12; 11. Matthew Haney, Anchorage, AK 24:24; 12. Dan Burke, Anchorage, AK 25:44; 13. Paul Chandanabhumma, Seattle, WA 25:52; 14. Woods Miller, Wasilla, AK 26:51; 15. Bill Grether, Anchorage, AK 27:10; 16. Charles Simmons, Anchorage, AK 27:15; 17. Jacob Cassianni, Anchorage, AK 27:32; 18. John Brewer, Anchorage, AK 28:09; 19. Dustin Whitcomb, Eagle River, AK 28:14; 20. Greg MacDonald, Anchorage, AK 28:28; 21. Kevin Redmond, Anchorage, AK 28:38; 22. Olin Jensen, Anchorage, AK 28:45; 23. Michael Loughlin, Anchorage, AK 29:18; 24. Daryl Schaffer, Anchorage, AK 30:30; 25. Aaron Paul, Anchorage, AK 30:37; 26. Mark Ireland, Anchorage, AK 30:37; 27. Christopher Pineda, Eagle River, AK 30:39; 28. Eric Jostsons, Anchorage, AK 31:07; 29. Justin Fitzgerald, Anchorage, AK 31:36; 30. Steve Lambert, Anchorage, AK 32:09; 31. Justin Atteberry, Anchorage, AK 32:21; 32. Matthew Beardsley, Anchorage, AK 34:07; 33. Caleb Penney, Eagle River, AK 34:21; 34. Evgenii Ivanov, Anchorage, AK 34:22; 35. Eliezer Rivera, Anchorage, AK 35:12; 36. David Massey, Anchorage, AK 35:38; 37. Zachary Todd, Wasilla, AK 35:39; 38. Ed Hills, Anchorage, AK 36:52; 39. Chucky Williams, Anchorage, AK 36:54; 40. Rick Taylor, Wasilla, AK 39:32; 41. Steven Shamburek, Anchorage, AK 43:48; 42. Dave Jones, Anchorage, AK 46:46; 43. Tom Meacham, Anchorage, AK 46:47; 44. Russell Martin, Ventura, CA 47:34; 45. David Martin, Ventura, CA 47:45; 46. Zachary Lounsberry, Palmer, AK 48:41
2.5K Women
1. Kelsey Kramer, Wilmington, NC 13:50; 2. Alannah Dunlap, Anchorage, AK 15:09; 3. Kelsea Johnson, Anchorage, AK 15:45; 4. Kirsten Kling, Anchorage, AK 16:05; 5. Miriam Hayes, Anchorage, AK 16:55; 6. Brianna Slayback, Anchorage, AK 17:04; 7. Haley Hoffman, Alexandria, VA 18:01; 8. Kathryn Hoke, Anchorage, AK 18:32; 9. Rachel Stein, Palmer, AK 18:51; 10. Shayla Harrison, Anchorage, AK 19:29; 11. Danielle Harrison, Anchorage, AK 19:30; 12. Nikki Withers, Tacoma, WA 19:32; 13. Michele Robuck, Anchorage, AK 20:20; 14. Jess Adams, Anchorage, AK 20:20; 15. Ashley Martinez, Miami, FL 20:24; 16. Laura Casanover, Houston, TX 20:31; 17. Adylaine Hacker, Eagle River, AK 21:59; 18. Mary Stutzman, Tallahassee, FL 22:59; 19. Jean Bielawski, Anchorage, AK 23:24; 20. Cheryl Parmelee, Mount Dora, FL 25:45; 21. Ruth Anderson, Anchorage, AK 26:56; 22. Morgan Withers, Tacoma, WA 27:17; 23. Terri Agee, Anchorage, AK 27:31; 24. Chyll Perry, Anchorage, AK 27:35; 25. Denice Withers, Yakima, WA 28:09; 26. Sarah Camacho, Anchorage, AK 28:20; 27. Katheryn Camacho, Anchorage, AK 28:21; 28. Brooke Whitcomb, Eagle River, AK 28:41; 29. Kristine Withers, Tacoma, WA 31:19; 30. Penny Helgeson, Anchorage, AK 33:56; 31. Kimberly Halstead, Eagle River, AK 34:02; 32. Julianna Halstead, Eagle River, AK 34:09
2.5K Men
1. Riley Howard, Anchorage, AK 10:54; 2. Julian Salao, Anchorage, AK 12:26; 3. Mitch Paisker, Anchorage, AK 16:05; 4. Kaden Bartholomew, Anchorage, AK 16:24; 5. Brandon Bartholomew, Anchorage, AK 16:25; 6. Michael Hayes, Anchorage, AK 16:30; 7. Calvin Stein, Anchorage, AK 18:51; 8. Jesse Ackerson, Anchorage, AK 19:42; 9. Clinton Hacker, Eagle River, AK 21:59; 10. Daniel Hjortstorp, Gakona, AK 22:20; 11. Atlas Hjortstorp, Gakona, AK 22:20; 12. Craig Withers, Tacoma, WA 27:18; 13. Jordan Ralph, Tacoma, WA 27:19; 14. Scott King, Anchorage, AK 28:20; 15. Shawn Withers, Yakima, WA 31:18; 16. John Ruthe, Anchorage, AK 35:53
Alaska
Erica Totland, of Yakutat, Sentenced for Manslaughter
(Juneau, AK) – On Friday, February 20, 2026, Juneau Superior Court Judge Amy Mead sentenced 41-year-old Erica Totland to 14 years with 7 years suspended for Manslaughter, Assault in the Third Degree, and Driving Under the Influence. Totland will be on probation for 5 years upon her release from incarceration.
In 2025 Totland pled guilty to Manslaughter, three counts of Assault in the Third Degree, and one count of Driving Under the Influence. The convictions stem from the April 30, 2022 death of 26-year-old Anton Eriksson and injuries sustained by three passengers in Yakutat. During pre-trial litigation, Judge Mead suppressed toxicology results after finding the seizure of Totland’s blood by Yakutat Police Department without a warrant violated Totland’s rights.
At sentencing, Judge Mead rejected Totland’s request that the court find the Manslaughter was a least serious offense deserving of a lower sentence. Four Eriksson family members testified at the sentencing and discussed the impact that Totland’s actions had on their family.
Assistant Attorney General Daniel K. Shorey of the Office of Special Prosecutions prosecuted the case along with Paralegal Marley Hettinger of the Juneau District Attorney’s Office.
CONTACT: Assistant Attorney General Daniel K. Shorey, at (907) 269-6250 or daniel.shorey@alaska.gov.
# # #
Alaska
Musician performs under the aurora in Nenana — without gloves, in 17 degrees
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A musician with Alaska Native roots recorded an hour-long live set in Interior Alaska beneath the aurora.
Chastity Ashley, a drummer, vocalist and DJ who performs under the name Neon Pony, celebrated a year since she traveled to Nenana to record a live music set beneath the northern lights for her series Beats and Hidden Retreats.
Ashley, who has Indigenous roots in New Mexico, said she was drawn to Alaska in part because of the role drums play in Alaska Native culture. A handmade Alaskan hand drum, brought to her by a man from just outside Anchorage, was incorporated into the performance in February 2025.
Recording in the cold
The team spent eight days in Nenana waiting for the aurora to appear. Ashley said the lights did not come out until around 4 a.m., and she performed a continuous, uninterrupted hour-long set in 17-degree weather without gloves.
“It was freezing. I couldn’t wear gloves because I’m actually playing, yeah, hand drums and holding drumsticks. And there was ice underneath my feet,” Ashley said.
“So, I had to really utilize my balance and my willpower and my ability to just really immerse in the music and let go and make it about the celebration of what I was doing as opposed to worrying about all the other elements or what could go wrong.”
She said she performed in a leotard to allow full range of motion while drumming, DJing and singing.
Filming on Nenana tribal land
Ashley said she did not initially know the filming location was on indigenous land. After local authorities told her the decision was not theirs to make, she contacted the Nenana tribe directly for permission.
“I went into it kind of starting to tell them who I was and that I too was a part of a native background,” Ashley said. “And they just did not even care. They’re like, listen, we’re about to have a party for one of our friends here. Go and do what you like.”
Ashley said the tribe gave her full permission to film on the reservation, and that the aurora footage seen in the episode was captured there.
Seeing the aurora for the first time
Ashley said the Nenana performance marked her first time seeing the northern lights in person.
“It felt as if I were awake in a dream,” she said. “It really doesn’t seem real.”
She said she felt humbled and blessed to perform beneath the aurora and to celebrate its beauty and grandeur through her music.
“I feel incredibly humbled and blessed that not only did I get to take part in seeing something like that, but to play underneath it and celebrate its beauty and its grandeur.”
The Alaska episode is the second installment of Beats and Hidden Retreats, which is available on YouTube at @NeonPony. Ashley said two additional episodes are in production and she hopes to make it back up to Alaska in the future.
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