Articles written by Sean Maguire


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  • Alaska's lieutenant governor plans recount of narrowly defeated ranked choice voting repeal measure

    Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News|Nov 28, 2024

    Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom said Monday that she intends to recount a narrowly defeated ballot initiative to repeal ranked choice voting and open primaries. After a final ballot count last week, Ballot Measure 2 was defeated 49.9% to 50.1%. The repeal effort failed by 664 votes. “Alaska law ensures the integrity of our elections, and with results as close as these, a recount will be conducted as outlined by statute,” Dahlstrom said in a prepared statement. Under Alaska law, the state will pay for a recount in races where the margin is les...

  • Postal Service proposes new, higher-cost zone for Alaska and Hawaii

    Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News|Dec 21, 2023

    Alaskans could pay significantly more next year for mailing packages to, from and within the state with two price increases planned by the U.S. Postal Service. In an effort to reduce its projected $160 billion loss over the next 10 years, the Postal Service announced it is planning a 5.7% average nationwide price hike in 2024 for some shipping options. Customers using USPS Ground Advantage for shipping within Alaska would see a 9.2% average increase. The price increases are set to take effect Jan. 21, but some Alaska mailing rates from Outside...

  • Fishermen tell federal official loss of king troll season will be 'a disaster'

    Sean Maguire and Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News|Jun 15, 2023

    More than 100 salmon trollers packed a Sitka meeting on June 7 with sharp questions about the future of their fishery, facing what could be an unprecedented full shutdown of this year’s chinook trolling season. “I’m optimistic, but I’m also scared as heck,” said Eric Jordan, a lifelong fisherman and Sitka resident at the standing room-only meeting with federal National Marine Fisheries Service officials. The closure of the king salmon fishery in Southeast would be economically devastating, according to many in the region who rely on the valua...

  • Alaska Legislature called into special session after House adjourns without final budget vote

    Iris Samuels and Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News|May 18, 2023

    JUNEAU — The Alaska Legislature is set to start a special session Thursday morning after failing to reach agreement on state budget by the midnight deadline on Wednesday that marked the end of the annual regular session. The House adjourned Wednesday at 9 p.m. without taking a vote on passing a budget, three hours after the Senate sent them their take-it-or-leave it spending plan. The decision by the Republican-dominated House majority led Gov. Mike Dunleavy to call for a 30-day special session to continue budget talks. That session is set t...