Accountability journalism from Palmer, Alaska. No corporate owners. No ideology. Just the reporting Alaska deserves.
Over the past three fiscal years, the Mat-Su Borough has awarded more than $47 million in contracts without competitive bidding. Our investigation reveals a pattern of repeat vendors, missing documentation, and oversight gaps that raise serious questions about how public money is spent.
The Mat-Su Borough School District, serving Alaska's fastest-growing region, faces a funding crisis that jeopardizes education delivery and facilities maintenance. Our investigation reveals a $23 million budget shortfall rooted in inadequate state education funding — and the political pressure that prevents districts from raising local revenue.
Alaska's development authority commissioned a $250,000 independent study to refute critics—then buried it for two years and demanded revisions.
A $43.4 million Department of Defense grant to a U.S. subsidiary of Australian mining company Nova Minerals. A 100-mile state road corridor that would run straight to the company's mineral claims. A governor who toured the mine site with his DOT commissioner and Nova Minerals executives — then removed advisory board members who opposed the road. Alaska Frontier Report investigates who benefits from the West Susitna Access Road.
Palmer's city government has systematically awarded contracts at above-market rates to the same handful of vendors, sometimes without seeking competitive bids. Our analysis of five years of procurement records reveals how a mid-sized Alaska city spent an extra $275,000 on routine services — and who benefited.
A mother's worst fear crystallized on October 14, 2025, at an Endicott Street apartment in Anchorage. Her daughter—fifteen years old—was missing. The girl had told her she was going to a birthday celebration.
Federal lobbying disclosures and state records reveal that Pebble Limited Partnership has spent more than $12 million on lobbying efforts since the EPA vetoed its Clean Water Act permit in 2023 — money aimed at congressional allies, state legislators, and a long-shot legal strategy.
The Glenn Highway connects Mat-Su's 100,000+ residents to Anchorage. It's also been under near-constant construction for over a decade, with cost overruns, contractor disputes, and project delays that have added years and tens of millions to the original plans.
Alaska State Troopers are the only law enforcement in more than 70 communities across the state. Our analysis of dispatch records reveals average response times exceeding four hours in some regions, with some calls going unanswered for days.
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