The Assembly Finance Committee will meet tonight at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss potential school bond projects, visitor industry revenue, and local grant funding. Twelve organizations are seeking a combined $1.4 million from the city, including a $500,000 request from the Juneau Community Foundation. Assembly member Wade Bryson told News of the North the city’s support helps meet needs that would otherwise go unmet.

The Alaska Senate passed Senate Bill 39 Tuesday, removing a legal exception that allowed payday lenders to charge rates above the state’s 36% APR cap. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Forrest Dunbar, aims to protect Alaskans from predatory short-term lending, where some rates have reached over 500%. The legislation now moves to the House.

Freddy Hamilton III has been inducted into the Alaska School Activities Association Class of 2025 Hall of Fame. A standout basketball player from 2001 to 2003, Hamilton helped lead his team to a state championship and earned multiple tournament honors. He continues to play in Juneau’s annual Gold Medal Tournament and is the grandson of ASAA Hall of Famer Herb Didrickson.

Congressman Nick Begich announced he raised over $824,000 in the first quarter of 2025, with support from more than 21,000 individual donors. The average contribution was $38. Begich defeated Mary Peltola in 2024 despite her significant fundraising advantage. With Peltola reportedly eyeing the governor’s race, it’s still unclear who Democrats will run against Begich.

Russian military aircraft entered the Air Defense Identification Zone off Alaska on Monday. NORAD tracked the planes but did not intercept them, noting they did not enter U.S. or Canadian airspace. The ADIZ extends about 150 miles from U.S. territory, where aircraft are required to identify themselves.

The Senate unanimously passed SB 40, which would designate September 15 to October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Alaska. The bill now moves to the House. Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson said the month honors the independence of several Latin American countries, including Mexico and five Central American nations.