The opioid epidemic caused U.S. life expectancy to fall for the second year in a row, marking the first time that has happened since the early 1960s. Death rates also continued to rise.
Government
Spending bill allocates $200M for Fort Greely interceptors
Congress passed a short-term spending bill today that includes one longer-term project for Alaska: the bill allocates $200 million to build a fourth field of underground missile silos at Fort Greely, near Fairbanks.
Trump lauds Arctic Refuge passage; Young: ‘We finally got it done’
Alaska’s members of Congress celebrated their success Wednesday in opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. The measure passed in the Republican tax bill with a final vote in the House.
State’s latest water quality report has bad news for popular Kenai River
Each time the state puts out its water quality report, there’s good news and there’s bad news.
U.N. votes overwhelmingly to condemn U.S. decision on Jerusalem
By a 128-9 vote Thursday, the General Assembly rejected a U.S. decree that recognized the disputed city as Israel’s capital. “The United States will remember this day,” Ambassador Nikki Haley warned.
Juneau revisits scrapping eagle nest protections
A similar effort stalled in 2012 following public outcry. City staff say the problem now is there aren’t enough federal biologists to map eagles’ nests, so enforcement is inconsistent.
Can an Alaska lawmaker restore net neutrality in the state?
Alaska could join the ranks of states fighting to restore net neutrality. The Walker-Mallott administration has no immediate plans, but one lawmaker does.
Arctic Refuge drilling bill passes Congress
Alaska’s members of Congress are celebrating their success in opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. “We finally got it done,” U.S. Rep Don Young said minutes after the bill passed the House Wednesday afternoon.
Distracted dogging: Legal in most states, controversial in all
Those happy dogs sitting in a driver’s lap or hanging their heads out the car window may look like the model of canine companionship. But they’re also potential projectiles, poised to rocket through the air if there’s a crash.
ACLU won’t challenge Anchorage Assembly’s modified anti-camping measure
Earlier this month, the Anchorage Assembly voted on a measure designed to curb illegal camping in the city’s parks and wooded areas. The move reduces the number of days people have to vacate a camp from 15 to 10.