Alaska housing orgs are prepping more than $200 million in rent relief
The bucket of federal cash is so big, state housing officials think there’s enough to pay rent for everyone eligible — for a year.
As military concerns move to warming Arctic, Army starts annual cold weather training exercise
The 11-day training exercise called Arctic Warrior mainly involves the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Airborne out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Canada’s cruise ship ban fuels more budget angst for Sitka schools
When the Sitka Assembly and the school board met last week to discuss next year’s school district budget, the news from Canada cast considerable uncertainty over how much funding would be available.
After calls for action on social media, Gov. Dunleavy issues emergency declaration for Tuluksak water crisis
The governor’s emergency declaration for Tuluksak frees up $1 million in state relief funds.
Uncommonly cold, windy conditions expected throughout Southeast Alaska
Temperatures will range from zero to five degrees below in Haines, Skagway, Gustavus, and Juneau. Winds will be gusting, prompting wind chills as low as 60 below in White Pass and as low as 40 below in downtown Juneau.
Judge says Conoco can’t start gravel construction or mining at Willow oil project for up to 2 weeks
Conoco had planned to break ground at the gravel mine site on Feb. 12.
Sealaska Heritage lecture series highlights need for more Native researchers
“Anthropologists in the past as well as geneticists in the past, have approached their science in a way that was not inclusive and had colonial tendencies,” said Ripan Malhi, who has been working with Indigenous communities in Southeast Alaska for over a decade.
US and Russia update plan to address marine pollution in Bering, Chukchi seas
One of the major new features of the latest Joint Contingency Plan is the addition of what’s called an international coordination officer.
A journalist live-tweeted a legislator’s false statements about the vaccine. Twitter suspended him.
Twitter says the company erred in suspending Matt Buxton’s account.
‘The laws fail to keep people safe’: Most sexual assault cases in Nome never go to trial
Some experts say an outdated consent statute ensures most sexual assault cases won’t result in convictions in Alaska.
White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad ‘abolishes’ dozens of jobs
It’s the latest blow to Skagway’s tourism-dependent economy, after the Canadian government announced cruise ships will not be welcome in its waters until 2022.
Alaska’s US senators want to thwart Biden’s energy policies. Here’s what they’re trying.
With President Biden issuing executive orders pausing oil and gas leases and permits, Alaska’s U.S. senators are seeing years of their accomplishments erased.
Haines man mauled by bear while backcountry snowboarding
A Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka responded to transport the man to a hospital.
To protect her community, St. Paul mom isolated for 10 weeks before having twins in Anchorage
Alaska women who live in rural and remote communities usually travel to city centers to give birth against incredible geographical odds. COVID-19 can make a hard trip longer and lonelier.
Juneau nursing home outbreak could be a model for what COVID-19 looks like after vaccine
Staff and outside experts attribute the health of these people in the face of their COVID-19 infections primarily to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Nearly 80% of the people who live and work in the facility have received at least one of the shots in the two-shot series.
Students in New Stuyahok practice subsistence skills in the classroom
When New Stuyahok shifted to a mix of in-person and distance learning as a safety precaution, the school took the opportunity to incorporate subsistence into the classroom.
LISTEN: Alaska’s top doctor says misinformation hurts vaccination effort
In part, Dr. Anne Zink is responding to a report this week by the conservative blog Alaska Watchman under the headline, “At least five Alaskans died and 111 suffered adverse reactions after COVID vaccines.”
3 weeks later, still no state disaster relief for Tuluksak water crisis
Gov. Dunleavy has yet to declare a state-level disaster to address Tuluksak’s water crisis. In doing so, he’s holding back up to $1 million in disaster relief funding for the village.
Iditarod cancels 2021 ceremonial start in Anchorage
The sled dog race has called off this year’s 11-mile dash through Anchorage because of coronavirus concerns.
After one-year suspension, criminal jury trials set to resume slowly in state courts
Presiding judge in each judicial district will make a decision based on public health considerations, such as COVID-19 case counts and risk levels in the area. They will also consider other factors related to the particular case or courthouse where the trial will be held.