In this newscast: Alaska bars and pools reopen Friday as phase II of the governor’s reopening plan, but only operating at 25 percent capacity; Juneau’s city museum, libraries and pools will remain closed for the time being; The Mat-Su Borough School Board was scheduled yesterday to reconsider its controversial decision to ban five books; In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Unalaska’s on-shore processing plans decide to keep season employees on-island for fishing season.
Pablo Arauz Peña, KTOO
Newscast — Wednesday, May 6, 2020
In this newscast: Carnival Corporation canceled its brand of cruises earlier this week — removing the largest cruise ship industry player in Alaska; The U.S. Treasury and Interior departments will begin dispersing part of an 8 billion dollar Tribal allocation for coronavirus relief; New legislation dials back rate increases for Pioneer Homes which runs Alaska’s six state-run long-term care facilities; Three Alaska boroughs will get considerably more CARES Act funding under a new distribution plan amended by the governor.
What Alaskans learned from ‘the mother of all pandemics’
Newspaper articles paint a gloomy and eerily familiar picture of Juneau during the 1918 flu pandemic: stories of schools shutting down, businesses closing and mandatory self-quarantines.
Please stay on the (punch)line: Callers overwhelm Juneau’s new joke hotline
A gag a day keeps the virus away — or, at least it’ll brighten up your day.
UAS students and teachers cope with lack of physical community
For University of Alaska Southeast students and teachers, transitioning to online learning has not been smooth.
Sealaska pledges $1M for pandemic relief funds to Alaska Native communities
Sealaska Corp. is pledging $1 million to communities of its 22,000 shareholders impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tlingit and Haida launch emergency response center for tribal citizens
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently created an emergency response center to keep tribal citizens updated about the pandemic in the state and across the country.
Tlingit and Haida leaders coordinate pandemic response efforts for citizens
As state, federal and local governments ramp up their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska has sent an emergency declaration to its 31,000 citizens.
Capital Transit asks residents to ride bus only when absolutely necessary
Buses will be limited to 9 people at a time.
UAS students return to class, but most are staying home
Most University of Alaska Southeast students are studying remotely, but a handful of classes with 10 students or less are meeting in person. Students in those classes who want to study from home have that option.