Western

Four communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta currently have community spread of the coronavirus and 31 communities have had at least one COVID-19 case. 

As scandals force Alaska politicians to resign, nowhere have the accusations been more severe than a remote rural district where male leaders are proving to be part of the very problems they’re supposed to be solving.

In a village of just over a thousand residents, almost 20% of the population has now been infected with the coronavirus.

In the past week, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation has announced over 180 new cases of COVID-19 in Chevak.

Stebbins has one of the Norton Sound region’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks. It also lacks running water, which is forcing the community to get creative with sanitation measures.

Northern and Northwest Alaska now have the highest case rates in the state.

A majority of the work group looked favorably on a controversial new ferry terminal at Juneau’s Cascade Point. Proponents say it would shave two hours of travel time on runs up Lynn Canal, allowing dayboats to complete the round trip voyage between Juneau, Haines and Skagway within a 12-hour window.

Gambell has instituted a hunker down mandate asking all residents to remain at home for two weeks.

One fisheries advocate says it’s been an especially tough year, with high water impeding fishing for much of the summer and runs coming in weak, particularly the fall chums.

One of the jets had a mechanical problem in flight while returning from a military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region.