The politics around reopening Alaska’s economy are getting contentious. But blame isn’t spread uniformly.
Southcentral
Alaska dentists say mandating COVID-19 tests will be obstacle to appointments
State officials said they want to work with the dentists, but point to federal guidelines that dentists are at very high risk of being exposed to the virus.
On Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, businesses hit hard during last summer’s wildfires are facing another season of uncertainty
Now, as business owners look to this season for some sort of normalcy and a chance to recoup financial losses, they’re facing a new challenge: a global pandemic.
As spill response enters third week, oil continues to make its way into Port Valdez
So far, over fifty thousand gallons of oily water have been recovered from Port Valdez from which 590 gallons of pure oil have been recovered.
Inmate at Wasilla prison tests positive for coronavirus
An inmate at the Goose Creek Correctional Center in Wasilla has tested positive for the coronavirus, the first inmate in Alaska’s correctional system to have a positive test.
As Alaska hair salons prepare to reopen, some owners wish they had more notice
Across Alaska, salon owners are figuring out when and how to safely reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.
Restaurants can open, but owners say doing it safely is complicated and many are taking it slow
The risks are high to employees and the public. Logistics are complicated. Rules and best practices are unclear. Safety gear is in short supply.
Economists say more cash aid from the state makes sense, but it may not be as simple as another PFD
While a number of economists have pushed Alaska lawmakers to bring revenues in line with spending over the past few years, many now agree that setting aside normal fiscal discipline during the pandemic is justified.
Alaska is reopening the economy, but protesters took to the streets of Anchorage anyway
There was an underlying sense among protesters that essential civil liberties were being denied because of the city’s and state’s health directives.
Correctional officers in Alaska ask for help to avoid bringing COVID-19 home with them
The statewide union that represents correctional officers is still waiting for more information from the Department of Corrections after asking for help finding temporary housing for officers.