Several state buildings close due to fears of violence before inauguration
Last week, the FBI warned about the potential for violence before the inauguration of Joe Biden, though police departments in Anchorage and Juneau have said they are not aware of any specific threats.
Trump administration issues Arctic refuge oil leases at the last minute
Locking in the oil and gas leases could make it more difficult for Biden’s administration to reverse course.
After a year of dramatic lows, Alaska sees modest climb in oil prices
There is still great uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and oil demand, making it impossible to predict what prices will look like in the months ahead.
Sun sets on Bethel’s Video World
One of the last remaining video stores in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta closed up shop on Jan. 10 after holding on for a remarkably long time.
Yakutat police department’s updated use-of-force policy addresses chokeholds and de-escalation tactics
The policy changes promote the use of de-escalation techniques, tell officers to seek medical care when needed, and require them to terminate force as soon as a person is compliant.
Haines area residents are getting vaccinated at nearly 10 times the national rate
Over the course of two days, the Haines Health Center ceased normal appointments to give about 600 people from Haines and Klukwan their first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Dunleavy appoints Ed Sniffen as attorney general, pending lawmakers’ approval
Sniffen had filled the position in an acting capacity since former Attorney General Kevin Clarkson resigned in August.
Proposal would allow Alaska lawmakers to vote remotely this session
The new system would allow lawmakers to vote from the regional legislative information offices, or from their homes if they are quarantined or isolated.
Progressive groups call for removal of Rep. Eastman and other Alaska lawmakers who challenged presidential election results
“As a state legislator he has a special responsibility not to do that kind of thing,” said Hodes. “He’s just in gross violation of the oath of office that he took as a legislator, not to mention the oath that all of us former officers swore when we were commissioned in the Army.”
Alaska National Guard members head to Washington, D.C., to help with security for Biden inauguration
Alaska’s volunteers will join some 25,000 other Guard members from other states for the 58th presidential inauguration, which is scheduled to begin at noon Wednesday.
Red Dog Mine employee dies in production drill incident, mine operators say
A spokesman for Teck said the federal Mining Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident, and the only information they could provide was that the employee was male.
Despite warnings of violence, no one showed up to protest at Alaska’s Capitol, armed or otherwise
It was a quiet day outside of the Capitol, where it rained through most of the afternoon. It also was quiet inside the Capitol, where lawmakers were meeting in small groups as they attempted to form majority caucuses in both chambers.
Worth the wait: More than 1,000 people in Juneau vaccinated against COVID-19 during weekend clinic
By the end of the weekend, City Emergency Manager Robert Barr said about 10% of Juneau’s eligible population would be vaccinated.
Free legal help line in Alaska expects lots of pandemic related questions this year
Because of COVID-19, this year’s free legal clinic for Alaskans will be done differently and it will likely tackle issues related to the pandemic.
Douglas students return to school, but some families are opting out
About 1,200 — or one-third — of students have returned to face-to-face classes this week.
Yukon birders excited about rare ‘lifer’ species that made its way from Japan this winter
Hawfinch sightings in Haines Junction are a first for the Yukon Territory and a first for Canada.
Pitney to serve as interim University of Alaska President until 2022
The UA Board of Regents is extending Pat Pitney’s contract as interim president until the spring of 2022, when it will resume searching for a permanent president.
Haines Health Center offering COVID-19 vaccine to all adult patients
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is now offering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone over the age of 18 in Haines who wants one. Vaccinations for the expanded pool of patients will begin this week.
Federal government moves toward Cook Inlet oil lease sale
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is planning to solicit bids on over 1 million acres in the inlet’s federal waters, which includes anything more than three miles offshore.
Poll: Nearly half of Alaska Republicans won’t get COVID-19 vaccine
National experts have warned that hesitancy to take the vaccine could undermine how effective the overall vaccination effort is.