
CDC clears the way for vaccinations for children 6 months to 5 years old
An independent panel of advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Saturday to recommend vaccinating all children in the age group with one of two separate COVID-19 vaccines.

Companies are selling Juneteenth branded products. Here’s why that’s a big problem
Brands and companies are working to remove their Juneteenth items from shelves, as experts say those who are selling Juneteenth-branded products are “tone-deaf.”

There’s a nationwide Sriracha shortage, and climate change may be to blame
The company that makes Sriracha told customers it will have to stop making the sauce for the next few months due to “severe weather conditions affecting the quality of chili peppers.”

After weeks of heated debate, a drag queen read a book to children at Ketchikan’s public library for the first time
Children of all ages turned out for the Ketchikan Public Library’s first-ever drag queen storytime after city leaders declined to cancel the controversial event.

‘The day America decided to do the right thing’: Juneteenth celebration planned for Juneau
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that Texas slaves finally learned they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Floor sealant given to students was delivered to food warehouse by mistake, Juneau School District says
The district did not say who delivered the pallet of floor sealant.

Mat-Su schools’ ban on transgender girl athletes raises concern for ACLU, may violate federal law
Multiple federal agencies affirm the rights of transgender people.

Peltola strengthens hold on 4th place in latest US House ballot count
The Associated Press now estimates that nearly 90% of the vote is counted.

Special election results prompt losing candidates to consider dropping out of regular US House election, too
Finishers outside the top four in the special primary are pondering dropping out of the regular election.

Ketchikan City Council declines to cancel drag queen reading at library
Ketchikan’s city attorney canceling the event could violate the state’s civil rights law and the First Amendment in addition to the city’s antidiscrimination ordinance.

Alaska never saw large tundra fires like the East Fork Fire until climate change provided more fuel
The East Fork Fire in Western Alaska is the state’s largest at the moment, and it’s burning in a region where, just a couple decades ago, large fires would not have been expected at all.

Alaska’s only b-girl claims her spot on the world stage
Bri “Snap1” Pritchard is working toward a spot in the first U.S. Olympic team for breaking. It’s the pinnacle of a journey over a decade in the making.
It’s not just you: Tampons are harder to find — and pricier
Many women say store shelves that once had the menstrual essentials have been sparse for months. When they are available, tampons have been a lot more expensive recently, due in part to inflation.

About 1 in 8 rural Alaska ballots have been rejected in special primary, raising red flags with lawmakers
A group of state lawmakers is raising red flags about the number of ballots rejected in the special U.S. House primary.

Large portion of unexpected Alaska deaths in 2020 and 2021 directly tied to COVID-19
Pandemic increased premature deaths among non-elderly adults, report says.

Group seeking to repeal Juneau real estate disclosure ordinances may be short of signatures
The group will get 10 extra days to collect more signatures as city election officials continue work through the signature validation process.

Toddlers showcase Southeast Alaska clan regalia at Celebration
Some toddlers were shy. Others were ready for an audience.

Riverbend Elementary is officially renamed Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen
Students have been practicing the new name for months. It was proposed to the district Board of Education in April.

St. Mary’s school superintendent is helping the community stay safe as the surrounding tundra burns
As Alaska’s largest tundra fire in 15 years has burned behind her home village, Dee Dee Ivanoff has become one of the key organizers of the response.

Who are the winners and losers of the Fed hiking interest rates?
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday it will increase its benchmark interest rate by 0.75%, the largest increase in decades. But what does that actually mean for everyday Americans?