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Parnell Says Medicaid Won’t Expand In Alaska
Annie Feidt, APRN – Anchorage
Governor Parnell announced Friday he won’t expand Medicaid in Alaska. Medicaid expansion is a key provision of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. It would offer health coverage to an estimated 40 thousand low income Alaskans. Parnell says he doesn’t want to attach Alaskans health care or finances to a “failing Obamacare system.”
Storms Appear To Subside In Western Alaska
Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage
The worst appears to be over for coastal villages in western Alaska.
State Emergency incident Commander Mark Roberts says a return to a more normal weather pattern with clear, cold conditions is forecast.
Thousands Of Interior Residents Still Without Power
Lauren Rosenthal, KUCB – Unalaska
Given the massive weather events have shaken up coastal communities in Alaska and the Philippines this month, two state legislators are asking their constituents to support relief efforts on both fronts.
Alaska Leaders Attend White House Tribal Nations Conference
Liz Ruskin, APRN – Washington DC
Tribal leaders from Alaska and the rest of the country had a chance this week to talk with the highest powers in the federal government. Nearly all of President Obama’s cabinet secretaries participated in the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference, as did Obama himself.
DNR Cancels Public Meetings For Controversial Land Management Bill
Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau
Since the Legislature gaveled out this spring, state officials have been trying to build support for a controversial land management bill that couldn’t get enough votes in the final days of session. Public meetings were supposed to be part of their outreach effort. But, the Department of Natural Resources has called those meetings off.
AK: Tlingit Ventriloquism
Lisa Phu, KTOO – Juneau
Like many other indigenous languages, Tlingit is in survival mode. Revitalizing the language was the focus of a Tlingit conference held in Juneau last week.
A Juneau resident has one solution for how to keep the language alive. During a conference session, Carlton Smith shared with participants how to teach Tlingit to children with puppets. And, he had help from a special guest.
300 Villages: Kiana
This week we’re heading to Kiana, a village of about 350 people on the Kobuk River about 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Bertha Barr works for Kiana’s food distribution program.
