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To cut crime, candidates weigh adding troopers, increasing drug treatment
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
Alaska’s rising crime has become a central point of contention in the closing days of the race to be governor.
Despite progress, Alaska lacks resources to handle rape kit backlog
Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
An audit and change in collection practices identified 2,568 kits from police departments all around the state that had not been submitted previously and remain untested for DNA matches.
Alaska urges British Columbia to toughen mining standards
Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska – Juneau
The Walker administration is using its final weeks in office to push for tougher mine rules across the border in British Columbia. The province is in the midst of reviewing its mine reclamation laws.
An unusually high number of Black Alaskans are running for the Legislature — and most are Republicans
Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
As long as Alaska has been a state, its legislature has always been overwhelmingly white. Even in the most diverse areas of the state, white Alaskans have almost always been elected to serve in Juneau. However, this year’s general election has an unusually high number of Black Alaskans on the ballot, and most of them are running as Republicans.
First transgender women sworn into Fairbanks-area offices
Associated Press
The first two transgender women elected to public office in Alaska have been sworn in for their new jobs.
Donlin Gold still waiting for big state permits
Krysti Shallenberger, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Bethel
So far in the permitting process, Donlin Gold’s biggest milestone has been the Army Corps of Engineers’ joint record of decision, issued in August.
AK: Can opera help give closure to the Princess Sophia tragedy?
Scott Burton, KTOO – Juneau
A collaboration of producers and artists from across the country present a new opera about a local tragedy: “The Princess Sophia.” Can art help us process the worst maritime disaster in Alaska history?
49 Voices: Quinn Bennett of Anchorage
Ammon Swenson, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
This week we’re hearing from Quinn Bennett in Anchorage. Bennett is a lifelong Alaskan who’s done everything from outdoor guiding to teaching. He moved to Anchorage from Soldotna at the age of ten.
