Claire Stremple - Alaska Beacon
Report links lack of investment in school guidance programs to Alaska’s lagging workforce
A report from the Association of Alaska School Boards noted that one in five young adults in Alaska isn’t connected to school or work.
Alaska’s Health Department works through one food stamp backlog only to confront another
Division of Public Assistance officials say they fell behind on newer applications for food aid while staff worked through backlogged cases.
Anchorage inmate dies after 2 days in custody in 7th Alaska inmate death this year
Tristan Andrews was housed at the Anchorage Correctional Complex when he was pronounced dead on Aug. 29. He was 29 years old.
Dunleavy appoints new regent to University of Alaska board
Stephen Colligan is Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s third attempt to fill the Board of Regents seat, after Bethany Marcum and Tuckerman Babcock.
University of Alaska system boasts overall enrollment growth after financial challenges
The news of overall 4.7% growth systemwide comes after a five-year downward trend in student enrollment.
AmeriCorps to increase investment with tribes in rural Alaska
“We’re looking to figure out how we can go deeper into places of greatest need,” said AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith.
Alaska Native youth to carve two dugout canoes with federal education funding boost
The goal is to teach Tlingit culture while applying the principles of science, technology, engineering and math education to canoe making.
Alaska nonprofit law firm to receive $4.7M to assist disaster recovery
The funding will serve residents in Alaska and other Western states.
Alaska tribes, university to receive federal grants for repatriation of remains and cultural items
Alaska tribes and UAF will receive more than $350,000 in grants as part of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
New ID law intended to support Alaskans exiting incarceration, reduce recidivism
The Department of Corrections will be able to issue state IDs to prisoners who lack valid identification when they leave incarceration.
Tuckerman Babcock resigns from UA Board of Regents after 2 months
Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed Babcock, his former chief of staff, to the board after legislators rejected Bethany Marcum for the position.
Alaska Department of Health moves to ease parts of child care licensing burden
State law requires child care centers to have static IP addresses, which can be costly and hard to get in remote parts of Alaska with sporadic internet access.
Alaskans faced a food stamp backlog, now they must wait to appeal the delay in benefits
Progress has been made getting more people food stamps, but advocates say the process to appeal state denials or delays is breaking down.
A group of attorneys and volunteers helped nearly 2,000 Alaskans get food stamps during backlog
They’re still taking on more than 100 complaints a month.
Nonattorney advocates to represent Alaskans in court under new waiver
The Alaska Legal Services Corp.’s director said the system is unique to Alaska — no other state has a program quite like it.
Study: To hire and keep teachers in remote Alaska, school districts need to pay a lot more
Districts that cannot pay such high salaries need to look at other solutions like improved working conditions.
New data shows measurable progress on Alaska’s food stamp backlog
Thousands of people are still waiting for food aid, but the trend is positive.
Dunleavy veto cuts Head Start increase as centers struggle to pay teachers, serve children in need
Seven of 17 programs are on notice that federal funding is in jeopardy without changes.
Would-be child care providers in remote Alaska say it’s all but impossible to get a state license
Access to child care is an issue statewide, but remote areas face added hurdles.
New state child care task force faces bleak reality of Alaska’s system
It has one year to deliver a final report on solutions to the governor.