Lisa Phu, KTOO - Juneau
Lisa Phu is a reporter at KTOO in Juneau.
Marriage Equality Advocates Ask Governor and Attorney General To “Stop in the name of the love”
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on marriage equality yesterday (Tuesday). On the same day, around 40 people gathered at the Dimond Courthouse plaza across from the State Capitol in Juneau to rally through song and dance.
Erin’s Law Stuck In Senate Education Committee
The House passed a version of Erin’s Law on Saturday. Now, three versions of the child sexual abuse prevention bill are stuck in the Senate Education Committee as the legislature winds down for the year. Majority leadership has indicated there’s no rush to pass the bill.
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Juneau School District Seeking Special Election For School Bonds
The Juneau School District wants a special June election asking voters to approve a bond for school renovations before a law stopping state reimbursements for school construction takes effect. The governor still hasn’t signed the bill, but if he does, the school district has 90 days before it becomes a law to hold an election. Even if all goes smoothly and the district beats the countdown, it’s still unclear if it will get reimbursed. Lisa Phu has more.
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Juneau Assembly To Decide Fate Of Haven House
The Juneau Assembly heard an appeal Monday night challenging a transitional home for women who are former inmates.
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Former Female Inmates Find Support And A Home In Juneau’s Haven House
Juneau’s first transitional home for women recently paroled or released from prison is welcoming its first residents.
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Juneau Schools Replace Controversial Texts With Book By First Nations Writer
The Juneau School District has chosen a book to replace the controversial texts it decided to remove from the fourth grade language arts curriculum.
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Rie Muñoz Leaves A Legacy Of Delight, Joy And Laughter
Beloved artist Rie Muñoz passed away Monday night at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau after a stroke. She was 93. Muñoz was active until the end, a prolific artist and traveler who drew inspiration from everyday Alaskans.
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Juneau Prison Deals With Overcrowding By Housing Women In A Tent
Alaska’s prison population is the third fastest growing in the country, and the prisons are over capacity. The crowding problem is especially evident at Juneau’s Lemon Creek Correctional Center where half the female inmates live in a tent outside. Some of them actually like it, but it’s an indication of a problem one state senator is trying to fix.
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Alaska Artist Rie Muñoz Dies At 93
Alaska artist Rie Muñoz has died. She was 93. A statement from her family says Muñoz was “active and independent until her last hours.”
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New Version Of Erin’s Law Targets Teen Dating Violence
The latest, beefed up version of a law to mandate sexual abuse prevention education in public schools is unlikely to reach the governor’s desk this year. That’s according to Senate Rules Committee Chair Charlie Huggins, who said in a committee Thursday that an expanded version of Erin’s Law would likely be a two-year bill. Sen. Lesil McGuire’s rebranded Alaska Safe Children’s Act includes teen dating violence prevention.
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AK: Resetting The Stage
Ricci Adan is a performing artist in Juneau. Locals know her as an actor, dance teacher and choreographer, most recently of Perseverance Theatre’s “Chicago.”
What people may not know is that in 1981, her husband Richard Adan was killed – stabbed on the streets of New York City by a released convict who was a protégé of Pulitzer Prize winning writer Norman Mailer.
The murder trial was highly publicized. But, Adan is just beginning to tell her side of the story.
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Teen Play Explores The Complexities Of Date Rape
Five Juneau teens star in a play about the complexities of date rape. The show is called “Hush,” but the teens hope the audience do exactly the opposite.
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How A Juneau Kid Turned His Passion Into A Profession
Jon Devore started skiing and skydiving as a kid growing up in Juneau. Now, he skydives, speedrides and performs Hollywood stunts for a living.
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Discovery Southeast honors teacher Allie Smith
Discovery Southeast is honoring a second grade teacher for regularly exposing her students to nature. The local outdoor education organization is giving the first annual Discovery Award to Allie Smith from Auke Bay Elementary School.
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Alaska Fish And Game Says It Could Absorb CFEC
At a legislative committee Thursday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says it could absorb part of the responsibilities of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission if it was eliminated.
Premera Warns of Possible Data Breach
If you have a health insurance plan through Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, your personal information may be vulnerable to a data breach. According to Premera, about 650,000 Alaskans are among the 11 million people potentially affected by a cyberattack of the health insurance company.
Juneau Library to Launch Alaska Native Stories Project
The Juneau Public Library system embarks on an oral history project this spring collecting Alaska Native stories on educational experiences. The capital city’s library is one of ten picked from more than 300 national applicants to bring StoryCorps to the community.
Re-entry Program Gives Inmates Hope to Succeed Inside and Out
On Saturday, 43 people rotated through tutorials in a basketball gym on topics like finding employment, how to open a bank account and reconnecting with family. All the participants were wearing yellow jumpsuits. It’s Lemon Creek Correctional Center’s eighth annual Success Inside and Out event, which offers resources to soon-to-be-released inmates.
Transgender Support Group Forms in Juneau
The transgender community is finding a foothold in the capital city. A support and social group for transgender and gender questioning people had its first meeting in February with about 12 participants. It follows a trend happening elsewhere in the state.
Cuts To Early Education Now Could Cost The State Later
Proposed cuts by Alaska lawmakers to early education programs could cost the state a lot more in the future. Program proponents say supporting parents and children from birth to age 5 is crucial to a child’s and the state’s development.
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