Lisa Phu, Alaska Beacon

Lisa Phu, Alaska Beacon
31 POSTS 0 COMMENTS
people stand with signs

Alaska senators say $1,000 increase to per student funding is ‘beginning of a conversation’

A bill introduced Wednesday proposes the highest single-year increase to the base student allocation, but some say it’s not enough.
a mother and child

‘Hungry, frustrated and unheard’: With food stamp backlog, Alaska mom struggles to feed son

A state leader cites multiple reasons for the growth of the backlog, which has no clear end in sight.
students in a hallway

Lawsuit says Alaska statute allowing public funding to go to private schools is unconstitutional

Some private schools publicize how state program can offset tuition.
a food stamps store sign

Lawsuit says Alaska Department of Health exposed thousands to hunger risk by not giving food aid

A complaint filed Friday alleges some families have waited four months for nutrition assistance.
Sen. Shelley Hughes

Seventeen of 20 Alaska senators are in the majority. What about the other three?

Two of three senators outside the state Legislature's supermajority do not have standing committee assignments.
Tongass National Forest

Alaska, source of carbon-emitting fossil fuels, aims to raise money by storing carbon

Gov. Mike Dunleavy sees hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon sequestration.
an Alaska election worker

Anchorage state House recount doesn’t change outcome, as Republican incumbent McKay keeps lead 

Anchorage Republican incumbent Rep. Tom McKay still led Democratic challenger Denny Wells, after results were announced Thursday afternoon.
a woman in braids poses for a photo outside of a home

Alaska doctor, once the focus of outrage, reflects on past as abortion provider, with questions

As Dr. carolyn Brown reflects on her past as an abortion provider, she said she struggles with how to define the beginning of personhood.
a school hallway

Alaska students stay steady in reading but decline in math since pre-pandemic, says national assessment

Math scores were down this year for students in Alaska from pre-pandemic 2019, according to results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Anchorage Correctional Complex sign

Administration says Corrections deaths not ‘unusual,’ ACLU says it’s deflecting responsibility

None of the 15 people to die in Alaska Department of Corrections custody in 2022 so far “died as a result of others,” according to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
James Rider

A brother seeks answers over Alaska deaths in custody

Ever since his brother James Rider became the 12th person to die while in Alaska Department of Corrections custody, Mike Cox has been seeking answers from DOC.
Mike Dunleavy

APOC says Dunleavy backers won’t respond to investigation without subpoena

The Alaska Public Offices Commission says a group supporting Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s reelection has refused to respond to requests for information.
a crowd in a Juneau gym

Quakers formally apologize to Alaska Native communities for residential schools

Members of the Alaska Friends Conference of the Religious Society of Friends formally read the apology out loud on Friday at the former site of the Quaker-established mission school, which is now Sayéik Gastineau elementary school.
a man writes at a table inside

His grandmother was forbidden to speak Lingít in school. Now, school is helping him reclaim it.

Learning the language at University of Alaska Southeast has been key to Dave Ketah’s journey
an alaska department of corrections logo

Two more people die after a short time in Alaska Corrections custody

Lewey Matoomealook, 37, and Marcus Gillion, 48, are the 13th and 14th inmates to die in Alaska Department of Corrections custody this year.
opioid pills

Public can weigh in on how Alaska should use millions of opioid settlement money

The total amount coming to state and local governments in Alaska is $58.5 million from drugmaker Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, along with three other companies.
Alaska Senate candidate Buzz Kelley

Fourth-place finisher Buzz Kelley suspends campaign for U.S. Senate, backs Tshibaka

Kelley's name will still appear on the Nov. 8 ballot with incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Republican Kelly Tshibaka and Democrat Patricia Chesbro.
A concrete sign with the words "Anchorage Correctional Complex_

Two people died after just one day in Alaska corrections custody last month

Nastashia Minock and Austin Wilson were each in the care of the Alaska Department of Corrections for less than 24 hours.
People in red stand in a line outside, holding sings that say "UNAC Faculty: an investment in Alaska"

University of Alaska faculty union files unfair labor practice complaint

The complaint alleges the university administration unlawfully declared an impasse, illegally implemented its “best and final offer” and engaged in direct bargaining with the faculty through email updates, bypassing the negotiation team.