Federal child tax credit expected to cut child poverty in Alaska
An expanded federal tax credit for working families rolled out last week as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Many have already seen their bank accounts credited $250 to $300 per child this month. It’s a plan that experts say will cut child poverty in half across the country — including in Alaska.
Federal eviction moratorium extended for nearly all of Alaska
The new moratorium only applies to areas experiencing “substantial” or “high” levels of COVID-19 transmission. That’s nearly all of Alaska right now.
Alaskans have until Friday to apply for pandemic rental assistance
Renters who make 80% or less of area median income for their community are eligible for rental assistance until Friday, Oct. 1.
Alaska’s economic recovery lags behind most states
As of July, Alaska had made up less than half of COVID-related job losses.
Without citywide mask rules during COVID surge, Anchorage businesses feel the pressure
As COVID-19 case rates in Alaska continue to lead the nation, Alaska’s largest city has no municipal health measures like a mask mandate or gathering restrictions in place. That’s left businesses to navigate which prevention steps to take on their own, which can get complicated for owners trying to weigh the health risks of doing business.
Toyostoves are scarce this year. That’s bad news for keeping homes in rural Alaska warm.
Step into any home in rural Alaska and there’s a good chance that a Toyostove is what’s keeping it warm. Toyostoves are heaters that run efficiently on stove oil. But the supply of Toyostoves in Alaska is running low, and it’s yet another symptom of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alaska’s vaccine sweepstakes aimed to get more people vaccinated. It’s unclear whether it worked.
The Alaska Chamber gave out nearly $1 million in a vaccine sweepstakes program, but it's unclear how effective the program has been at increasing Alaska's vaccination rate.
Supply chain bottlenecks are holding up winter gear in Anchorage
Across Anchorage, with snow covering the ground and temperatures dropping, waitlists for fat-tire bikes and skis are common. The demand for winter outdoor gear is high.
Anchorage retailers hope for spending rebound fueled by higher wages and ‘revenge shopping’
At Anchorage’s Dimond Mall, some retailers are reporting that sales have surpassed pre-pandemic levels thanks to pent-up demand and supply chain shortages that are vexing online shoppers.
More tiny homes are coming to the Y-K Delta, thanks to pandemic relief funds. But are they a good idea?
A surge of new housing is coming to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Most of those new units are slated to be of the trendy, tiny home variety. But with households in the region generally much larger than the national average, some tribes are questioning whether tiny homes are a good fit for the communities.
Alaska schools have long struggled to hire and keep teachers. The pandemic is making it worse.
The pandemic is making it even more difficult to hire and retain educators in Alaska. Strains from burnout and absenteeism are piling on the stress for a system that’s already buckling under the pressure.
Think you have supply chain woes? Try building in rural Alaska, where prices are high and the season is short.
Every step of the supply chain, from manufacturing to shipping to distribution, has lost any sense of a normal rhythm.
How a rise in oil prices could impact this year’s PFD
With a recent rise in oil prices, the governor is again pushing for a higher PFD, plus an additional payment to boost last year's PFD. Legislators have other ideas.
How do mushers afford the Iditarod? Anja Radano says every year it’s a struggle.
Running the Iditarod takes months of preparation, training and a lot of money. While some mushers have major tour businesses and sponsors that help fund their kennels and pay for staff, Radano waits tables to help balance the big bills that come with being a dog musher.
Who does the salmon in Area M belong to?
In the wake of chum salmon crashes in Western Alaska, subsistence fishermen have been pleading with the state to restrict commercial salmon fishing near the Alaska Peninsula. Commercial and subsistence fishermen have been using fish genetics to bolster their claims to the fish.
New study details mining’s impacts on salmon habitat, even hundreds of miles downstream
The paper’s authors say their analysis points to a need for more comprehensive risk consideration for mines to protect salmon watersheds throughout the Northwest.
Chum fishing will remain closed on the Yukon amid projections for another low fall run
Fish and Game is projecting that fewer than 300,000 fall chum will return to the Yukon River.
The Alaska Primary Care Association hopes to boost homegrown health care workforce with new grant
The money provides a much needed boost to an industry that's struggled to fill jobs for years.
U.S. House candidates disagree on how to update fisheries law at Kodiak debate
Rep. Mary Peltola was the only candidate in favor of a House bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act, governing fishing in federal waters.
Amid sluggish recovery, economist predicts more Alaska jobs in weed and mining
Alaska's economy has had a tougher time than nearly every other state bouncing back from the pandemic. But the 10-year outlook shows signs for optimism.