Sullivan takes issue with Biden vaccine mandate, asks employers to delay enforcement
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan says employers should disregard President Biden’s vaccine mandate, keep unvaccinated workers on the job and wait for the courts to rule. "I think the president is going to lose that case in every court in America," he said.
Anchorage man murdered mother days after release from psychiatric hold, charges say
Thomas Layou, 38, had known mental health issues, owned guns and had been seen fighting with his mother, Patrice Layou, in the days leading up to her death, the charges say.
Alaska’s COVID hospitalizations have hit a new high
The state on Thursday reported 242 patients with COVID-19 in Alaska hospitals, the most ever since the pandemic began.
State hopes upcoming agricultural land sale near Nenana will bear fruit
Alaska is working on its next big effort to promote agriculture -- a large-scale land auction in the Interior.
Alaska has a teacher retention problem. The state is ready to pay someone to help solve it.
The state’s education department calls the lack of teachers in Alaska an emergency issue and says the pandemic is only making things worse. It’s willing to pay up to $300,000 to figure out how to attract — and keep — more teachers in the state.
State elections commission recommends fine for pro-Bronson group, citing a failure to file certain forms during runoff
The Alaska Public Offices Commission staff is recommending a $5,665 fine for a group that was raising funds to support Mayor Dave Bronson’s campaign.
She-Ra is a sailboat and a malamute. They stopped in Haines on their way around the world.
Lars Zika and his 7-year-old Alaskan malamute She-Ra are sailing around the world in a 62-foot sailboat. They stopped in Haines over the weekend.
Biden administration lets stand a judgment thwarting Willow, a ConocoPhillips drilling project in Arctic
A judge's decision reversed approval for the NPR-A project. The Biden administration did not appeal the ruling by Tuesday's deadline.
Alaska expecting COVID-19 vaccines for wider group of kids in coming weeks
The state of Alaska is working on a plan to make sure kids can get vaccinated as soon as possible. State of Alaska Immunization Program Manager Matthew Bobo joined Alaska Public Media's Casey Grove to talk about those plans.
Anchorage’s former real estate director sues Bronson administration, claiming she was illegally fired for making whistleblower complaint
Christina Hendrickson was fired in September, shortly after she made a whistleblower complaint to the Assembly regarding how fellow municipal employee Jim Winegarner was hired.
Anchorage teachers rally outside school board meeting, unsatisfied with district contract proposals
Teachers raised three main concerns over ASD’s proposed contract: no increase in salaries, the reduction of planning time, and a new health care plan which many found inferior.
Alaska House members pitch PFD changes that aim to solve long-term budget problem
Under three of the proposals, dividends would be bigger than the checks Alaskans have gotten in recent years. But they would still be smaller than what Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants.
1 in 3 working families is struggling to find the child care they desperately need
And more than 1 in 3 adults in households with children say they have experienced serious problems meeting both their work and family responsibilities, according to an NPR poll.
Anchorage legislator cited for open beer that a fellow state senator says was his
Republican Sen. Josh Revak plans to challenge the $220 ticket, which was issued in August, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Sen. Scott Kawasaki, a Fairbanks Democrat, said the beer was his.
The National Park Service could soon have its first Native American director
Charles "Chuck" F. Sams III could soon become the first Native American to head the National Park Service in the agency's history. A series of acting directors have led the department since 2017.
September was Alaska’s deadliest month of the COVID pandemic, state data shows
The state announced on Tuesday that 65 more Alaskans have died of COVID-19, most of them in August or September.
Grand jury will get case of man threatening to kill Alaska US senators
A magistrate has ruled that there is probable cause for a case to continue against a man accused of threatening to kill Alaska’s two U.S. senators in profanity-filled voicemails left on their office phones.
Nearly all workers at Providence and Alaska Native health care system are complying with COVID vaccine mandates
Local health care employers say more than 96% of their staffers are vaccinated.
Episcopal Diocese of Alaska to investigate the history of church-operated boarding schools for Indigenous children
Episcopal Diocese of Alaska Bishop Mark Lattime said the action was prompted by the discovery this summer of unmarked graves where Indigenous children were buried at church-run, Canadian boarding schools.
Alaska state senators differ on PFD path as committees fail to meet during first half of special session
Alaska state senators are split over Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s plans to change the dividend and how to pay for it. The fourth special session is halfway over, and while some House committees have met, none have met in the Senate.