How will a conservative mayor and progressive Assembly work in Anchorage?
The bulk of Dave Bronson’s campaign has centered on undoing the work of the Anchorage Assembly over the last year. Bronson's now on track to become the city's next mayor, and will be partnered with the majority-progressive Assembly to govern Anchorage.
Alaska sees sharp spike in coronavirus cases stemming from B.1.1.7 variant
CDC officials predicted months ago that B.1.1.7 would become the primary strain of the virus by March, and it’s now responsible for most of the country’s cases.
The CDC is gambling on relaxed mask rules to get more people vaccinated
Fully vaccinated people got the green light last week to resume much of their lives without masks. Behavioral experts say it's an incentive to get more people vaccinated, but it's far from a sure bet.
How an Alaska fiber mill survived the pandemic, despite plummeting sales and low supply
Kate Wattum began operating her fiber mill business in Fairbanks in 2016. But it wasn't until 2020 that she felt like she'd hit her stride, turning raw animal fibers into yarn. Then came the pandemic.
Anchorage businesses face fraught decisions after mask mandate is lifted
Around Anchorage, businesses are facing similar in deciding what mask policies to set, balancing factors like the size of their shops, customer preferences and pandemic fatigue. For each business, the calculation is different: some rushed to lift the mask requirements, while others are keeping them in full force.
Alaska’s regular legislative session ends without final budget or PFD amount
Under a version of the state budget approved by the Senate Wednesday, Alaskans would get PFD checks of about $2,300. But, critics say it’s way too much money to draw from the fund’s earnings reserve.
‘I saw him and he saw me at the same time’: Alaska man recounts bear mauling near Glennallen
“He took a small bite and then he took a second bite, and the second bite is the one that broke the bones … and crushed my right cheek basically,” said Allen Minish.
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy launches new tourism ads featuring outdated COVID vaccination data
Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has launched a national ad campaign promoting a post-pandemic revival of Alaska’s tourism industry. But the campaign relies on outdated data that claims the state’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is higher than it currently is.
Anchorage engineer plans to recycle ocean garbage into plastic lumber
Patrick Simpson wants to build a mobile plastics recycler that could produce lumber in coastal Alaska
New COVID case numbers on Alaska’s Panhandle lead state and country
According to state data, the southern panhandle — including Ketchikan, Metlakatla and Prince of Wales Island — has the highest population-adjusted rate of new cases in the state. New infections are appearing at a rate three times higher than any other region in Alaska.
Red Cross honors Igiugig woman for helping light runway during late-night medevac
Ida Nelson says lighting up the runway is just another example of the community coming together. "It’s something that we in Igiugig do constantly, like almost every day.”
Judge hands down split decision in Native corporation free speech case
Goldbelt shareholder Ray Austin was accused of making misleading or false statements on Facebook that were critical of the elected leadership of Juneau’s Native corporation. An administrative law judge recently found him innocent of those charges.
Cyberattack forces shutdown of some Alaska health department online services
Services like vital records, a background check system, and a count of available beds at mental health providers were taken down in response to the attack.
Garbage fires spur new shipping regulations in Sitka. Who will pay the price?
Last fall, Alaska Marine Lines announced it would start refusing shipments of solid waste in open containers on June 1. That poses a problem for Sitka because the city ships its solid waste in containers without lids.
Even with the no-mask guidance, some pockets of the U.S. aren’t ready to let go
Many Americans are still making sense of new CDC guidance that vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks in most indoor settings.
Alaska man on land survey in woods mauled, injured by brown bear
Authorities believe a brown bear mauled the 61-year-old man near the small community of Gulkana, about 190 miles northeast of Anchorage.
Lawyer who won landmark Alaska subsistence case in line to be Interior’s top attorney
Bob Anderson, an advocate of Alaska tribal sovereignty since the 1980s, is nominated to be Interior solicitor.
Feds likely to permit survey work for King Cove road, nominee says
A Biden administration nominee says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is likely to allow a road corridor survey in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge this summer.
Fifth graders campaign to change ‘squaw’ in Dillingham road name
Alora Wassily, Trista Wassily and Harmony Larson were learning about the history of colonization in social studies class in Dillingham. They visited with the Curyung Tribe and learned the story of “The Seven Sisters.” Then, they decided to try to change the name of a road.
For years, Aleknagik’s 911 calls have gone through the Dillingham police. That’s finally changed.
Aleknagik residents have reported difficulties summoning help in emergencies, and nearby Dillingham officials no longer want to be caught in the middle. Now, the police department’s long-standing practice of fielding 911 calls from outside city limits is ending.