Alaska joins 12 other states to sue to undo Biden pause on US oil & gas lease sales
Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday to end a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of offshore leases in waters including Cook Inlet.
Patients, hospitals want Dunleavy and lawmakers to work out differences on disaster declaration
One of the consequences of not having an active disaster declaration is that out-of-state doctors can't practice telemedicine on Alaska patients.
A year in: Alaskans recount the moment they knew the coronavirus would change everything
Over the last year, it seems everyone had a moment when the pandemic hit home — when we realized the coronavirus was not going away quickly, and would change everything. We recently asked Alaskans to share their moment. Here’s what 11 people said.
White House drops Interior nominee after Murkowski objects
Murkowski’s office did not respond to requests for comment, but sources said she was concerned that the progressive Klein would not be a sufficient counterweight to new Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who has criticized the oil and gas industry.
NTSB: Witness says tribal health executive was ‘distracted’ before his helicopter disappeared over Gulf of Alaska
A witness who spoke with a tribal health executive before his helicopter went missing last month told federal investigators that the executive was "distracted, and was not himself," according to a preliminary report published Tuesday.
Federal dollars could be ‘game changer’ for Alaska families
Child welfare advocates are hopeful an expanded child tax credit and other components of the bill could directly improve Alaska children's well-being.
Alaska prisons remain closed to visitors as mistrust undermines vaccination effort
With COVID-19 infections - as well as misinformation about the disease - still running rampant in surrounding communities, it's not clear when prisons will reach a level of immunity where it's safe to reopen.
Pandemic puts pause on on-site use for some Alaska pot shops
In 2020 regulators approved two on-site cannabis lounges in Alaska, but because of pandemic restrictions they haven't been able to open.
Anchorage wants to let Alaskans turn smartphones into COVID-trackers. State officials aren’t sold yet.
Anchorage officials say they’re pushing closer to the launch of a smartphone app that could alert people they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, though the initiative is still waiting for Alaska GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration to approve it.
Alaska educators breathe sigh of relief as hundreds of millions of federal dollars roll in
The money is enough to support schools through the next few years but doesn’t address the state’s long term education funding problems
LISTEN: Economic Impact Payments are beginning to hit bank accounts. Here’s what you need to know.
The American Rescue Plan, which includes another round of federal relief money for Americans impacted by the pandemic.
Alaskans address violence against Asian Americans and racial bias in tech | Alaska Insight
Racial bias permeates government policy and justice systems. It's also ubiquitous in the technology that we engage with on a daily basis.
Domestic violence bill passes US House with program to expand tribal powers in 5 Alaska villages
Five Alaska tribes would get gain power to prosecute violent crime in villages if VAWA bill becomes law.
Anchorage Election Q&A: Here’s what’s on the ballot and options for voting
Anchorage is less than a month away from its next municipal election. Residents will decide who the next mayor and school board members will be, plus vote on several smaller seats and propositions. Here are some answers to common questions about this year’s spring ballot.
US, China spar in first face-to-face meeting under Biden
Top U.S. and Chinese officials offered sharply different views of each other and the world on Thursday as the two sides met face-to-face for the first time since President Joe Biden took office.
Global powers face off in Anchorage, Alaskans barely take notice
The talks made headlines around the world, and Alaska had a stake in the outcome, given its location on the Pacific Rim and its economic links to China in industries like fishing, tourism and aviation. But in the state's largest city, the event barely drew notice.
In Alaska, interest in kelp farming is on the rise, but bureaucracy’s still catching up
Before kelp farmers can put lines in the water, kelp farmers have to apply for state and federal permits, which include opportunities for public comment. The whole process can take up to two years, and a lot of money, time and expertise
More babies are being born too early in Alaska, health department says
In 2019, almost 1 in 10 births in Alaska was preterm. That’s as high as it’s been in the last two decades. Preterm birth and low birth weight can cause infant death or developmental problems.
Federal COVID-19 relief dollars are coming to Alaska’s economy. Here’s where the money’s going.
Aside from $1,400 direct payments, unemployed Alaskans, and Alaskans with children could also get a big cash boost. That could bring 12,000 Alaskan children out of poverty.
As Mat-Su vaccine appointments go unfilled, fears grow about misinformation and hesitancy
When Mat-Su public health officials organized a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic Tuesday at the Alaska State Fair grounds, one-third of the 1,000 appointments went unfilled — even after some providers launched a last-minute blitz to promote the event.