Rural Health

Alaska health news that specifically deals with health in rural Alaska. (This category is broken out because it is a grant requirement. These stories should also be categorized as “health.)

Bartlett Regional Hospital

Juneau hospital’s CEO and CFO resign

The resignations come after a board member said management and staffing problems led to inadequate care of behavioral health patients.

Kake resident finds healing by crafting traditional Lingít cedar roses

Frank Hughes has made thousands of roses over the years. And he’s discovered that for him, they have a unique healing effect.
A white van parked outside.

Anchorage Health Department announces firing, then un-firing, of contractor that runs 24-hour sleep-off service

The contractor’s service has been inconsistent for months due to staffing shortages. A fire department official says that’s better than going months without the service at all.
a mask outside near the ocean

The CDC sees signs of a late summer COVID wave

In July, coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and emergency room visits have inched up.
an adaptive bicycle

Wanted woman leads police to suspect in Challenge Alaska bike theft

More than a dozen bicycles were stolen from a shipping container outside Challenge Alaska’s Mountain View office.
a faucet

As dry spell drains Wrangell reservoir, officials urge water conservation

If the reservoirs continue to deplete, the Southeast Alaska town could implement its water emergency plan as early as next week.
a playground

Alaska Department of Health moves to ease parts of child care licensing burden

State law requires child care centers to have static IP addresses, which can be costly and hard to get in remote parts of Alaska with sporadic internet access.
a woman holds boxes of kits

Mat-Su Borough passes resolution to allocate $2.3M of opioid distribution settlement funds

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to begin allocating the funds on July 18.
a grocery store

Alaska’s food stamps backlog continues, with delayed appeals and Medicaid issues on the horizon

The Alaska Legal Services Corp. says the state is still taking an unlawfully long time to approve applications.
a cabin in the woods, near mountains

Talk of Alaska: Upcoming trail and cabin maintenance

New cabins? Extended trails? Maybe better access to hot fishing spots? Amid the flurry of spending from federal pots of infrastructure funds is a lot of money aimed at improving park services for public enjoyment. How is this and other money being deployed, what will it mean for Alaska parks and who’s keeping an eye on the spending? We discuss investments in improved wilderness access on this Talk of Alaska.
A picture of Anchorage Alaska's skyline.

Haze from Canada wildfires coming to Southcentral Alaska this week

The smoke is from numerous wildfires burning in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
a woman on a bike

$100K of specialty cycling equipment stolen from Challenge Alaska in Anchorage

The stolen equipment was a mix of standard bicycles and specially-made cycles for people with disabilities.

Almost half of Alaska’s Head Start programs could lose millions in federal funding due to underenrollment

Eight Head Start programs could potentially lose as much as $12.5 million in funding because they have not filled all of their spaces for kids.
Treg Taylor

Alaska attorney general wants access to medical information about out-of-state-abortions and gender-affirming care

The letter is a response to the Biden administration’s proposed protections of patient privacy when crossing state lines for medical care.
A town on a cove as seen from above

Alaska will start monitoring villages for PFAS in anticipation of new EPA rules

The state Department of Environmental Conservation will test the drinking water in 193 Alaska Native villages starting this fall.
canned food

Alaskans faced a food stamp backlog, now they must wait to appeal the delay in benefits

Progress has been made getting more people food stamps, but advocates say the process to appeal state denials or delays is breaking down.

988 mental health crisis line gets 5 million calls, texts and chats in first year

Federal officials say traffic on the national hotline, which ended seven-digit phone calls in Alaska, is up 35% compared to the old 10-digit line.

$23M project for homeless youth kicks off in Wasilla

Founder Michelle Overstreet says it started with a phone call from Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Kodiak groceries

Grocery prices in Kodiak are among the highest in the country

Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development data suggests food prices in Kodiak could be the highest in the country.