White House Establishes Native Affairs Council
Cabinet level panel will meet quarterly.
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Senate Passes Immigration Reform Legislation
The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a massive immigration reform. It’s the largest overhaul in a generation.
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What Does The Ruling On DOMA, Prop 8 Mean For Alaska?
The U.S. Supreme Court ended its term striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and sending a California same-sex marriage case back to the lower court. But the court does not affirm gay marriage as a constitutional right.
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Three New Wildfires Reported In Upper-Susitna Valley
New fires have been reported along the Kashwitna River, near the junction of the Susitna River and Watana Creek and a third fire closed almost 30 miles of the Parks Highway north of milepost 317.
Kuskokwim River Gear Restrictions To Start Friday
The main stem of the Kuskokwim River has gone without restrictions for salmon fishing this season. At least, up until now. Restrictions will go into affect this Friday in the form of 6-inch gear limitations.
Opinions Vary On President’s Plan To Combat Climate Change
President Barack Obama is laying out his framework for combating climate change. If successful, it could be a major accomplishment and part of his legacy. The president is bypassing Congress, and the delegation has mixed reaction.
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Galena Residents Gradually Return To Rebuild
It’s been nearly a month since an ice choked Yukon River overflowed its banks and flooded Galena. The ice bergs have melted and the river looks docile, but many people remain displaced by what it did. Most flood refugees are living outside the village, but more and more are coming back to rebuild their lives.
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State Closing Disaster Assistance Centers As Federal Aid Arrives
With Tuesday’s federal disaster declaration for areas affected by last month’s flood, the State of Alaska has effectively decided to close the disaster assistance centers that had been set up this week in Galena and in Circle.
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DOMA Ruled Unconstitutional
The Defense of Marriage Act has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. This morning the court issued an opinion saying that DOMA deprives people of equal liberty as protected by the Fifth Amendment.
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UPDATE: Supreme Court Strikes Down Portion Of Voting Rights Act
The U.S. Supreme Court vacated a major provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act on Tuesday morning. The Court did not invalidate the entire law, and Alaska’s Congressional delegation has mixed reactions.
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With Representation On Decline, Voting Rights Decision Worries Native Districts
Most states that had been covered under the Voting Rights Act won't feel the full impact of the Supreme Court's ruling until 2020, when the next redistricting cycle starts up. But Alaska, along with Texas, will experience the effects straight away. Here, political lines still haven't been finalized, and today's decision could shape the way boundaries are drawn.
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Court Issues Decision On Indian Child Welfare Act
The U.S Supreme court released another decision today that has implications for tribes in Alaska. The Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA was enacted to stop American Indian and Alaska Native children from leaving their biological families and tribes when these children were being placed in foster care or up for adoption. ICWA mandates a preference for the Native child’s family and tribe before non Native placement can be considered. The Supreme Court’s decision is in response to a case in South Carolina.
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Immigration Amendment Would Send Billions To Boost US, Mexico Border Security
The Senate passed a key procedural hurdle to immigration reform this evening.
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Minimum Wage Initiative One Step Closer To Ballot
Another ballot proposition has made it to the signature-gathering phase. Today, Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwelll certified an initiative that would raise the minimum wage to $9.75 an hour.
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Fire Danger Remains High Across State
Weather forecasts across the state are calling for continued hot and dry weather and fire danger statewide remains significant. Five hotshot crews have been flown to Fairbanks from Oregon.
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Anchorage Homeowners Prepare for Wildfires
It’s been hot and dry for the past few weeks, and red flag warnings for extreme fire danger are in effect in many parts of the state. For over a decade, the Anchorage Fire Department has been running Firewise, a national effort to help homeowners improve their property’s chances of surviving a wildfire. But without additional grant funding, that program could end after this summer.
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Few Options For Alaskans On Affordable Care Act Marketplace
Only two health insurers have applied to be part of Alaska's federally run health insurance marketplace. The marketplaces are required under the Affordable Care Act and will allow individuals and small groups to compare health plans and qualify for subsidies to help pay for them.
Two New Wildfires Reported Over Weekend
Alaska's wildfires continue to burn, with two new ones reported northwest of Kantishna, in the heart of Denali National Park. The Chisana Creek fire in Wrangell Saint Elias National Park is not being fought, but authorities plan to set up a headquarters in Beaver Creek, Canada to keep watch on it.
Anti-Pebble Operative Launches Campaign Against Oil Tax Referendum
Earlier this week, activists fighting a tax cut on oil companies requested a meeting with police. They said their opponents were harassing people circulating referendum petitions, and that if this kept up, it could make it harder for the repeal proposition to get on the ballot. Now, it's come out that the person behind the opposition effort is actually a well-known political operative who's been promoting an initiative of his own.
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With Seven Maps, Many Options Before Redistricting Board
In the coming weeks, the Alaska redistricting board will be reviewing seven different political maps, on top of a handful that have been submitted by third-party groups.
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