Anchorage’s homelessness director resigns
John Morris was a proponent of building a large temporary shelter for homeless people in East Anchorage and was the second of six members of a working group developing a plan to move an emergency shelter out of the Sullivan Arena.
Kenai Peninsula teachers allege censorship of books with LGBTQ themes
Teachers at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School in Soldotna were told to temporarily stop teaching a book after a school administrator found it age inappropriate. Separately, the district withheld books about sexuality from the Seward High School library that it deemed controversial.
Hawaii hopes tourism bounces back with travel restrictions lifting again Nov. 1
Hawaii Public Radio’s Casey Harlow has been covering the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the state and says many out-of-work or under-employed tourism industry workers are hopeful things turn around soon.
TBH, dad bod and long COVID are among Merriam-Webster’s 455 newest words
The dictionary added 455 new words and definitions to the dictionary for October to keep up with the evolving English language, including pandemic terms and online shortcuts.
Fight over required health precautions in Anchorage Assembly chamber ends meeting early
The Anchorage Assembly meeting ended earlier than expected Wednesday, with Assembly leadership and Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration locked in debate over new masking and social distancing requirements for the chamber.
Bronson administration launches online form to report Anchorage mask mandate violations
The link is on the municipal manager page on the Municipality of Anchorage website. There is still no public information regarding any fines or penalties for violations of the mandate.
Earmarks: They’re back, and Murkowski is using them to steer money home
Sen. Murkowski has a $230 million wish list of dozens of Alaska projects she wants in the next batch of spending bills.
Realities diverge after Anchorage conservative activist dies from COVID
William Topel died shortly after demonstrating against an indoor mask mandate at the Anchorage Assembly. To some, his death shows the dangers of not taking precautions against COVID-19, but to friends, his death is an illustration of the medical establishment's refusal to treat patients with unproven drugs like ivermectin.
Global supply shortages are driving up Alaska oil prices
Alaska North Slope crude has been trending up for most of 2021. On Tuesday it closed at more than $87 a barrel.
Alaska Railroad board rescinds employee COVID vaccine mandate
Nearly 53% of the railroad’s 692 employees are vaccinated.
What you need to know about COVID boosters
You've seen the headlines about COVID boosters. But what does it all mean for you? Here's how to sort through the science and figure out if and when you need a booster and which one to get.
Early election results show Anchorage Midtown voters rejecting recall of Assembly member Zaletel
There are still more votes to be counted.
Prominent COVID vaccine critics scheduled to gather in Anchorage
Three prominent vaccine critics and proponents of unproven COVID-19 treatments are scheduled to speak to the public on Saturday at an Anchorage church. It’s not clear who is organizing the conference.
In her latest project, Juneau artist Lily Hope will mentor weavers and address threats to use of traditional materials
The Chilkat weaver is one of 15 people to win a $100,000 SHIFT award, which will support her project, “Protecting the Material Sovereignty of Our Indigenous Homelands.”
Allergy worries kept a Kasigluk woman from getting vaccinated. She died of COVID-19.
In August, a former community health aide from Kasigluk died from COVID-19. Her name was Sharon Slim, and she was 46 years old.
Scientists are still following whales that swam through the Exxon Valdez oil spill
The pod is called the Chugach Transients. There were once 22 whales in the group. Now there's seven. The Chugach Transients have not had a calf since swimming through the oil spill.
A lost hiker ignored rescuers’ phone calls, thinking they were spam
You can get a cellphone signal on the highest mountain in Colorado — and if you get lost hiking that mountain, you should probably answer your phone, even if you don't recognize the caller's number.
In the time of COVID, Sitka’s ‘bread guy’ is building community one loaf at a time
For Southeast Dough Company’s Jylkka, baking bread is not just an occupation but a way of connecting, especially in an age when human connection has never been more tenuous.
Mayor Bronson talks future of port repairs in State of the City address
Mayor Bronson delivered his remarks virtually because he was quarantining after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Thousands of dollars pour into recall, though it’s unlikely to change the balance on the Anchorage Assembly
The campaign to recall Midtown Assembly member Meg Zaletel follows an unsuccessful recall attempt earlier this year, and there’s another in the works. Some see it as increased civic engagement, but to many, it’s a waste of time and money.