Activists want voters to consider limiting cruise ship access to Juneau
Some activists in Juneau filed paperwork on Monday that could lead to local ballot questions in the fall asking voters to limit cruise ships’ access to the capital city.
Yup’ik engineers team up to build Yugtun language learning apps
Two Yup’ik engineers are trying to push the Yugtun language into the future using technology. Their latest project opens the door for Yugtun autocorrect, grammar checkers and automatic subtitles on Yup’ik videos.
Senators unveil bill to extend, limit Alaska disaster declaration as deadline for food aid looms
Some Alaska state senators are aiming to pass a bill that would extend Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s disaster declaration, but with more limited powers than were in place until mid-February in order to continue providing food aid and assist in other COVID-19 response areas.
Election update: Anchorage school board race tightens
The Anchorage school board race between Kelly Lessens and Judy Eledge has narrowed to less than 100 votes, with Lessens narrowly holding onto the lead Monday.
Alaska executives, employers wrestle with whether to mandate, incentivize or encourage COVID-19 shots
A dilemma over workplace vaccine mandates and incentives is playing out across Alaska, where employers are grappling with the balance between ensuring safe workplaces and workers’ rights to make their own medical decisions.
Alaska providers pause use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine while feds investigate rare risk of blood clots
Alaska providers are following the federal recommendation to pause use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines while they figure out the clotting risk.
For Alaska Native earring makers, the pandemic brought a boom
Beaded earrings have always been a staple in Native fashion, but the big uptick in business shows how they’ve become in-demand more broadly. Some say it helps that they are an easy way to be stylish in Zoom meetings.
Anchorage Assembly extends COVID emergency declaration by closest vote yet
The Anchorage Assembly approved an eighth extension of the city’s COVID-19 emergency declaration Tuesday. The measure passed six to four, the slimmest margin an extension has seen since the COVID emergency began.
Report sheds little light on fatal Alaska helicopter crash
A preliminary report from the federal agency investigating the fatal helicopter crash in Alaska that killed five people, including the richest man in the Czech Republic, sheds little light on the cause.
Kenai Borough mayor attacks school district’s mask policy
With five weeks remaining before summer break, the Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor is publicly challenging the school district on its COVID-19 mitigation protocols.
After a year of pandemic isolation, Anchorage Muslims return to mosque for Ramadan
After last year's celebrations were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, getting back into the mosque for Islam's Holy month is extra special for Anchorage's Muslims.
Western Alaska village puts up vaccine requirement to enter store
Around the same time that the Bethel fitness center reopened to fully vaccinated individuals, Kongiganak started allowing only fully vaccinated people into stores and businesses.
Alaska delegation tries multi-pronged effort to save part of cruise season
The congressional delegation sees two impediments keeping cruise ships from coming to Alaska this summer: The CDC and the Canada problem.
APOC denies expedited hearing after allegations of Bronson campaign finance violation
The runoff election for Anchorage mayor began to heat up this week, after Forrest Dunbar’s campaign accused Dave Bronson’s campaign of more than $170,000 in finance violations. On Wednesday, the Alaska Public Offices Commission denied the Dunbar campaign’s request for an expedited hearing.
Alaska denied Permanent Fund dividends to gay couples despite court rulings
The Permanent Fund Division denied dividends to same-sex spouses and dependents of military members stationed in other states for five years after same-sex marriage was legalized in 2014.
U.S. Seafoods apologizes to Unalaska after COVID-positive crew caused widespread exposure at local bar
A Seattle seafood company has issued an apology to Unalaska after crewmembers from one of its vessels at port in the island community breached isolation protocols to visit a crowded local bar last weekend.
Widow of Gary Knopp files cross complaint against charter company
Rep. Gary Knopp’s widow, Helen Knopp, has filed a counter-complaint against High Adventure Air Charters, the Soldotna company whose plane collided with Knopp’s last summer in a crash that killed seven people.
Rep. Young breaks with GOP colleagues in supporting Puerto Rico statehood
Among many Republicans, statehood for Puerto Rico is viewed as a threat. Congressman Young has been a champion for decades.
This Anchorage piñata maker is crafting giant COVID germs for smashing
The orders for coronavirus piñatas have helped fill a slow spot for Carolina Tolladay Vidal's business, with Alaskans eager to get their hands on a version of the germ they can easily destroy.
Mekoryuk likely first Alaska community to reach 100% vaccination against COVID-19
The community has had less than 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and no one has died from the virus.