Alaska health commissioner announces COVID emergency order will end in July
The end of the order also means the end of extra SNAP benefits for more than 56,000 Alaska households in the state. Those benefits will continue through August.
Average home sale price in Alaska rose 8.9% in 2021
In Juneau and Anchorage, toward the end of 2021, five homes were sold for every one listed, the report said.
As Anchorage phases out its main homeless shelter, providers fear a surge in campers
Some in the homeless services community say the transition plan from the health department has been poorly communicated.
Gov. Dunleavy, lawmakers celebrate passage of Alaska Reads Act
The act aims to improve student reading outcomes across the state by third grade. Some rural legislators are skeptical about the bill’s requirements for school districts.
Anchorage Assembly again postpones vote on ordinance that would allow for removing a mayor
The ordinance was brought forward by Chris Constant, who described it as a way to set boundaries on what is acceptable for a mayor to do.
Celebration set to kick off in Juneau
This year’s theme is “Celebrating 10,000 years of cultural survival.”
In Alaska’s legal confusion over public funds for private schooling, Law Department says it’s under review
Alaska Beacon reporter Lisa Phu has been following the issue and says her reporting started with what she thought would be a simple question.
A large tundra fire is burning 12 miles away from St. Mary’s
The fire has been burning since the tundra was struck by lightning on May 31, and it is now within 12 miles of the community.
Travelers say staff shortages and COVID-19 outbreaks are spoiling their Alaska cruises
Experienced cruisers want the public to know that lots of passengers are getting infected, and they’re left in the dark about outbreaks on board.
Alaska Human Rights Commission sues to pause special US House election certification
According to plaintiff Robert Corbisier, the entirely by-mail election discriminates against visually impaired voters.
Boarding schools report documenting Native deaths, abuse and loss of culture is a good first step, advocates say
Many see the first volume of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Report as just the beginning of the federal government's attempts to document the systemic and forced assimilation of Indigenous children at boarding schools.
Former Anchorage Museum employees demand investigation into work environment under director
Five former employees charged the museum’s director, Julie Decker, with fostering an opaque, chaotic and stressful work environment.
The largest homeless shelter in Alaska will close this month. Many staying there aren’t sure where they’ll live next.
Many guests are waiting for housing to open up, but they’re not sure it will free up before the end of the month. If they don’t find options, some say they’ll camp.
Who will make the top four? US House candidates in Alaska have one more day to appeal to voters.
The special primary election for U.S. House ends Saturday, and it's still far from certain which candidates will move on to the general election in August.
New revelations and 3 other takeaways from the first Jan. 6 committee hearing
The committee transported the audience back to Jan. 6 with video of what happened that day. It also made a strong case that former President Trump was responsible for what happened.
Vulnerable residents flown out of St. Mary’s as major tundra fire closes in
Yute Commuter Services sent all its planes to St. Mary’s to evacuate residents. About 60 people arrived in Bethel on Thursday night.
Alaska senator faces civil trial after blocking a constituent on Facebook
The verdict could set a precedent for actions online by Alaska’s elected officials.
Rent is increasing rapidly in Anchorage, and experts say the trend will continue
Anchorage real estate broker Kassandra Taggart says rent "has been going up between 20, 30, 40 percent depending on what kind of rental it is.”
Palin, Begich, Gross and Peltola are top 4 in early results from Alaska’s special US House election
The Division of Elections counted the first batch of ballots on Saturday night – 48,000 of the more than 125,000 ballots cast.
Palin, a Republican, has about 33% of the votes counted so far. She’s followed by Nick Begich, also a Republican, who took 17% and independent Al Gross with 15%.
St. Mary’s residents pitch in to keep their village from burning
A historically massive wildfire is threatening four villages on the Yukon River.