Her son’s death sparked a mission to save others from fentanyl overdose

Alaska experienced a nearly 70% increase in the number of drug overdose deaths between 2020 and 2021, according to preliminary data from the state health department. That means 245 Alaskans died from an overdose in 2021, including Anchorage resident Bruce Snodgrass. Alaska Public Media’s Jeff Chen brings us a story of his mother who wants to make sure her son is more than a statistic.

Retro Local: How an evolving justice system shaped public safety in Alaska

In Alaska, sky-high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault are closely connected with the state’s law enforcement and...

Alaska health care officials address vaccine concerns in Black and Indigenous communities

https://youtu.be/sh6_RZuaZ_Q To defeat COVID-19, Alaska needs to vaccinate as many residents as possible. But how do concerns about the vaccine affect the success of that...

How are Alaska malls and small businesses affected by COVID-19 shutdowns? | Alaska Insight

As Alaska moves through phases of reopening its economy, retail stores in Anchorage have been open for more than three weeks now....
A group of elders participate in an exercise class in an indoor pool.

For older Alaskans, exercise classes build community

Many older Alaskans are building community, battling isolation and staying healthy in exercise classes.
A 50th anniversary copy of the Alaska State Constitution sits on the top of a table.

What you need to know about the constitutional convention question

Questions about the permanent fund dividend, Alaska’s fiscal woes, and abortion access have some advocating to vote "yes" on the once a decade ballot question: "Shall there be a Constitutional Convention?"

ANCSA at 50: Who will be included in the next generation of shareholders?

Video: Corporations formed under ANCSA are slowly opening up to new generations of shareholders, allowing younger Alaska Native people to have a voice in shaping the future.
Three young Chinese men hold a fish in front of an Alaskan Cannery

Cannery workers document the Chinese history of Alaska’s fishing industry

Chinese immigrants arrived before statehood and helped grow Alaska's wild salmon industry into the international, multi-billion-dollar economy that it is today.
home builders

Does Alaska have an affordable housing crisis?

Across the state, homebuilding and vacancy rates are down. Rent, mortgage rates and home prices are up.
A woman's hand holds a tap into a birch tree

Birch tree tappers say a warming Alaska is making the harvest season harder to predict

https://youtu.be/zHP6lEi-Iiw April is birch tree sap season in Southcentral Alaska. A season that is harder and harder to predict because of climate change. Alaska Public...

Researchers and city officials work to inform Hillside communities of wildfire risks

Experts say it's not a matter of if but when a large blaze impacts the Hillside neighborhood in Anchorage.
A teacher in a gray sweater leans over to assist a student wearing a black shirt in an elementary school classroom.

Anchorage school communities grapple with potential closures

Birchwood ABC is one of Anchorage School District's top performing schools, but it's also one of six schools the district may close due to a budget deficit.
an official ballot box

In the final days before the election, Get Out the Native Vote works to break down barriers

In rural Alaska, the barriers to participating in the electoral process can be much greater than in urban areas.

The Challenge of Teacher Retention in Alaska | Alaska Insight

Across the country, states, including Alaska have difficulty keeping good teachers, principals and superintendents in their positions. Especially in remote parts of the state....
Aerial image of Angoon, Alaska

Anxious for relief, rural municipalities navigate spending rules for CARES Act funds

Alaska communities have the freedom to decide how they want to spend coronavirus relief money, but following the federal guidelines hasn't been easy.

Explained: What are PFAS compounds and how can they affect human health?

Found in various items from firefighting foam to household cleaning products and even food containers, PFAS are persistent "forever...

Novel Coronavirus 101: What you need to know

First detected in December in Wuhan, China, the novel coronavirus has infected thousands of people in China and has spread to other...

Alaska legislature returns with COVID-19 precautions, but no clear enforcement for lawmakers

https://youtu.be/qnV9kV2-enE There are more than 130 legislators and staff in Juneau for the legislative session. The legislature is taking steps to limit the spread of...
Youth dance at AFN conference in Anchorage.

Tribes aim to ask voters for state recognition

Across the US, only 10% of Indigenous tribes with federal recognition also have recognition from their respective state governments. In Alaska, tribal members aim to change that. Last year, they organized to collect tens of thousands signatures in support of a ballot initiative that would ask voters to decide. Supporters say the recognition opens up doors for more resources and symbolizes a respectful government-to-government relationship.