As the pandemic drags on, unemployed Alaskans are still waiting for more help
A $300 dollar per week boost in unemployment payments still hasn't arrived, and economists say that without more cash from the federal government, the entire economy is at risk.
How the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the first year of business for one Anchorage store
The owners say in this first year, they've sold enough shampoo and conditioner to keep nearly 700 plastic bottles out of the landfill, but their business looks a lot different than they thought it would, thanks to the pandemic.
Experts say Alaskans’ willingness to mask up is key to rebuilding the economy
Until the virus is under control, experts say the state’s economy will continue to suffer.
Alaska is down thousands of oil and gas jobs, as the pandemic continues to squash demand
Data from the Alaska Department of Labor show an estimated 6,900 jobs in the state’s oil and gas industry in September. That’s down from 10,000 in January.
After a summer of pandemic disruptions and poor salmon runs, Alaska fishermen await more federal relief money
Government relief money has helped fishermen, and the state is finalizing a plan for how to spend another $50 million in federal dollars for the industry.
For Anchorage businesses, going online pays off during COVID-19
"The number of web orders we’re receiving right now is at least ten times the volume we have received typically in the past," Janet Gregory, who owns Over the Rainbow Toys, said about their new online platform.
LISTEN: Alaska’s small businesses face financial winter as pandemic drags on
Jon Bittner, with the Alaska Small Business Development Center, says without a second round of relief money, businesses will continue to suffer.
LISTEN: Alaska jobs expected to slowly return in 2021
Alaska is expected to add jobs in 2021, but at a slow pace.
To face 2020 head-on, one Anchorage tour company branched out
In the last year, employees at Salmon Berry Tours delivered groceries, plants and Christmas Trees. They also took on a new role in Hatcher Pass.
LISTEN: What another summer without cruise ships could mean for Alaska’s economy
Alaska lost 27,000 jobs in 2020. And, while the whole state suffered, regions that depend on tourism were hit especially hard.
The Dance of Peace: South Korea and Alaska Reducing Tensions and Prompting Peace
Join AKWorld for a critical conversation focusing on the diplomatic, political, economic, and cultural circumstances on the Korean Peninsula, as well as broadening and deepening understanding of the U.S.-Korea relations. From a decades-old military alliance to deep economic ties and a large and vibrant Korean-American community, the linkages between the United States and the Korean Peninsula remain as important as ever.
Alaska’s pandemic housing boom driven by interest rates, tight inventory and shifting attitudes
The housing market’s upswing doesn’t account for thousands of Alaskans who are struggling to make ends meet.
LISTEN: Economic Impact Payments are beginning to hit bank accounts. Here’s what you need to know.
The American Rescue Plan, which includes another round of federal relief money for Americans impacted by the pandemic.
Alaska marked a year of deflation in 2020 — for the first time ever
The change is small -- a 1.1% decline in prices.
Financial needs linger among Alaskans, a year after the start of the pandemic shocked the state’s economy
Needs have settled down after the early spike, but many Alaskans are still dealing with the financial impacts of the pandemic, which are expected to linger in the months ahead.
The Future of Education in a Post-Pandemic World
The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, work and learn and has required school leaders and teachers to work tirelessly to maintain student learning amidst constant changes and uncertainty. Join this discussion with AKWorld and Professor Yong Zhao to consider the future of schooling and the positive opportunities for change as a result of the pandemic.
LISTEN: As summer approaches, Alaska leaders are making continued efforts to salvage cruise tourism
Hope for big ships at some point this summer is not lost yet, but the outlook is bleak. Leaders in Alaska and Washington D.C. are attempting to find solutions.
Here’s how small airlines in Alaska are surviving the pandemic travel slow-down | Alaska Insight
Air travel came to a halt last year as the pandemic caused closures across the country. In rural Alaska, where planes are a lifeline for many communities, airlines had to pivot and adjust to the changes quickly.
In Anchorage’s COVID-19 economy, social media skills are essential for small business — but not everyone has them
Familia opened in May 2020. Their food has gained a strong following despite the pandemic.
Is Alaska’s pandemic housing market burning out or getting hotter?
It's a seller's market: homes are going fast and at high prices. But experts say they're not seeing the warning signs of a housing bubble.