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Project to increase access to justice in rural Alaska receives $1M boost from National Science Foundation
Alaska Legal Services Corp. was awarded a million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to expand a program that aims to increase access to legal services for people who live in remote areas. The group has been training nonlawyers, called “community justice workers,” to represent Alaskans in court for some lower level legal issues. […]
Alaska schools stay open after bomb threat email
Alaska schools are not closing their doors after multiple districts received a bomb threat by email on Tuesday. Authorities have determined the threat is not credible, but its source is under investigation. Austin McDaniel, communications director for the state’s Department of Public Safety, said Alaska State Troopers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Anchorage field […]
As Alaska works through post-pandemic Medicaid renewals, only about a third of people stay covered
When Brandy Barnes got the first notice that she might be dropped from Medicaid, she was worried. One of her teenage sons is autistic and needs significant care to lead a full life. “My main concern is that my son is disabled,” she said. “He has therapies, medications, doctor appointments that cannot be dropped. I […]
Alaska’s Health Department works through one food stamp backlog only to confront another
Officials from Alaska’s Division of Public Assistance said its staff worked through the backlog of applications for food aid that stressed Alaska families for more than a year. But that success came at the cost of what officials are calling a “new” backlog. Division Director Deb Etheridge took over leadership in the midst of the […]
Alaska Department of Corrections seeks to lower hiring age from 21 to 18 years old
The council that sets and enforces standards for employment, training and certification of law enforcement officers in the state approved a proposal to lower the minimum age of state corrections officers from 21 to 18 years old on Thursday. The proposal will go out to public comment before any regulation change takes effect. Alaska’s Department […]
Anchorage inmate dies after two days in custody in 7th Alaska inmate death this year
An Anchorage inmate died after two days in custody, the Alaska Department of Corrections reported Thursday. It is the seventh inmate death the department has reported this year. Tristan Andrews was housed at the Anchorage Correctional Complex when he was pronounced dead on August 29th. He was 29 years old. The cause of death has […]
Gov. Dunleavy appoints new regent to University of Alaska board
Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed Stephen Colligan to the board that guides policy and appoints the president of the state’s university system on Tuesday. Colligan is the governor’s third attempt to fill the seat on the state university system’s board of regents. His appointment comes a month after the governor’s last pick, his former chief of […]
Fundraising effort for Alaska Indigenous studies center OK’d by UA board
The state board of regents unanimously approved a fundraising effort at University of Alaska Fairbanks to raise $53 million over three years to build the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center. The goal is to create the first university space in the nation that is designed with Indigenous education models in mind, Samara Taber, who leads […]
University of Alaska system boasts overall enrollment growth after financial challenges
Student enrollment is up at University of Alaska campuses overall, chancellors told the board of regents at their meeting Thursday. The news of overall 4.7% growth systemwide comes after a five-year downward trend in student enrollment. College enrollment has declined nationally over the last decade, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regent Karen Purdue said the […]
Civil rights group sues Alaska Department of Corrections, seeks investigation into deaths
A national civil rights organization filed a lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Corrections on Thursday. The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska is asking for an independent review of deaths in Alaska Department of Corrections custody. The organization does not usually join wrongful death suits, said Megan Edge of the ACLU of Alaska. But […]
Alaska board of education votes to limit trans girls’ participation in high school sports
The state’s governor-appointed board of education voted to limit transgender girls’ participation in school sports at a special meeting on Thursday. The regulation requires the Alaska School Activities Association Inc. to authorize a division limited to students assigned female at birth. Lorri Van Diest introduced the first non-binding resolution related to the issue in March […]
AmeriCorps to increase investment in rural Alaska, with tribes
On a visit to Alaska last week, the leader of the national community service agency AmeriCorps said the group plans to increase its investment in the state. AmeriCorps received an additional billion dollars added to its budget as part of the American Rescue Plan in 2021. Last year, more than 400 people worked or volunteered […]