News
Alaska Permanent Fund leaders discuss whether to seek exemption from open-government law
The trustees of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are considering whether to back legislation that could exempt the corporation from the state’s open meetings act and the state’s procurement rules, as well as conceal personnel records from public records requests. Trustees could also find themselves supporting a proposed constitutional amendment that restructures the spendable portion […]
Student debt relief scams on the rise. Here’s what borrowers need to know.
Complaints about student debt relief scams are increasing as the date approaches for borrowers to restart payment on their student loans after more than a three-year pause. Consumer protection advocates say that the Biden administration’s student debt relief efforts, the subsequent halting of those policies by the courts, and the restart of student loan payments […]
Ultra-rare whales swimming in Alaska waters could get bigger areas of protection
Some of the world’s rarest whales could get enhanced protection under a plan announced by federal regulators on Tuesday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service said it will reevaluate the habitat designated as critical for the tiny population of right whales that swim in the waters off Alaska. The move is […]
Alaska Federation of Natives sides with federal government in Kuskokwim salmon dispute
Alaska’s largest Native organization has sided with the federal government in its dispute with the state over salmon management in the Kuskokwim River, saying that the state’s position is attacking its interests and those of its members. The Alaska Federation of Natives on Tuesday filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit filed by the […]
Amid rising evictions and rents, states grapple with protections in tenant-landlord laws
At 90 years old, Hilda Chavera has found a new purpose in life: tenant organizing. A Minneapolis resident for 50 years, Chavera said she has seen her city change, with many of her neighbors struggling to stay in their homes. “People can’t afford their rent. They are getting kicked out of their homes. They feel […]
Battery storage seen as ‘backbone’ of reliable electric grid but adoption uneven across US
SEARCY, Ark. — In the decarbonized future envisioned by many states, utilities and the federal government, expect more power plants like Entergy Arkansas’ facility here, where thousands of gleaming panels and banks of batteries spread across 800 acres about 50 miles northeast of Little Rock. The Searcy Solar Energy Center, a 100-megawatt solar and storage […]
A new rush arrives on the Seward Peninsula: for graphite, not gold
SEWARD PENINSULA — Ducks and swans flew overhead as Sylvester Ayek, 82, and his daughter Kimberly, 35, hauled rocks to anchor their small salmon net on the bank of a deep, tidal channel — 25 miles inland from the open Bering Sea coast. Nearby on that July day, MaryJane Litchard, Ayek’s partner, picked wild celery […]
U.S. military pay in question, including thousands in Alaska, as government shutdown approaches
The three members of Alaska’s congressional delegation are trying to ensure that members of the U.S. military, civilian Department of Defense workers and military contractors remain paid during a partial federal government shutdown that could begin as soon as Sunday. In separate statements, Republican Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola […]
How a looming government shutdown could hit national parks
National parks and nearby communities could forego millions of dollars per day during a partial government shutdown that could start this weekend. Would-be visitors will likely see restrictions on park access, though the extent of those restrictions was still unclear just days before a potential lapse in federal appropriations set to begin Sunday. Parks would […]
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. […]
Behind the hardhats: High suicide rates plague the construction industry
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call, text or chat the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Alaska resources are available at 988 and Careline. For help with grief and loss, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers advice and resources. This article was originally published by Alabama Reflector, which like the Alaska […]
Alaska Permanent Fund improves after money-losing year but withdrawals still exceed earnings
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.’s investment earnings were again less than withdrawals in the 12 months ending in June, according to preliminary data scheduled to be released at the corporation’s annual meeting this week in Anchorage. The corporation, which manages the $74.9 billion Alaska Permanent Fund, earned a 5.18% return, less than its goal of […]