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Concern for seniors as pioneer homes caught in budget battle
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
Residents and staff at the Palmer and Juneau pioneer homes, the state-run senior-care facilities, have been put on notice that a budget battle in the Alaska legislature is threatening to displace them.
Human Rights Commission appointment draws conservative ire
Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – Juneau
The Senate voted Wednesday to delay a joint session on whether to confirm Gov. Bill Walker’s appointments. When the hearing does happen, one of Walker’s appointments to the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights potentially faces a close vote.
Lindemuth seeks to clear concerns ahead of confirmation vote
Associated Press
Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth has asked legislators to consider her entire record in weighing her confirmation.
AEDC pushes Anchorage utilities to merge
Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
In a letter sent Wednesday to city leaders, the director of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation wrote that a recently convened working group concluded that stakeholders should seriously consider merging Municipal Light and Power with the Chugach Electric Association.
State TB rate dips but remains among the highest
Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.
The state Health Department says 57 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Alaska in 2016. That’s a moderate decrease from the prior year, but Alaska’s rate remains more than double the national average.
Rep. Young wants feds to lay off medical marijuana prosecution
Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.
Congressman Don Young and 42 colleagues are asking that Congress block the Justice Department from pursuing federal drug cases against people who are complying with their state’s medical marijuana laws.
Long line for first legal cannabis sales in Ketchikan
Leila Kheiry, KRBD – Ketchikan
Ketchikan’s first marijuana retail store opened its doors to customers at about 4:30 p.m. Monday, which was a few days later than originally planned. But, the 50-plus people in line were happy to buy legal cannabis for the first time in Alaska’s First City.
UAA Chancellor Tom Case announces retirement
Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media – Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage chancellor has announced his retirement.
Resolution could save Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center
Kayla Desroches, KMXT – Kodiak
Programs around the state have been under threat of closure due to budget issues, and in the City of Kodiak, the future of one seafood research and training center has also been uncertain. But that may change if a resolution to save the center passes.
Ice road from Kotzebue to Noorvik and Kiana closes
Tyler Stup, KNOM – Nome
After being open for a record high amount of consecutive days -around three weeks- the ice road that spans from Kotzebue to Noorvik and Kiana is closed. After a snow storm Sunday night (April 9th), several Kotzebue residents found their vehicles on the wrong side of the road.
Search continues into its third week for missing Newtok seal hunter
Anna Rose MacArthur, KYUK – Bethel
Searchers continue to look for a seal hunter who went missing off the coast of Newtok last month.
Tlingit and Haida students in Arkansas help archive Jeanie Greene videos
Emily Russell, KCAW – Sitka
Little Rock, Arkansas– it’s probably not the first place you’d imagine preserving Alaska Native history, but the Sequoyah National Research Center is doing just that. A team of archivists with ties to the state are cataloging over a thousand video tapes that showcase Alaska Native life.
