Joaqlin Estus, KNBA - Anchorage
Joaqlin Estus is a reporter at KNBA in Anchorage.
Professor Sees Link Between Bullying, Substance Abuse
Studies show bullying is linked to a host of problems: vandalism, poor performance and absenteeism at school and work, increased school dropout and job turnover, anxiety, depression, and suicide. Now an Anchorage professor sees a link between bullying and substance abuse.
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Attorney General Questions Commission’s Public Safety Solutions
A national commission blames the state of Alaska for the epidemic of violence afflicting Alaska Natives, and has come up with a series of recommendations to strengthen tribal jurisdiction. The state Attorney General agrees there’s a public safety problem, but says the Commission’s solutions aren’t suited to Alaska.
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Indian Law and Order Commission Report Criticizes Alaska
Wednesday, three members of the Indian Law and Order Commission spoke at the Bureau of Indian Affairs Providers’ Conference to describe the findings of their report to Congress and the President, a report that singles out Alaska for criticism.
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Tribal Entities Ask Feds For Overdue Contract Payments
Some 60 tribal entities from across the country, including more than a dozen from Alaska, have written to ask President Obama to pay them long overdue contract shortfalls.
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Group Says State Taking Wrong Approach For Lowering Crime Rates
The bi-partisan Indian Law and Order Commission issued a report on Tuesday saying Alaska is on the wrong track to help Alaska Natives fight crime, but the state Attorney General says the Parnell Administration is doing a good job at tackling a mammoth problem.
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Fukushima Contamination Could Reach Alaska Waters Next Year
It’s been almost three years since a tsunami hit the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, releasing radiation into the ocean. Computer models indicate the contamination will reach Alaskan waters this year or next. But scientists haven’t been able to regularly sample Alaskan waters to check radiation levels.
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Alaska Native Tribal Governments Keep Doors Open For Now
Alaska Native tribal governments are keeping their doors open, but worry about how long the federal government shutdown will go on.
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Extent Of Tribal Court Authority Questioned In Minto Trial
The state has intervened in a case on the side of a man convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault of the mother of his children. At issue is the authority of a tribal court over a non-tribal member and tribal court procedures.
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Tribal Summit On Suicide Problem Wraps Up In Anchorage
Suicide prevention was the focus of about 100 tribal representatives attending the 13th Alaska Tribal Leaders Summit in Anchorage Thursday and Friday. Alaska has the nation’s second highest suicide rate. In rural Alaska, suicide rates are four times the national average, and involve disproportionately high numbers of young Alaska Native men.
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Alaska Dental Therapist Program Serves As Model
A mid-level dental practitioner program that got its start in Australia more than a hundred years ago then came to Alaska, is being taken up in a few dozen states across the country.
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Bill Puts $35 Million Toward Residential Housing For ANMC
Governor Sean Parnell signed into law a bill last week that’ll put $35 million toward construction of residential housing with a sky-bridge to the Alaska Native Medical Center, a move supporters say will save the state millions of dollars a year.
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Cook Inlet Tribal Council Enters Video Game Realm
A regional non-profit tribal organization is putting several million dollars into creating video games infused with Alaska Native values and culture. Cook Inlet Tribal Council is hoping to engage, empower, and educate young people… and to make money from what it says is the nation’s first indigenous-owned video game company.
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ANSEP Program Garners Awards, Recognition
A University of Alaska program is winning awards and recognition for its success in preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
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Native Corporation 8A Contracting Declines
Alaska Native corporations say they’re feeling the impacts of Congressional scrutiny and new rules for federal contracts. Previously the corporations, Native American tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations could enter noncompetitive federal contracts of any amount, and the corporations were getting contracts in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Alaska’s Cultural Connections: Plant Medicine
Recently, a group of more than 70 elders took a bus about an hour southeast of Anchorage as part of the Southcentral Foundation’s Elders program. They were gathering and learning about the healing properties of plants. Joaqlin Estus has the latest story in our on-going series looking at culture in Alaska.
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Type 2 Diabetes Rates Tripled Nationwide Since 1990
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports Type 2 diabetes rates across the nation tripled between 1990 and 2010, and rates among Native Americans are more than twice – almost three times — those of Caucasians. But demonstration projects for American Indians and Alaska Natives show there are ways to prevent or delay onset of the disease.
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Report Shows Mineral Values Tripling Since 2001
A state report shows the value of minerals produced in Alaska more than tripled between 2001 and 2011. Mining industry wages have also surged as employers seek skilled workers.
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Long-Term Unemployment Benefits To Experience Cuts
As federal agencies are beginning to furlough employees because of sequestration, the long-term unemployed in Alaska are about to see a reduction in their unemployment benefits.
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Southcentral Experiencing Chilly Spring
It's a chilly spring in the Anchorage area. National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Burling says temperatures in recent days have been just a few degrees below normal, but that comes after a winter and early spring with lower temperatures than usual.
Anchorage Co-op Combining Ancient Qayaq Design With Education
An Anchorage-based co-op is raising money to begin after-school training that combines ancient techniques of qayaq design with education.
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