Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Kavitha George is Alaska Public Media’s climate change reporter. Reach her at kgeorge@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Kavitha here.
Alaska’s vaccine sweepstakes aimed to get more people vaccinated. It’s unclear whether it worked.
The Alaska Chamber gave out nearly $1 million in a vaccine sweepstakes program, but it's unclear how effective the program has been at increasing Alaska's vaccination rate.
Global supply shortages are driving up Alaska oil prices
Alaska North Slope crude has been trending up for most of 2021. On Tuesday it closed at more than $87 a barrel.
If you signed up for direct deposit, yes, your PFD is coming this week
Alaskans are starting to see $1,114 PFDs hit their bank accounts this week, with some already reporting “pending” deposits scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 14, according to the state Department of Revenue.
Forty-eight unit affordable housing development to open in Spenard next summer
The first phase of Spenard East, a 48-unit development at the corner of 36th Avenue and Spenard Road, will include three buildings arranged around a small park, with a mix of senior and family housing.
Without citywide mask rules during COVID surge, Anchorage businesses feel the pressure
As COVID-19 case rates in Alaska continue to lead the nation, Alaska’s largest city has no municipal health measures like a mask mandate or gathering restrictions in place. That’s left businesses to navigate which prevention steps to take on their own, which can get complicated for owners trying to weigh the health risks of doing business.
Alaska’s economic recovery lags behind most states
As of July, Alaska had made up less than half of COVID-related job losses.
Providence CEO backs Anchorage Assembly’s proposed mask mandate
The Chief Executive of Providence Alaska Medical Center says the hospital supports a proposed masking ordinance in Anchorage in a letter to the Assembly sent on Wednesday. The letter also disputed Anchorage mayor Dave Bronson’s claims about hospital capacity and staffing shortages.
Alaskans have until Friday to apply for pandemic rental assistance
Renters who make 80% or less of area median income for their community are eligible for rental assistance until Friday, Oct. 1.
Here’s when Alaskans can expect to get this year’s PFD
Permanent fund dividends will likely hit Alaskans' bank accounts in the middle of October, says the state Department of Revenue.
Rent up, vacancy down: How the pandemic impacted Alaska’s rental market
The biggest increase was in Ketchikan, where the median rent went up more than 10% between 2020 and 2021. In Anchorage, rent rose 2.8%.
Anchorage business owners fear worker burnout as hiring struggles persist
One business owner is closing her ice cream shop one day a week to give workers a break. Another has raised wages in hopes of not losing her staff.
After a missed year, Alaska State Fair vendors say things feel almost normal, despite pandemic risk
The 2020 Alaska State Fair was canceled due to COVID-19 risk. This year, you’d hardly know there’s a pandemic, said some vendors.
Indiana man stable after bear attack in Denali National Park
An Indiana man was attacked by a bear in Denali National Park and Preserve Monday night. The park said he was in stable condition Tuesday morning.
Group that wants to recall Anchorage Assembly member Meg Zaletel says it has enough signatures
The group announced in a post on social media Monday that it had gathered 4,500 signatures. It needs about 2,500 valid signatures to get the recall vote on a municipal ballot.
Federal eviction moratorium extended for nearly all of Alaska
The new moratorium only applies to areas experiencing “substantial” or “high” levels of COVID-19 transmission. That’s nearly all of Alaska right now.
Smoke may cause unhealthy air quality in Southcentral and Interior Alaska, DEC says
Parts of Interior and Southcentral Alaska will see poor air quality as a result of wildfires this week, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation warned on Tuesday.
Federal child tax credit expected to cut child poverty in Alaska
An expanded federal tax credit for working families rolled out last week as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Many have already seen their bank accounts credited $250 to $300 per child this month. It’s a plan that experts say will cut child poverty in half across the country — including in Alaska.
Consumer prices spiked more than 6 percent in urban Alaska over the last year
Anchorage has seen a consumer price increase of more than 6% in the last year, with some sectors rising by nearly 50%.
At Anchorage farm, refugees in Alaska gain training and economic opportunity
The Mountain View farm took the place of a vacant parking lot. Today it’s tended by more than 20 immigrant and refugee farmers who live in Anchorage.
New outdoor pickleball courts open in Anchorage
You may not have heard of it, but a tennis-like sport called pickleball is taking off in Anchorage. The Anchorage Pickleball Club recently partnered with the city to open the first outdoor courts in the city near downtown.