Claire Stremple - Alaska Beacon
U.S. District judge hears food stamp backlog case against Alaska’s health department
Plaintiffs say they waited unlawfully long for food aid and asked the court to order the health department to obey federal deadlines.
Long-term boost to Alaska’s Head Start early childhood program trimmed by veto
Care providers say the money is going to salaries to retain teachers and keep centers open.
Former Houston treasurer sentenced in federal embezzlement case
Jess Adams received a 30-month prison sentence for embezzling from the city of Houston and a Wasilla-based company, then dodging taxes.
Goals for new Alaska crime law range from harsher penalties for drug dealers to reducing recidivism
Some celebrate major progress on the state’s thorniest crime issues while others criticize the methods.
Alaska foster families get another year of fully funded child care
With the clock ticking on pandemic-era grants, state officials decided to foot the bill.
Alaska faces consequences as federal education funding equity dispute continues
State officials offered the feds a $300,000 compromise instead of $17 million adjustment.
Alaska has a new nonprofit newsroom in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Mat-Su Sentinel founder, editor and reporter Amy Bushatz has worked in news for more than two decades and said she aims to fill a local news void.
Alaska lawmakers pass child care legislation to buoy sector ‘in crisis’
The policy changes are accompanied by $7.5 million for child care center grants.
Last-ditch attempt to return Alaska teacher, public employee pensions fails on Senate floor
The pension proposal would have piggybacked on a bill that aims to remedy the state’s teacher staffing crisis.
Alaska lawmakers support push to investigate, document forced assimilation in boarding schools
The widely supported resolution supports a bill championed by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Congress.
Alaska Senate OKs increased access to birth control
Alaskans may access up to 12 months worth of contraceptives at a time and without a co-pay from the state’s pharmacies if the bill becomes law.
Southeast Alaska air carrier adopts new tech to make travel safer, more reliable
More precise GPS technology and FAA approval for Alaska Seaplanes to fly new routes is expected to lead to fewer cancellations and increased safety.
Alaska Native languages at crucial juncture, biennial report says
The call to action urges systemic reforms to the state’s support and integration of Native languages.
University of Alaska student workers union members protest for contract, after judge bars strike
Union members say time is running out for a contract to be approved by the Legislature before the end of session.
Both sides of Alaska homeschool case want programs in place, disagree over how it should happen
The judge in the correspondence school case, Adolf Zeman, will decide how long it will be before his ruling takes effect.
School closure on Eielson Air Force base highlights effects of education policy choices
Military families have been rocked by the second school closure on the growing base near Fairbanks.
Alaska House committee advances, expands proposal to bar trans girls from girls sports
An amended bill would add elementary, middle school and collegiate sports to limits in place for high school.
Lawmakers weigh whether to reduce or acknowledge rights of growing Alaska homeless population
As the state’s major cities scramble to house people, advocates say Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s protest bill would further criminalize the homeless.
Alaska judge strikes down state’s cash payments to families using correspondence school programs
The decision on correspondence programs will become a "hot-button legislative item" in the final weeks of session, lawmakers said.
Alaska school year could start in September under new proposal
The later start date would allow students to spend more time on subsistence activities and working in construction or tourism jobs.