Author: Nicole Thompson

Protestors gathered outside the Fairbanks Federal Building on Wednesday, continuing protests against the Trump administration’s budget cuts, which eliminated 100 jobs. Across Alaska, hundreds participated in Presidents Day protests opposing federal job cuts that impacted federal workers and essential state programs.  “I am here to support federal funding and federal workers who work in the state of Alaska,” protestor Abigail Nastan said, emphasizing her appreciation for public workers. She criticized the Trump administration’s decision, calling the reductions willy-nilly cuts that harmed public safety. Elon Musk, a Trump administration advisor overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), defended the workforce reductions.…

A voting mistake on Wednesday moved House public school funding one step closer to passage, altering the balance in a divided House in Alaska. Representative Mike Prax mistakenly joined the House majority in advancing House Bill 69 to the finance committee.  With 20 votes required, his error secured the bill’s progress. HB 69 would permanently increase per-student public school funding across Alaska if enacted. The finance committee will now review the bill before a full House vote. Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, alerted him, but he failed to change his vote on time. Realizing the error, Prax attempted…

During his first trip to Alaska since taking office, Congressman Nick Begich addressed job cuts caused by federal workforce reductions. In Fairbanks, he estimated that nearly 100 Alaskans lost jobs due to mass firing under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). ″These workers primarily were on a probationary period with the federal government,” Begich explained. He encouraged affected employees to share details about their positions so his office could review possible reinstatements. Beigch emphasized that the bipartisan DOGE caucus, which includes Democrats and Republicans, aims to eliminate government waste, fraud, and inefficiencies. He acknowledged concerns about job losses…

The Anchorage School District (ASD) plans to cut immersion programs next year, leaving parents worried about their children’s education. With a projected $100 million deficit, ASD officials say they must make difficult budget decisions that could impact nearly 3,000 students currently enrolled in immersion programs. These programs provide instruction in 7 languages, including Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, German, Yu’pik, and French. Holly Brooks, a parent of two first graders in O’Malley Elementary’s French immersion program, has joined efforts to protect these programs. Brooks believes the cuts will hurt language immersion and overall school enrollment, putting O’Malley at risk of closure.…

The University of Alaska Anchorage is strengthening its workforce training programs to help Alaskans adapt to a changing job market. As industries evolve, the demand for skilled workers grows, making education more critical than ever. However, many Alaskans struggle to balance education with work and family responsibilities, making traditional degree programs less accessible. UAA’s dual mission approach allows students to pursue short-term training, technical certifications, or traditional degrees based on their needs. This flexibility ensures that education remains a lifelong resource, helping individuals gain skills, enter the workforce and return for further advancement. By creating diverse pathways, UAA aligns education…

Anchorage resident Joyce Haught recently discovered her Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits had vanished, leaving her without groceries. She later learned that the federal reimbursement program for stolen benefits ended in 2024, a fact she had never received an official notice about. In a December 23, 2024 memo, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service instructed state agencies to warn SNAP recipients about fraud risks. The reimbursement program introduced in October 2022 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act expired on December 20, 2024. Haught, who relies on disability income, never received these warnings. She only realized the program had ended after…

Mass layoffs within the federal government have left many Alaskans unemployed, while others fear they could be next. Dozens of US Forest Service employees in Alaska learned last week that their jobs would be eliminated if they were still in their probationary period. Now, federal employees across the state worry that similar terminations could come as soon as Tuesday. An employee, Morgan Saladino, talked about the anxiety of anticipating potential Alaska’s federal layoffs. “We have been stressed. It’s not getting any easier, you know, but we’re doing our best to kind of show up and do our jobs every day,”…

Alaska’s Republican US senators introduced a bill Thursday to restore Denali as the official name of North America’s tallest peak. The legislation directly challenges President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to rename the 20,310-foot mountain Mount Mckinley.  Senator Lisa Murkowski, the bill’s lead sponsor, emphasized that Alaskans have long recognized the mountain as Denali. “Once you see it in person and take in the majesty of its size and breathe in its cold air, you can understand why the Koyukon Athabascans referred to it as ‘The Great One,'” stated Murkowski Murkowski added that the name is a deeply rooted…

A 28-year-old man, Jesse Lee Jones, was found guilty Thursday of shooting in an apartment complex in Anchorage and killing Josiah Goecker over a notice of non-renewal in 2023. Jones, who had been living with his pregnant girlfriend, was enraged after learning that he and his girlfriend would be evicted.  Jones entered the leasing office and asked why he and his girlfriend were kicked out. A witness testified that Jones became increasingly agitated, pulled out a gun and struggled with Goecker. During the altercation, Jones fired the gun multiple times, killing Goecker on the spot. The witness confirmed that the…

Chief Justice Susan Carney acknowledged the Alaska Supreme Court trial delays in her address to the Alaska Legislature, emphasizing ongoing efforts to improve the system. Speaking for the first time since an investigative report exposed a severe case backlog, Carney admitted that felony trials now take nearly three times longer than a decade ago. One alarming case involved a sexual assault witnessed by police in Anchorage that took seven years to reach trial. Carney called such cases extraordinary but insisted the judiciary must improve efficiency to prevent similar delays. Carney reassured lawmakers that the courts are actively working to reduce…

Alaska legislators are moving forward with a plan to establish the Alaska Department of Agriculture, addressing food security concerns sparked by COVID-19. Governor Mike Dunleavy’s executive order will automatically create the new Department unless lawmakers vote against it in a joint session by March 22. If no opposition arises, the Alaska Department of Agriculture will become official on July 1. Only Rhode Island and Alaska lack a cabinet-level agriculture department, with Rhode Island having the fewest farms nationwide. Legislators signaled strong support for the proposal in two hearings on Wednesday. The House Resources Committee narrowly voted 4-3 against advancing a…

The Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA) sued the state of Alaska on Tuesday, accusing officials of illegally withholding a crucial salary study. The lawsuit, filed in Anchorage Superior Court, demands the study’s release and claims the state altered its methodology to conceal unfavorable results. The Alaska Public Employee Salary Study lawsuit targets Governor Mike Dunleavy’s administration, alleging it changed the study’s standards after receiving negative findings. The Alaska Legislature commissioned the survey in 2023 to determine whether state employees’ salaries remain competitive. It was scheduled for completion by June 30, 2024, but state officials have yet to release the results.…