Author: Rachel Enano

Anchorage witnessed a history-making event as Suzanne LaFrance became the city’s first elected female mayor. Hundreds of residents gathered at Town Square Park, buzzing with anticipation under a soaring American flag, to witness the inauguration. How will Anchorage thrive under LaFrance’s leadership? Not everyone shared the optimism. Darwin Biwer, a local business owner, expressed concerns, particularly regarding the city’s homeless population. “The homeless situation is critical,” he stressed, “it’s causing damage and needs solutions.” Therefore, former mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson showered LaFrance with praise during the ceremony. She applauded LaFrance’s leadership style, a refreshing departure from the usual “male-dominated” approach. Quinn-Davidson…

Every June 28th, the United States marks National Alaska Day to celebrate the 49th state’s unique history, breathtaking beauty, and enduring spirit. Alaska boasts a rich tapestry woven over thousands of years. Evidence suggests human habitation in the region dates back to around 10,000 BCE. The indigenous peoples of Alaska, including the Inupiat, Yupik, Aleut, and Athabascan tribes, thrived with their languages, traditions, and ways of life, deeply connected to the land. In 1741, Vitus Bering, a Danish navigator, became the first European to set eyes on Alaska. Soon after, Russian explorers and settlers established trade routes and missionary outposts,…

Today marks the second anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that revoked the national right to abortion. However, in Alaska, abortion access remains legal. Voters successfully defended their bodily autonomy by defeating a proposed constitutional convention. Additionally, Alaska elected representatives who champion reproductive rights. Furthermore, donations and volunteer efforts directed towards Planned Parenthood and the Northwest Abortion Access Fund demonstrate ongoing support for abortion access. Historian Heather Cox Richardson highlights the historic nature of the decision, stripping away a constitutional right from Americans. Alaska, however, stands firm in protecting its residents’ reproductive freedom. Planned Parenthood’s O’Hara-Jolley reaffirms commitment to maintaining…

Starting on July 1, 2024, the Alaska Permanent Fund will enter the new fiscal year with a $600 million shortfall. Lawmakers have saved $3.8 billion from the fund for next year’s budget and the Permanent Fund dividend, with an additional $1 billion set aside for inflation-proofing. These withdrawals exceed the available revenue in the fund’s spendable account. Deven Mitchell, CEO of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, addressed a joint legislative committee on Monday, June 24, stating, “That’s the first time that we’ve been in this scenario.” Investment earnings over the next year are expected to cover the shortfall. However, if…

On Thursday, June 13, flight attendants worldwide rallied for new contracts after long negotiations. This united effort aligns with U.S. senators’ push for a quick resolution to these extended talks. Flight attendants from major airlines such as American, Alaska, and United joined forces to call for change. As negotiations reach a critical point, they are in the middle of a crucial two-week period, hoping for real progress. Alaska Airlines agreed with their flight attendants’ concerns and acknowledged the need for a new contract. On June 12, the airline presented a comprehensive economic proposal that included boarding pay, increased wages, per…

Anchorage Mayor-elect Suzanne LaFrance announced on Thursday the selection of 18 leaders for her transition team as she prepares to assume office on July 1, following her victory over incumbent Dave Bronson in the mayoral runoff. The transition team is divided into three groups, each led by prominent Anchorage residents, former legislators, and community leaders, focusing on LaFrance’s priority areas: “good government,” “safe streets and trails,” and “building our future.” These areas were highlighted in a written statement from LaFrance’s team. Members of the transition teams include Bill Popp, a former longtime leader in Anchorage economic development who lost in…

Recent directives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signal a pressing need for Alaska to revamp its water quality standards due to its high fish consumption. The EPA has granted the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation a timeframe of six to 12 months to formulate new or revised standards for over 100 pollutants found in state waters. This move comes in response to data revealing that Alaskans consume fish at rates surpassing current regulatory assumptions by 30 to 60 times. Caleb Shaffer, acting director of the EPA’s water division for the Pacific Northwest, emphasized the necessity for updated standards to…

A severe train accident occurred early Saturday morning in Anchorage’s Spenard neighborhood, leaving a man with life-threatening injuries, according to the Alaska Railroad. At around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, a southbound, empty passenger train struck a man near Milepost 111.4 on the main line. This location is north of the railroad’s intersection with West 36th Avenue. The man, whose identity remains unknown, was found approximately 500 feet from the nearest crossing. Emergency responders transported the injured man to a hospital, where he continues to receive care, according to an Anchorage police spokeswoman. As of Monday morning, further updates on his…

Before adjourning for the year, Alaska legislators finalized plans to allocate millions of dollars toward housing projects statewide to address the ongoing housing shortage that residents have been grappling with. Alongside approving several housing-related bills promoting home ownership, these plans have yet to be forwarded to Governor Mike Dunleavy for approval or veto.  Central to this effort is the state-owned Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), which oversees housing operations and extends home loans across the state. Last year, lawmakers sanctioned over $63 million for AHFC projects within the state’s capital budget, covering construction and renovation endeavors across Alaska. This year,…

Alaska lawmakers greenlit $3.7 million in funding for nine projects integral to an expansive trail network envisioned to match the fame of the Appalachian Trail in the East and the Pacific Crest Trail in the West. Dubbed the Alaska Long Trail, though subject to potential renaming, the system aims to span over 500 miles, linking Fairbanks in the Interior to the Kenai Peninsula’s Gulf of Alaska coastline. Seamlessly integrating existing trails across federal, state, and municipal lands, it promises uninterrupted exploration. The Alaska Long Trail projects included in the upcoming fiscal year’s capital budget were part of a more extensive…

By the end of the month, an Anchorage Superior Court judge will decide whether to uphold a substantial fine imposed by Alaska’s campaign finance regulators on supporters of a petition aimed at reversing the state’s election laws. The Alaska Public Offices Commission, which oversees campaign finance regulation, fined the petition backers over $90,000, concluding they had illegally funneled money through a church in Washington state. The supporters appealed the decision in Anchorage Superior Court. At the same time, opponents of the petition cross-appealed, arguing that the fine was too lenient and that additional penalties should have been imposed. This led…

On the final day of Alaska’s legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill directing the Alaska Board of Education to establish regulations for correspondence programs. This decision followed a Superior Court Judge’s ruling that such programs, enabling homeschooled children’s families to receive state funding, violated the state constitution. However, despite the bill’s passage three weeks ago, it has yet to be sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for signature. Additionally, during the board of education’s recent meeting in Kotzebue on Wednesday, discussions were kept open regarding regulations for these programs. The legal dispute regarding Alaska’s correspondence programs is scheduled for a hearing…