Author: Rachel Enano
Rachel Enano
Rachel is passionate about to write the stories that matter most to her community. With a sharp investigative mind and a knack for storytelling, she strives to shed light on both the triumphs and challenges faced by residents.
The August Primary Election will not narrow the field in nearly all Alaska legislative races. If a race has four or fewer candidates, they advance to Alaska’s August Ballot and November election. Since Ballot Measure 2 was enacted in 2022, creating an “open” primary system that allowed Senator Lisa Murkowski to avoid a Republican primary, the top four vote-getters now move on to the General Election. This year, only three legislative races have more than four candidates: Senate Seat L, Senate Seat R, and House District 36. With the implementation of Ballot Measure 2, political parties have lost their ability…
Alaska’s prominent elected officials expressed dissatisfaction last month after the Biden administration turned down a state agency’s plan to construct a new road in remote Northwest Alaska, aiming to reach numerous mining sites. Supporters of the mining industry and their political backers had emphasized the significance of the road and the potential mines it could facilitate as essential economic pillars for the thinly populated area. However, the primary concern for many local leaders lies with an already operational mine: Red Dog, positioned 75 miles to the north of Kotzebue, the regional hub. The development contributes approximately 5% of the world’s…
Alaska’s $80 billion trust fund overseers have decided to enlist a third-party law firm to probe the leak of internal emails. These emails had suggested potential self-dealing by board member Gabrielle Rubenstein. The unanimous 6-0 vote on Thursday sanctioned the law firm’s hiring, which will also assess six years’ worth of interactions between Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. staff and board trustees. This comprehensive assessment aims to gauge the extent of issues within the corporation, ensuring a thorough examination of the fund’s governance and transparency. The leaked internal emails, first brought to light by the Alaska Landmine in April, have raised…
A man was shot and killed early Saturday in a downtown Anchorage parking lot. Responding police officers shot and injured another man who witnesses claimed was involved in the initial Anchorage shooting, according to police. The incidents occurred around 2:30 a.m., police said in a statement early Saturday. Officers were patrolling the 700 block of West Fourth Avenue during bar closing time when they heard gunshots coming from a parking lot at H Street and West Third Avenue, approximately a block away, police reported. “Witnesses identified a man to officers, indicating he was involved in the recent shooting,” police stated.…
Two Fatalities Reported in Western Alaska Boating-related incidents. Alaska State Troopers were alerted to a capsized skiff on the shores of Ekuk, a coastal village in Bristol Bay, about 15 miles south of Dillingham, on May 15th. The skiff had departed from Dillingham on May 13th with two individuals on board: Rachelle Johnson, 29, and Carl Nunn, 36. Johnson’s body was discovered on May 25th on a beach near Clark’s Point, just north of Ekuk. Nunn remained missing as of May 28th. Johnson’s remains were transported to the state medical examiner’s office in Anchorage for examination. Another Incident on the…
In efforts to safeguard the chinook salmon population, state fisheries authorities have disclosed plans for imminent closures and restrictions on salmon gillnet fishing in sections of the Kuskokwim River drainage situated beyond the confines of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Starting June 7th, gillnet fishing in Sections 4 and 5 of the Kuskokwim region, spanning from the refuge boundary near Aniak to the river’s source, will be temporarily halted until further notice. Similar closures will also be implemented on the Aniak River, extending from the refuge boundary near the Buckstock River to its origin. Following June 7th, targeting chinook…
A TOTE Maritime Alaska representative announced on Tuesday that a crucial cargo ship in the supply chain delivering groceries, cars, and construction materials to Alaska may be out of service for two weeks due to mechanical issues. The North Star, an 840-foot vessel, requires repairs, temporarily reducing the fleet of four large cargo that transport supplies weekly to the Don Young Port of Alaska in Anchorage. The North Star missed its scheduled visit on May 28 due to mechanical issues and is expected to miss the following Tuesday’s visit as well. However, it should return by June 11, according to…
According to company representatives, on May 16th, Alaska Airlines initiated a $60 million plan to enhance terminals and other facilities across its Alaskan operations in the coming years. Additionally, the airline is set to bolster its cargo presence in the state. Marilyn Romano, the airline’s Vice President for the Alaska region, stated in an interview that the projects include upgrades and potential expansions at some of the airline’s 13 terminals, marking the first such initiatives in decades. “We will thoroughly assess each terminal,” Romano remarked. As larger jets started accommodating more passengers and post-9/11 security measures required additional space, terminals…
In the past five years, the number of abortion cases in Alaska has remained steady, averaging around 1,235 annually, while chemically induced abortions have become the primary method for terminating pregnancies. During this period, Alaska’s fertility rate has reached an unprecedented low. According to Alaska’s 2023 abortion report, 1,194 women underwent 1,222 abortions last year, with the majority (73%) being unmarried. Teenagers aged 15-19 accounted for 123 abortions, and four procedures were performed on girls under the age of 15. As in previous years, the State of Alaska utilized public funds to cover over 40% of abortions, with 514 procedures…