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Bear baiting again banned in national preserves in Alaska, under new National Park Service rule
Bear baiting will be again banned on national preserves in Alaska starting on Aug. 2, under a new rule adopted by the National Park Service. The rule restores a ban for sport hunters that was imposed in 2015 by the Obama administration, then subject to a 2020 Trump administration rule that attempted to overturn it. […] The post Bear baiting again banned in national preserves in Alaska, under new National Park Service rule appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps
To combat gender and racial wage gaps, nearly a dozen states recently have enacted pay transparency laws that require employers to be more open about the wages and benefits they offer. Most of the laws require employers to disclose wages in job postings and some bar them from asking a job candidate about their salary […] The post More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Report calls for bolstering national statistics agencies with resources, protection from politics
The national system of tracking numbers that count births, deaths and countless details in the lives of people and the country between those mileposts is underfunded and in danger of manipulation for political ends, according to a new report released Tuesday. “Our bottom-line assessment is that federal statistics are at risk,” states the report, produced […] The post Report calls for bolstering national statistics agencies with resources, protection from politics appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Workforce shortages and inflation are key challenges for Alaska’s small businesses, new survey says
Inflation, operating costs and workforce shortages are the most common challenges facing small businesses in Alaska, according to a new survey. The Alaska Small Business Development Center survey tracks small business growth in the state and projects future trends. This is the seventh annual report. Inflation was most frequently cited as the top issue facing […] The post Workforce shortages and inflation are key challenges for Alaska’s small businesses, new survey says appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
New federal program aims to speed restoration of damaged Alaska streams and rivers
Around Alaska, particularly in the Interior region, there are streams, creeks and rivers that were damaged by mining conducted as far back as the mid-19th century. The Bureau of Land Management, a federal agency of the Department of the Interior, now has a new program intended to speed up work to fix those historic damages. […] The post New federal program aims to speed restoration of damaged Alaska streams and rivers appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might
For decades, states have relied on gas taxes to provide much of the money to maintain roads and bridges. But as cars become more fuel efficient, and some Americans switch to electric vehicles, state leaders say the gas tax won’t pay the bills for much longer. At the same time, many cities have seen their […] The post Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over […] The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska businesswoman faces prison time for tax evasion with storied Nome hotel
An Anchorage woman pleaded guilty last Wednesday to evading taxes on income from her Nome business, which was destroyed in a fatal fire in 2017. Court documents show that Tina Yi kept two sets of financial records for the Polaris hotel, bar and liquor store from 2014 until it burned down. One set of records […] The post Alaska businesswoman faces prison time for tax evasion with storied Nome hotel appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Council finds Alaska federal judge committed misconduct with relationship, hostile workplace, lies
U.S. District Judge Joshua Kindred violated the law governing the conduct for federal judges by maintaining a hostile workplace for law clerks, having a “sexualized relationship” with a clerk, and lying about it to a senior judge and investigators, a federal judicial council concluded. Kindred resigned effective Monday, after the judicial council for the 9th […] The post Council finds Alaska federal judge committed misconduct with relationship, hostile workplace, lies appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators
Anna Wysock’s “aha” moment arrived in an Ohio amusement park, as she got ready to ride a roller coaster with her 7-year-old son: The safety bar across her lap would only click into place once. The attendant told her it had to click twice, or she couldn’t ride. She was mortified. “I had to do […] The post ‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation
President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor. In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him […] The post Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Precollege program for rural, Alaska Native health students gets reboot and grant after funding gap
Of all the courses offered by the Della Keats precollege program, the three high school students in the University of Alaska Anchorage lobby were most struck by the cadaver lab in their Anatomy and Physiology course. It’s not the kind of opportunity students from rural Alaska usually get, which is the point. Bristol Albrant, a […] The post Precollege program for rural, Alaska Native health students gets reboot and grant after funding gap appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations
The headlines were the stuff of nightmares. One Colorado funeral home owner let the body of a woman decompose for two years in a hearse parked outside a house he rented, while hoarding the cremated remains of dozens of others inside. Last year, authorities discovered nearly 200 improperly stored bodies at another Colorado funeral home […] The post Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
The Supreme Court Just Limited Federal Power. Health Care Is Feeling the Shockwaves.
This story first appeared on KFF Health News. A landmark Supreme Court decision that reins in federal agencies’ authority is expected to hold dramatic consequences for the nation’s health care system, calling into question government rules on anything from consumer protections for patients to drug safety to nursing home care. The June 28 decision overturns a 1984 precedent […] The post The Supreme Court Just Limited Federal Power. Health Care Is Feeling the Shockwaves. appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alaska’s top-heavy glaciers are approaching an irreversible tipping point
The melting of one of North America’s largest icefields has accelerated and could soon reach an irreversible tipping point. That’s the conclusion of new research colleagues and I have published on the Juneau Icefield, which straddles the Alaska-Canada border near the Alaskan capital of Juneau. In the summer of 2022, I skied across the flat, […] The post Alaska’s top-heavy glaciers are approaching an irreversible tipping point appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound
When Tanya Gillespie-Lambert goes to an event in a local park in Camden, New Jersey, she takes a handful of brochures about free preschool with her. She has no hesitation about approaching strangers — moms with kids especially — to plug the service in the local public school district, where she’s director of community and […] The post When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Gov’s $5.4M veto won’t slow UAF’s pursuit of top-tier research status this year, chancellor says
A $5.4 million veto from Gov. Mike Dunleavy took a bite out of University of Alaska Fairbanks’ nearly $18 million boost in state money to increase its graduate student population in pursuit of top-tier research university status. Chancellor Daniel White said the veto does not affect the university’s progress towards its goal in the next […] The post Gov’s $5.4M veto won’t slow UAF’s pursuit of top-tier research status this year, chancellor says appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Dunleavy vetoes $10 million in funding for Alaska seafood marketing, for now
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed $10 million in funding for the organization charged with marketing Alaska seafood — but may agree to the funding later. On Friday, Dunleavy issued a line-item veto for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The governor’s office said that he could seek the funding later if the institute submitted a more […] The post Dunleavy vetoes $10 million in funding for Alaska seafood marketing, for now appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Fireworks sales have fallen back to Earth after years of explosive growth – here’s why
It’s almost the Fourth of July – a day of parades, barbecue and, of course, fireworks. But while parades and barbecues are still very popular, shockingly, this year fireworks are less so. Imports of fireworks reached a peak in 2022 of almost $600 million, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. But today, just two […] The post Fireworks sales have fallen back to Earth after years of explosive growth – here’s why appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
A citizen initiative to limit cruise ships advances in Juneau, while another stalls in Sitka
Unless Juneau’s city Assembly makes the change first, a proposal to forbid cruise ships on Saturdays will be on the municipal ballot in October, but a Sitka push to put cruise ship passenger limits on the ballot was denied late Tuesday. The news marks the latest steps in a broader reckoning in some Southeast communities […] The post A citizen initiative to limit cruise ships advances in Juneau, while another stalls in Sitka appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
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Alaska Beacon is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government. Alaska, like many states, has seen a decline in the coverage of state news. We aim to reverse that. Our name comes from the first verse of the Alaska Flag Song: “The great North Star with its steady light, O'er land and sea a beacon bright.” Our journalists report fairly and fearlessly on the people and interests that determine state policy. We do not serve any political party or private interest. We support the ability of all Alaskans to participate in the political process. We provide accurate, factual reporting. We promptly correct errors. If you see one, let us know. Beacon reporters explore how state policies affect specific areas like the economy and environment, education, health, and criminal and social justice. We aim to tell stories that aren’t being told, to bring fresh perspectives to state issues and to amplify the voices of Alaska communities that have been marginalized. Alaska Beacon provides a forum for commentary on state issues, with a goal of elevating policy conversations. These commentaries don’t come from our reporters and are labeled differently than our news reporting. Read our submission guidelines here. To do our jobs, we rely solely on the donations of those who value independent journalism. We welcome other news organizations to republish our work, and ask that they credit us. Alaska Beacon is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. Our editorial decisions are made inside Alaska by Alaska journalists.
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