People & Culture
RSSAlaska News coverage of people and culture topics including community events, arts funding, local businesses, and cultural institutions.
Alaska Senate passes special education funding and Palmer judge bills
Alaska Senate unanimously passed bill raising special education funding by 16 percent per student. • Senate also unanimously approved adding a fifth Superior Court judge in Palmer to cut case backlogs from 680 to 540 cases per judge.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska House passes education package with teacher loan repayment, energy relief
Alaska House passed education bill with teacher loan repayment up to $5,000 yearly for hard-to-fill roles like special education and STEM. • School districts get energy cost reimbursement based on three-year heating and fuel averages. • Local school contribution growth capped at 4% annually to ease property tax pressure. • Bill heads to governor after final Senate approval on last day of session.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Alaska's Off-Grid Communities Face Rising Diesel Costs as Governor Promotes Solar Alternative
Alaska Governor Dunleavy urged the state's 220-plus off-grid communities to adopt solar power paired with batteries and diesel backup to cut fuel costs as diesel prices rise for winter orders.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska targets 18-25 age group as substance use escalates after 25
Alaska launched the Next Move campaign May 20 targeting ages 18 to 25, when state data shows substance use escalates, offering mental health resources and coping strategies at NextMove.alaska.gov.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Launches Mobile Benefits App in State With Spotty Rural Internet
Alaska launched a mobile app May 20 for residents to apply for eight public assistance programs including Medicaid and SNAP, though paper and phone options remain available for those without reliable internet access.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska EMS agencies can now check pediatric readiness with new online tool
Alaska EMS and fire-rescue agencies can now use a free online tool at EMSpedsReady.org to assess how ready they are to handle pediatric emergencies and identify gaps in their preparedness.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska districts face June 30 deadline for federal education funds
Alaska school districts must submit federal education grant applications in substantially approvable form by June 30, 2026, to receive funding starting July 1, or face delays.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes tobacco age increase, vape tax, cigar lounge exemption
Alaska House passed bill raising tobacco and vape purchase age from 19 to 21, matching federal law. • New statewide tax on vaping products will fund smoking education programs. • Bill includes exemption for premium cigar lounges meeting strict requirements. • Penalties for underage possession lowered to $100 with no court appearance required.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
Alaska Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Home Care Agencies to Fund Workers
Alaska Legislature passed House Bill 96 on May 18, requiring home care agencies to allocate funding to Personal Care Assistants, with the Senate voting 19 to 1. The bill now goes to Governor Dunleavy.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Federal program offers Alaska SUD workers up to $250,000 in loan repayment
A federal loan repayment program offers Alaska substance use disorder workers up to $250,000 for student loans in exchange for six years of service at approved facilities, with applications due June 23, 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min readAlaska House Passes Baby Box Bill 35-5
The Alaska House passed SB 9, authorizing baby boxes for safe infant surrender, in a 35 to 5 vote, but the identities and reasoning of the five dissenting members remain undisclosed.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readJoint committee forwards $16M school bond with flood mitigation funds
The Joint Assembly-School District Facilities Committee approved forwarding a $16 million school facilities bond to the Finance Committee after Mayor Beth Weldon amended the proposal to add $300,000 for flood control and erosion mitigation at school properties.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Seven Anchorage patients develop rare heart infection from gonorrhea
Alaska health officials reported seven cases of gonococcal endocarditis in Anchorage between December 2024 and March 2026, with one death, linked to homelessness and drug use.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska lowers bar for toddlers to get early intervention services
Alaska Legislature passed a bill lowering the eligibility threshold for early intervention services from 50 percent to 25 percent developmental delay, allowing thousands more young children to receive help.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAlaska House debates youth vaping penalties amid justice concerns
Alaska House members debated a proposed $100 civil fine for minors possessing nicotine products, with opponents citing research showing youth processed through justice systems face worse outcomes and supporters arguing the penalty is needed to combat youth vaping.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances education bill with energy relief, loan program
The Senate Finance Committee approved a comprehensive education bill Monday that provides energy cost relief to school districts and expands teacher student loan repayment programs.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska deploys $272M rural health program through regional meetings
Alaska's Department of Health is implementing a $272 million federal rural health program through regional stakeholder meetings, with sessions completed in Seward, Kenai, and Fairbanks and more scheduled for Mat-Su and Anchorage.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readKing Salmon Fishing Banned Across Tanana Drainage Due to Yukon Forecast
Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed all king salmon sport fishing in the Tanana River drainage due to a below-average Yukon River run forecast.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min readAlaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate
This episode covers the week's major Alaska stories: a gas pipeline tax bill that added oil tax increases, the Point Thomson condensate trade-off for pipeline gas, Mount Edgecumbe enrollment crisis, and McNeil River bear sanctuary access proposals.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances bill to stabilize Alaska school funding with enrollment averaging
The Alaska Senate Education Committee advanced House Bill 261, which would allow school districts to use multi-year enrollment averages instead of annual counts for more stable funding, addressing chronic budget uncertainty that forces teacher layoffs and school closures.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate committee hears nurse staffing bill amid safety concerns
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on legislation that would establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in Alaska hospitals, with nurses describing unsafe workloads and advocates citing Oregon's successful implementation.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska budget fight leaves $40M in senior, disability care hanging
A legislative conference committee must reconcile more than $40 million in disputed funding for senior and disability services before the Alaska Legislature adjourns on May 20, with the House and Senate deeply divided on nearly every line item.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readAlaska pauses behavioral health grant overhaul after provider pushback
Alaska's Division of Behavioral Health paused planned fiscal year 2027 grant program changes and will extend existing CBHTR Outpatient and Residential programs for two more years after receiving provider feedback about system readiness.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAlaska launches new online system to report elder abuse, harm
Alaska's Division of Senior and Disabilities Services has launched a new federally compliant online reporting system for vulnerable adult harm, critical incidents, and assisted living complaints, with the old system redirecting until May 22, 2026.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readBering Strait School District holds second budget meeting in nine days
The Bering Strait School District scheduled its second Finance and Budget Committee meeting in nine days for May 13, 2026, as the board works through budget planning for 15 schools serving 1,800 students in remote northwest Alaska villages.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAlaska schools face May 15 deadline for improvement plans, funding
Alaska school districts must submit three-year improvement plans and budgets by May 15, 2026, a deadline affecting designated schools statewide with potential funding implications.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readUnalaska Council meets as city manages $50M fund, air travel crisis
The Unalaska City Council holds its regular meeting May 12, 2026, as the remote fishing community manages a $50 million infrastructure fund and ongoing air travel reliability issues.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readHouse panel sets amendment deadline for civics education bill
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on SB 23, which would require high school students to complete civics coursework or assessments to graduate and create a diploma seal recognizing civic excellence, then set a Friday amendment deadline.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House panel adopts fiscal note for Alaska Native languages task force bill
The House Education Committee unanimously adopted the fiscal note for House Bill 387, which would establish a joint legislative task force on Alaska Native language education.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska opens second round of rural health webinars for $272M program
The Alaska Department of Health is hosting the second round of stakeholder webinars May 13-15 for its $272.1 million Rural Health Transformation Program, following regional planning meetings in Seward, Kenai, and Fairbanks.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago3 min readAlaska House Passes Required Local Contribution Cap for Schools
The Alaska House adopted an amendment capping annual growth in required local property tax contributions to schools at 2%, shifting an estimated $29 million in education costs from municipalities to the state.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
House Finance begins review of Alaska LNG tax bill with competing rate proposals
House Finance Committee held its first hearing on legislation to replace traditional property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a volumetric tax, with the House Resources version proposing 15 cents per thousand cubic feet versus the administration's 6-cent proposal.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
U.S. Education Secretary Tours Mat-Su Career and Charter Schools
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited two Mat-Su schools on May 7 as part of a 50-state tour celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readAlaska bill would penalize state for late payments to contractors
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 133, which would impose 10.5% interest penalties when the state fails to pay nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal organizations within 30 days.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House panel advances Alaska Native languages task force bill after rejecting university, state agency seats
The House Education Committee approved House Bill 387 to create a legislative task force reviewing Alaska's 50-year-old Native language programs, but rejected amendments to add university and state education officials to the panel.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readRural Alaska faces fuel crisis as prices surge, shortages loom
Rural Alaska villages face potential fuel shortages and prices that could double to over $6 per gallon for diesel, adding $6,000 per person in annual costs as war in Iran disrupts supplies.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readRecent High School Graduate Appointed to Alaska State Medical Board
The Alaska House Health and Social Services Committee held a confirmation hearing Tuesday for Hannah Milkey, a 19-year-old who graduated high school in 2025 and was appointed to the State Medical Board one week earlier.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
19-year-old homeschool graduate appointed to State Medical Board
Hannah Milkey, who graduated high school in 2025 and has no medical training, was appointed to Alaska's State Medical Board one week before her confirmation hearing, prompting questions from legislators about her ability to evaluate physician disciplinary cases.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
The Alaska House Finance Committee narrowly advanced HB 261, an education funding reform bill using three-year student count averaging, after rejecting amendments to mandate averaging for special needs students and cap administrative spending at 15 percent.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Alaska residential schools seek doubled stipends to cover rising costs
The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on SB 257, which would double residential school stipends and tie them to the base student allocation to address a funding gap that forces programs to operate at half their actual costs.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
