Push for stiffer hate crime laws seen as threat to religious liberty
Hate crime is back in the national and local spotlight following the recent introduction of legislation in both the Alaska Legislature and the U.S. Senate. Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced legislation last week to make it easier for federal prosecutors to
Alaska Legislature to consider LGBT ‘hate crime’ bill on Feb. 6
A bill aimed at adding “sexual orientation and gender identity” to categories like race, sex, religion, national origin when determining sentencing for hate crimes is set for public testimony on Feb. 6, in the Alaska Legislature. Rep. Andy Josephson,
Kenai City Council to vote on support of statewide LGBT hate crimes bill
City council members in Kenai and Soldotna are pushing for the expansion of statewide hate crimes legislation to include “sexual orientation and gender identity.” Last month the Soldotna City Council voted 5-1 in favor of a resolution urging state
Inside scoop: Planned Parenthood’s 2020 strategy for Alaska
Planned Parenthood, Alaska’s largest provider of abortions, held a strategic planning session on Jan. 7 in Anchorage. The event took place at Writer’s Block Café where a “We Support Planned Parenthood” sign stood in the window. About 30 people came,
Women fight Alaska sex trafficking with faith, personal mentorship
While it is hard to quantify the number of human sex trafficking victims because the crime is inherently underground, the International Labor Organization estimates there are 4.8 million sex trafficking victims globally – 99% are women and girls. Alaska
Vital signs: Alaskans marry less as childhood population plummets
The number of marriages, babies and children are plummeting across Alaska according to the state’s Vital Statistics report released on Dec. 6. The annual publication contains key information about life, death, marriage, separations, declining birth rates
Seven hate crimes reported in Alaska last year
While hate crimes in Alaska are extremely rare, the number increased slightly from 2017 to 2018 according to the FBI’s latest Hate Crimes Statistics released this month. Nationally, however, the number of hate crimes decreased – from 7,175 in 2017 to
Why are there so many angry young men?
The recent trial that just convicted the third young Alaskan in the 2016 murder of Palmer teen David Grundwald is evidence of a larger phenomenon wreaking havoc across our country. Nationwide 21 deadly mass shootings killed a total of 124 people in the first
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