
Alaska deaths skyrocket in 2021
Last year, 6,216 Alaskans lost their lives, continuing the sharp rise which began in 2020 with 5,196 deaths. Prior to the arrival of Covid in 2020, Alaska had experienced a slow but steady increase in annual deaths, with an average of roughly 4,200 deaths per


Babies are increasingly rare in Alaska
A new report from the Alaska Dept. of Health reveals that Alaska births are continuing their downward spiral with just 9,410 new babies born in 2021. That’s 1,042 fewer births than in 2017 and the lowest number since at least 1992, when there were 11,725


With full support of Alaska’s D.C. delegation, Biden codifies gay marriage
President Joe Biden signed a bill that codifies gay marriage across the nation. The Dec. 13 signing took place after Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski cast crucial votes to help narrowly pass a national gay marriage bill in the U.S. Senate,


OPINION: Perhaps it’s time to downsize Alaska’s boundaries
FOR SALE: Southeast Alaska, “The Inside Passage” and “The Panhandle.” Assets include tourism, parasitic bureaucracy, commercial fishing, tourism, limited mining operations, rain, woke, liberal, leftist and green politics, tourism, 30-40 beautiful days


Alaska’s ranked-choice election marred by record-low turnout, mass confusion
Alaska’s first general election using ranked-choice voting was marked by widespread voter confusion and the lowest voter turnout percentage on record. Nevertheless, the main organization that initially pushed (and continues to advocate) for ranked-choice


EDITORIAL: Alaska’s conservative lawmakers must embrace the veto
Given that Alaska’s State Senate is now controlled by a Democratic-led bipartisan coalition, it’s imperative that conservative lawmakers embrace a defensive approach to the upcoming legislative session. Thanks to the eight Senate Republicans who chose to


Prominent conservative judge blocked from Alaska Supreme Court nomination
The seven-member Alaska Judicial Council emerged from its executive session on Dec. 6 to reveal that it had voted to approve four of the seven attorneys who applied to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Daniel Winfree. Gov. Mike Dunleavy must pick one of


Censure of Alaska State Senator may signal the start of a GOP purge … or a mass exodus
The plainly worded and unvarnished rebuke that Mat-Su Republicans in District 27 leveled against State Sen. David Wilson for abandoning a GOP caucus should serve as an example to Republican Districts across Alaska. Wilson is but one of eight Senate


Alaska students are a year behind U.S. average in reading, math
By Sarah Montalbano – Alaska Policy Forum Introduction Late October brought the release of the 2022 results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card. The NAEP is a nationwide assessment


Closed-door meetings prevent public from knowing why some Alaska Supreme Court applicants get blocked
Seven accomplished attorneys and judges have applied to fill the pending vacancy on Alaska’s Supreme Court, which will occur this coming February when Chief Justice Daniel Winfree retires. On Monday, Dec. 5, the seven members of the Alaska Judicial Council

