
OPINION: Of Hoaxes – both innocent and nefarious
As a boy I enjoyed a good hoax. The best one involved thawing out frozen game fish we had kept from a northwoods vacation, putting them on a stringer and then going down to our muddy, carp-infested prairie lake, sitting on the dock and announcing, “Boy are


Catholic churches reopen in northern Alaska with health measures in place
Following updated health mandates released last week by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Catholic parishes across northern Alaska have begun to hold religious services, including distribution of communion. A letter published on April 28 by Fairbanks Bishop Chad Zielinski


Anchorage mayor dismisses protesters in laying out COVID plan
With an upcoming protest planned by Anchorage business owners desperate to get back to work, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz released his “roadmap” for reopening a city which has been largely shutdown since March 20 due to COVID-19. At an April 20 press conference,


Anchorage considers mandating that homeless seek shelter
The Anchorage Assembly will consider an emergency ordinance requiring all homeless residents to sleep in designated overnight shelters. The topic will be addressed at the April 14 Assembly meeting in response to community concerns that homeless camps may


Coronavirus sheds light on our ‘essential’ values
COVID-19 is, among many other things, a conversation starter. It touches nearly every part of life and has shed some unexpected light on what we most value. Here are few observations from the past week. JUNK FOOD & SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE Last month,


Abortion business may profit from Anchorage alcohol tax
The largest provider of abortions in Alaska is throwing its support behind Prop. 13 which would institute a 5% flat tax on alcohol sales in Anchorage to raise funds for programs that help prevent child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and substance


Anchorage candidate keeping quiet on plot to ban counseling for unwanted LGBT attraction
Anchorage Assembly Member Christopher Constant is waiting until the election results are in the bag before introducing a ban on counseling for people who wish to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction. Constant, who is openly gay and running unopposed for his


State of Alaska considers paying for transgender hormones
As the result of federal litigation, the Alaska Dept. of Health & Social Services is considering a change to its regulations, which would allow the state to begin providing public funding for powerful hormonal therapy and other non-surgical procedures


Fairbanks forges ahead with plan to expose students to LGBT classes
The Fairbanks North Star School District is undaunted in its effort to weave LGBTQ books, materials and themes into high school courses. Despite months of community feedback and public testimony, the Fairbanks Curriculum Advisory Committee voted March 5 to


Alaska’s Catholic churches implement plan to combat coronavirus
Catholics comprise the single largest religious group in Alaska, and parishes across the state have implemented measures to combat the potential outbreak of coronavirus. While there are still no known cases in Alaska, bishops overseeing churches in the

