
Berkowitz warns Anchorage bars & restaurants that ignore his orders
Mayor Ethan Berkowitz issued a strong warning to restaurant and bar owners that if they don’t follow a series of health suggestions, he may shut them down again. He had Sarah Oats CEO of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers Association lay


Governor tackles mask controversy, emphasizes advisories & personal freedom
Gov. Mike Dunleavy waded into the mask mandate controversy during his June 30 press conference. Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz imposed a mask mandate across Alaska’s largest city, which prompted the governor to exempt state employees working in state


Supreme Court rules states can’t discriminate against religious schools
On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states cannot prohibit tuition grants or scholarships to private religious schools if they award the same grants to secular private schools. The court’s ruling dealt with a state scholarship program in


Governor says Berkowitz’s facemask order doesn’t apply to state buildings
Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson has told all state employees that Anchorage’s new emergency order mandating face masks in public doesn’t impact those working at state facilities located in Anchorage. “The recent enactment by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz


Painting all police officers with broad brush is dishonest and discriminatory
Police officers in Alaska and around the country have been under close scrutiny over the past few weeks. The death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis has stirred outrage across the nation. This isn’t the first time a black man has suffered unjustly at the


Anchorage rally to show support for law enforcement officers
In a show of support for Alaska’s law enforcement officers, a group of Alaskans will hold a rally on Thursday, June 18, at the Anchorage Police Department (716 W. 4th Ave in the old LIO Building). Scheduled from 2:30-3:30 p.m., the gathering will take place


How are we doing? Keeping Alaska’s COVID numbers in perspective
The past few weeks have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases across Alaska, but it is important to keep the statistics in perspective. Both Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the state’s chief medical officer Anne Zink said Alaska would see increased case counts as the


Alaska Supremes signal intention to better respect minorities
Four members of the Alaska Supreme Court issued a letter on June 5 claiming that minorities and people of color are not treated with the same respect as white people in Alaska, and that lawyers and judges should do more to change this. While slim on


Anchorage Assembly could mandate masks for all business employees
The Anchorage Assembly will consider a regulation mandating that all businesses require face masks for their employees. The issue is set for discussion at the June 2 Assembly meeting. If passed, employers would need to supply employees with the coverings and


27 new COVID cases are no cause for Alaska to panic, says governor
Gov. Mike Dunleavy held a special press conference on Sunday to address the report that there were 27 new cases of COVID-19 in Alaska reported on May 30. While the number was the largest single day jump in positive test results, Dunleavy said the new figures

