
WATCH: Disaffected Anchorage School District correspondence families have alternatives
The Alaska Policy Forum recently held a webinar to inform Anchorage families about three of many options available for those who no longer want to enroll their children in the Anchorage School District. Controversy erupted last month when the Anchorage


Mat-Su welcomes Anchorage students who can’t use correspondence funds at private schools
Mat-Su Central, a correspondence program in the Mat-Su School District, is welcoming Anchorage-area families who are unhappy with the school district’s last-minute decision to clamp down on how families use correspondence allotments. Last month, Anchorage


REPORT: Florida students far outperform Alaska’s
A new report from the Alaska Policy Forum breaks the ongoing struggles of Alaska students and compares them to similarly situated students in Florida who are excelling in academics. The report looks at data from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational


Juneau’s new library director launching first official week with drag queen party for kids
The new leader of Juneau Public Libraries is kicking off her first official week as director by hosting a drag queen story hour and dance party for children. On July 31, the City & Borough of Juneau announced that Catherine Melville will serve as the next


Mat-Su School Board set to curtail sexual content and social activism in school libraries
As part of an ongoing overhaul of policies intended to boost parental rights, curtail teacher activism, reign in explicit sex education and restrict the use of LGBTQ pronouns in public schools, the Mat-Su School Board is set to vote on a new library policy at


Alaska RR turns 100, remains the last U.S. rail service to haul freight and passengers
Earlier this month, the Alaska Railroad turned 100 with a ceremony marking the day – July 15, 1923 – when President Warren G. Harding stood on the banks of the Tanana River in Nenana to personally drive home the golden spike to complete the 470-mail


Alaska Dems issue convoluted rules for picking ‘non-binary’ convention delegates
Historically, the Alaska Democratic Party has tried to ensure that party delegates for the Democratic National Convention are evenly divided between males and females. Due to a concern about delegate applicants who don’t personally identify as either male


Dept. of Corrections withdraws ban on Catholic masses in Alaska prisons
After considerable public outcry, the Alaska Department of Corrections has rescinded a policy that had effectively banned the celebration of Catholic mass in state prisons for the past month. “Alaska Department of Corrections acknowledges the recent concern


Interim policy bans Catholic mass in Alaska prisons
In what may well be a violation of the First Amendment, Alaska inmates are currently unable to participate in Catholic masses thanks to a new policy from the state corrections department, which effectively bans the use of sacramental altar wine in the


Petition to repeal Alaska’s ranked choice voting system has 76% of needed signatures
The effort to repeal Alaska’s controversial ranked-choice voting system has gathered nearly 20,000 of the needed 26,000 signatures to put the question up for a vote in the 2024 general election. That’s 76% of the minimum needed. The organization

