Testimony spills into day 3 on plan to put homeless shelters in Anchorage neighborhoods
Over the past two days, Anchorage residents have packed the Anchorage Assembly Chambers to protest a plan by Mayor Ethan Berkowitz to set up homeless shelters in local neighborhoods not zoned for this purpose. Day three of public testimony will resume tonight
Anchorage Assembly to consider terminating or extending mayor’s COVID orders
The Anchorage Assembly will consider whether to terminate sections of Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’s COVID-19 emergency orders at their upcoming June 2 meeting. A resolution submitted by Assembly Members Suzanne LaFrance, John Weddleton and Jamie Allard calls for
Anchorage mayor breaks with governor’s plan to reopen state on Friday
While Gov. Mike Dunleavy is set to remove all health mandates on businesses, churches and cultural entities by May 22, Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz does not plan to let Alaska’s largest city follow the same timeline. During the May 19 Anchorage Assembly
Governor: ‘Now is the time’ to reopen Alaska
The time has come to move away from fear and hiding from COVID-19 and towards widespread but careful opening of Alaska’s businesses, churches and cultural life, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on May 19. Starting Friday, May 22, businesses and other entities
Just the facts: COVID health impact in Alaska has dramatically fallen
The past month has seen a steep decline in the use of medical resources and overall active cases of COVID-19 in Alaska. On May 12 the state reported no new cases of the virus, no new hospitalization and no additional deaths. Over the past 30 days, Alaska has
More Alaska churches reopen as COVID numbers remain low
More churches across Alaska are beginning to reopen under updated health guidelines released on May 8 as part of phase two of reopening the state. As of May 11, Alaska had just 53 active cases of COVID-19. The new guidelines allow for up to 50 people in
ACLU of Alaska keeps quiet on religious liberty restrictions
The ACLU, including the Alaska chapter, claims to be very busy protecting fundamental liberties during the COVID-19 crisis. A series of recent emails from the national group boasts that during the pandemic their attorneys have filed over 100 legal actions for
Alaska enters phase two of reopening: Theaters, bars, entertainment permitted
With extremely low infection and hospitalization rates from COVID-19, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced plans for phase two of reopening segments of Alaska. This allows entertainment and cultural venues to incrementally open as well as bars and fitness centers.
Take caution, yes, but don’t trample religious liberty amid a pandemic
Last month, the mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, banned all religious services as part of the effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The ban applied to a drive-in service planned by the On Fire Christian Center on Easter Sunday. On Holy Saturday, Federal
Mandates raise legal questions regarding treatment of Alaska churches
Last week U.S. Attorney General William Barr instructed the Department of Justice to be on the lookout for state and local laws that violate the religious liberties of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barr directed the DOJ to take action to correct