Tag: COVID-19 in Alaska - Page 5

Governor tackles mask controversy, emphasizes advisories & personal freedom

FreedomJuly 1, 2020

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

EducationJune 30, 2020

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

PoliticsJune 29, 2020

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

Berkowitz derides critics of his mask mandate as ‘ironic’ defenders of liberty

FreedomJune 26, 2020

Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz took to the radio on June 25 to defend his forthcoming emergency order to mandate widespread mask wearing under penalty of law. “We just hope that moving forward, we can remind those who hadn’t been following the rules,

Juneau green lights July 4th fireworks show, but you have to mask up

CultureJune 25, 2020

The annual July 4th fireworks show is a go in Juneau. Funded in part by the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), the event will require all spectators to wear a face covering and maintain at least six feet from non-household members. The Juneau Assembly gave the

‘Freedom loving’ Mat-Su citizens spearhead July 4th festivities after city cancels parade

CultureJune 25, 2020

A group of freedom loving Mat-Su business owners sprang into action upon hearing that Wasilla canceled its traditional 4th of July celebrations due to COVID-19. “The Valley is an independent place, made up of people who are smart, caring, resilient, and

Despite public defiance, Berkowitz set to mandate masks across Anchorage

CultureJune 24, 2020

After the Anchorage Assembly twice refused to order residents to wear masks, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has decided to take matters into his own hands and use his ongoing emergency powers to demand mask wearing across the municipality. “There is disregard for

Overall Alaska deaths lower in 2020 despite COVID

CultureJune 10, 2020

Despite initial widespread fears over COVID-19, Alaska deaths between the months of January and April are actually lower in 2020 than the average over the past three years over the same time span. These findings are contained in a new report from the

How are we doing? Keeping Alaska’s COVID numbers in perspective

CultureJune 9, 2020

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

COVID Confused? Conflicted Anchorage mayor supports some large gatherings, not all

CultureJune 9, 2020

Just hours after repeatedly warning Anchorage to social distance and avoid large gatherings, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz disregarded his months-long mantra and joined a massive Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Anchorage on June 5. Standing

COVID-19 in Alaska