Mayor allowed to keep emergency powers in Anchorage
The Anchorage Assembly voted 9-2 on June 2 to extend Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’s ability to enact and enforce emergency orders as they pertain to COVID-19. With the extension, Berkowitz can continue to punish residents who violate his orders regarding the
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
Juneau mandates masks in order access buses, public facilities
In order to ride public buses or utilize government owned property, residents of Alaska’s state capitol must now wear face coverings. The Juneau Assembly unanimously passed an ordinance on May 28 requiring bus passengers to wear a mask over their nose and
Alaska Supreme Court orders all quarantine cases to be confidential
The Chief Justice of Alaska’s Supreme Court ordered that all court cases in which the state forces people into mandatory isolation due to COVID-19 be sealed from the public. Chief Justice Joel Bolger issued the order on May 26 to comply with a law passed by
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
Mat-Su turns out in force to honor fallen soldiers
Some 300 men, women and children stood under gray skies and steady rainfall to attend a packed Memorial Day ceremony in downtown Wasilla. Gathered at the Mat-Su Veterans Wall of Honor, attendees witnessed a 21-gun salute to the fallen dead. In attendance were
Anchorage mayor defends his COVID ‘rules’ while most of Alaska reopens
Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz is doubling down on his so-called “slow but steady” approached to gradually reopening Anchorage’s economy, churches and other entities. Despite the fact the Gov. Mike Dunleavy lifted nearly all state health mandates on
Assembly member calls on Anchorage mayor to reopen society
Editor’s note: The following message was sent to us by newly elected Anchorage Assembly Member Jamie Allard in response to Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’s continued restrictions on businesses, churches and other venues despite Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s lifting of
Alaska among 10 states failing to enact religious exemptions during pandemic
Alaska is among just 10 states that failed to provide religious exemptions to protect First Amendment liberties of churches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every state in the union implemented guidelines and mandates limiting social gatherings but some took
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