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
Dunleavy stands by Alaska’s law enforcement amid defunding calls
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he will not defund Alaska’s law enforcement officers as some have called for after the death of George Floyd – an unarmed black many who died last month while being arrested by Minneapolis police officers. “The vast majority
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
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
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
Alaskans to receive $1,000 PFDs in July
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced May 20 that the Permanent Fund Dividend Division will begin distribution of the 2020 PFD to all eligible Alaskans on July 1, three months earlier than normal. The Alaska Legislature capped the dividend at $1,000 this year rather
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
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