Native voters are clearing hurdles. That’s why some politicians want to make them higher.
July 10 By John Echohawk Native American voters are waking up to their political power — which means that some politicians threatened by this new reality are trying to take it away from them. State legislatures across the country have introduced bills that target and…
Favorable Weather Helps Keep Alaska Wildfire From Resort
July 9 By Martin Slow Favorable weather conditions have allowed firefighters to bolster protections for structures even as a wildfire burning in interior Alaska had grown on the opposite end, a fire official said Thursday. Nearly 200 firefighters were battling the fire, parts of which…
Haitian Officials Request U.S. Troops to Protect Infrastructure amid Political Turmoil
July 9 By Caroline Downey Haitian government officials said they’ve asked the United States to deploy troops in an auxiliary effort to help shield Haiti’s infrastructure from attack amid the political turbulence the country is experiencing after President Jovenel Moïse’s sudden assassination Wednesday. They requested…
Despite second lowest vaccination rate in U.S., Ivey won’t seek federal help
July 8 By Eddie Burkhalter Despite Alabama having the second-lowest COVID-19 vaccination rate in the nation, hospitalizations rising and the more contagious delta strain quickly becoming dominant, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has no plans to ask for help from newly-formed federal surge response teams. White…
Climate Change Drove Western Heat Wave’s Extreme Records, Analysis Finds
July 8 By Henry Fountain The extraordinary heat wave that scorched the Pacific Northwest last week would almost certainly not have occurred without global warming, an international team of climate researchers said Wednesday. Temperatures were so extreme — including readings of 116 degrees Fahrenheit in…
Can a global tax deal survive political gridlock in the US?
July 7 By Aime Williams US president Joe Biden celebrated last week after 130 countries agreed to make significant changes to the international tax system, reaching a consensus after fresh proposals from the US jolted talks that appeared to have hit an impasse. But the…
Protected portion of Alaska Permanent Fund grows by $4B thanks to apparent mistake
July 7 By Andrew Kitchenman The portion of the Alaska Permanent Fund protected by the state constitution has grown by $4 billion. That’s the result of a transfer from the fund’s earnings reserve. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Thursday he had stopped the $4 billion…
China’s Xi takes dig at U.S. in speech to political parties around world
July 6 By Yew Lun Tian Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged political parties worldwide to oppose any country that engages in “technology blockades”, an allusion to the United States which views China as its strategic competitor. As U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has…
U.N. envoy tells Belarus to free political prisoners as U.S hints at sanctions
July 5 By Alison Williams The U.N. Special Rapporteur told Belarus on Monday to immediately free some 530 jailed people whom rights groups consider “political prisoners” as Washington’s envoy hinted at the possibility of further economic sanctions against Minsk. Belarusian authorities have cracked down hard…
Alaska’s fiscal crisis — and a proposed solution
July 4 By Cliff Groh The state of Alaska has a problem taller than Denali. We cannot pay for our education, roads, public safety and residents’ Permanent Fund dividends. This problem has gotten much worse in recent years, and every year that passes makes it…
Here’s how Gov. Dunleavy’s vetoes affect foster youths, tourism marketing, legal services and more
July 3 By James Brooks On Wednesday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy unilaterally cut $215 million from Alaska’s state budget, eliminating increases proposed by the Alaska Legislature and mostly reinstating a budget proposal he introduced at the start of the year. Dunleavy, explaining his vetoes on Thursday,…
IOC giving athletes slightly more leeway to express views on political, social justice
July 2 By Rachel Axon The International Olympic Committee is giving athletes slightly more leeway to express views on political and social justice issues, according to new guidance it issued on Friday. Three weeks before the opening of the Tokyo Games, the IOC clarified its…