Articles written by Claire Stremple
Sorted by date Results 1 - 19 of 19
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State may lower minimum age for prison guards to 18
The state council that sets and enforces standards for employment, training and certification of law enforcement officers in Alaska has approved a proposal to lower the minimum age of state prison guards from 21 to 18 years old. The proposal requires...
Paperwork problems continue to kick Alaskans off Medicaid
When Brandy Barnes got the first notice that she might be dropped from Medicaid, she was worried. One of her teenage sons is autistic and needs significant care to lead a full life. “My main concern is that my son is disabled,” she said. “He... Full story
State caught up on old food stamp applications but behind on new requests
Officials from the state Division of Public Assistance said its staff has worked through the backlog of applications for food stamps that stressed Alaska families for more than a year. But that success came at the cost of what officials are calling... Full story
AmeriCorps wants to expand work with Alaska communities, including elder mentors
On a visit to Alaska last month, the leader of the national community service agency AmeriCorps said the group plans to increase its investment in the state. AmeriCorps received an additional billion dollars for its nationwide budget as part of the... Full story
Federal grant will fund canoe carving program for Southeast students
Federal money for arts, culture and educational programs will fund the creation of two dugout canoes in Southeast Alaska. Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Goldbelt, the Native corporation for Juneau, will teach Alaska Native youth... Full story
Thousands of Alaskans lose Medicaid as state reviews eligibility
The number of Alaskans covered by Medicaid has dropped by more than 14,000 since April, after federal protections for the health care benefits ended with expiration of the COVID-19 emergency declaration. The number losing their benefits may increase... Full story
First-time state report lists 24 missing Alaska Natives
According to a new state report, nearly 200 Alaska Native or American Indian people went missing between the beginning of April and the end of June in Alaska. Two dozen of them have not been found. Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native... Full story
Federal grants will help Tlingit and Haida bring back more artifacts
Alaska tribes, including the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks will receive more than $350,000 in federal grants to use toward... Full story
Sealaska Heritage plans Alaska Native educators support program
As Alaska grapples with a shortage of teachers and high turnover rates, a regional nonprofit is recruiting Alaska Native educators to a new statewide program designed to support and retain them. Amber Frommherz, of Sealaska Heritage Institute, said... Full story
Sexual assault survivors can track rape kit tests online
A new online tool will allow survivors to check the status of their sexual assault kits, Alaska’s Department of Public Safety announced last month. The department developed a tracker so survivors can stay up to date on their case in “the least... Full story
State exceeds time limit on food stamp appeal hearings
While Alaska’s state government has made progress in getting more people the food stamps they are entitled to receive, advocates say the process to appeal denials or delays is breaking down. Food stamps are a federal benefit managed by the states,... Full story
Governor's budget veto hits Head Start programs statewide, including Wrangell
Only a third of Alaska children meet the state’s goals to be ready for kindergarten. But the state’s share of funding for Head Start, a mostly federally funded child care and health program that promotes school readiness specifically for... Full story
New program will train volunteers to provide free legal aid services
Alaska’s Supreme Court, with support from the state bar association, approved a waiver at the end of last year that will allow specially trained nonlawyers to represent Alaskans in court on some issues. Nikole Nelson, Alaska Legal Services... Full story
Report says rural districts need to pay more to hire and retain teachers
Alaska school districts that are remote and serve mainly students from low-income households need to pay substantially more than they currently do to attract and retain teachers, a study from University of Alaska researchers found. Matthew Berman, a... Full story
State's new task force hears child care shortage is getting worse
Alaskans are having a harder time accessing child care now than they were five years ago, an expert told a new task force charged by Gov. Mike Dunleavy with developing a plan to make child care in the state more available and affordable. The task for... Full story
Angoon students launch first canoe in 140 years; named 'Unity'
Angoon students led a procession of regalia-clad residents down the village's Front Street on June 19. Elders and family members looked on as they sang and drummed Tlingit songs in the afternoon sun,... Full story
Legislation intended to ease shortage of nurses runs into opposition
Alaska’s nurse shortage is widely acknowledged but there’s less consensus on how to manage solutions. A bill that aims to get nurses licensed and working faster by Alaska joining a 40-state nurse licensure coalition is mired in pushback.... Full story
Supporters say more state funding needed for child care
Child care advocates statewide have pushed lawmakers about funding problems, and the effort made a difference in the budget for the state fiscal year that starts July 1. The Legislature approved an additional $7.5 million toward grants for child... Full story
Skagway mayor says 'we can't cry in our pillow'
Without diplomatic intervention, large cruise ships aren’t coming to Alaska this year. Canada closed its waters to foreign ships with more than 250 passengers. That means Alaska’s big-ship cruise season for 2021 is effectively cancelled....
