The Anchorage Daily News was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service on Monday for “,” a yearlong examination of the failures of the criminal-justice system in communities across Alaska. The series was reported in partnership with ProPublica.It’s the third Pulitzer Prize for the Daily News in the newspaper’s history — all in the public service category.Reporting for “Lawless” was led by Kyle Hopkins, and included contributions from many ADN staff members as well as those from , an independent nonprofit newsroom with a focus on investigative reporting. The collaboration was part of...…The Anchorage Daily News was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service on Monday for “,” a yearlong examination of the failures of the criminal-justice system in communities across Alaska. The series was reported in partnership with ProPublica.It’s the third Pulitzer Prize for the Daily News in the newspaper’s history — all in the public service category.Reporting for “Lawless” was led by Kyle Hopkins, and included contributions from many ADN staff members as well as those from , an independent nonprofit newsroom with a focus on investigative reporting. The collaboration was part of...WW…

We're making coronavirus coverage available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting local journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week.The number of Alaskans with active cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday rose to its highest level since the start of the pandemic, new state data shows.Alaska’s active coronavirus case tally — the number of residents who have tested positive but not yet recovered — rose to 190, according to . It marks the highest level since the novel coronavirus was first confirmed...…We're making coronavirus coverage available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting local journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week.The number of Alaskans with active cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday rose to its highest level since the start of the pandemic, new state data shows.Alaska’s active coronavirus case tally — the number of residents who have tested positive but not yet recovered — rose to 190, according to . It marks the highest level since the novel coronavirus was first confirmed...WW…

Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier resigned on Wednesday of Collier and Ron Thiessen, president of Pebble parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals, discussing their connections and influence with Alaska politicians and regulators.Northern Dynasty also issued an apology to “all Alaskans," according to a released by the company. Northern Dynasty’s senior management and board of directors accepted Collier’s resignation, the statement said.“Collier’s comments embellished both his and the Pebble Partnership’s relationships with elected officials and federal representatives in Alaska,"...…Pebble Limited Partnership CEO Tom Collier resigned on Wednesday of Collier and Ron Thiessen, president of Pebble parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals, discussing their connections and influence with Alaska politicians and regulators.Northern Dynasty also issued an apology to “all Alaskans," according to a released by the company. Northern Dynasty’s senior management and board of directors accepted Collier’s resignation, the statement said.“Collier’s comments embellished both his and the Pebble Partnership’s relationships with elected officials and federal representatives in Alaska,"...WW…

Both the governor and the mayor have said in press conferences that they need more testing and more assurances that would not trigger a surge in the COVID-19 virus.If only we had some way to test their concern about a surge in cases if we reopen the economy. Well, we have a way. Here it is.Grocery stores, building supply stores, office supply stores, pharmacies and a few other essential stores in Alaska have been open for the duration of the shutdown.These stores are a good way to test a large sample of people (the employees) who have daily contact with many members of the general public....…Both the governor and the mayor have said in press conferences that they need more testing and more assurances that would not trigger a surge in the COVID-19 virus.If only we had some way to test their concern about a surge in cases if we reopen the economy. Well, we have a way. Here it is.Grocery stores, building supply stores, office supply stores, pharmacies and a few other essential stores in Alaska have been open for the duration of the shutdown.These stores are a good way to test a large sample of people (the employees) who have daily contact with many members of the general public....WW…

Congressman Don Young, 86, a world-famous non-epidemiologist, apparently learned all he needed to know about infectious diseases from “Doc” Adams on “Gunsmoke.” So maybe his medical education is sketchy and 150 years out of date. Perhaps that is why, less than three weeks ago on March 13, Young told Alaskans not to worry about the COVID-19 pandemic. He said it was nothing but media “hysteria.”“…They call it a coronavirus,” he said at the Mat-Su Senior Center, openly flouting the CDC rules that he should be self-isolating to prevent infecting others, but “I call it a beer virus.” The...…Congressman Don Young, 86, a world-famous non-epidemiologist, apparently learned all he needed to know about infectious diseases from “Doc” Adams on “Gunsmoke.” So maybe his medical education is sketchy and 150 years out of date. Perhaps that is why, less than three weeks ago on March 13, Young told Alaskans not to worry about the COVID-19 pandemic. He said it was nothing but media “hysteria.”“…They call it a coronavirus,” he said at the Mat-Su Senior Center, openly flouting the CDC rules that he should be self-isolating to prevent infecting others, but “I call it a beer virus.” The...WW…

PALMER — The Matanuska-Susitna School Board has banned the teaching of five “controversial” books used for high school English courses.The books, considered literary classics, are: “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison; “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller; “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien; “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou; and “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.All five books are used by high school classes in the Anchorage School District, some as required reading.The Mat-Su School Board voted 5-2 at to remove the books from the list of materials for English elective...…PALMER — The Matanuska-Susitna School Board has banned the teaching of five “controversial” books used for high school English courses.The books, considered literary classics, are: “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison; “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller; “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien; “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou; and “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.All five books are used by high school classes in the Anchorage School District, some as required reading.The Mat-Su School Board voted 5-2 at to remove the books from the list of materials for English elective...WW…

Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan cemented his opposition to the Pebble mine on Thursday after of the project’s now-former CEO and another executive describing their relationship with Sullivan and other Alaska politicians.“Given the lies of Pebble’s leadership, the record needs to be set straight,” Sullivan said in a three-part Twitter post on Thursday afternoon.The recordings were quickly used by Sullivan’s Senate challenger, Al Gross, accusing Sullivan of hiding his support for the mine from the public. Gross called for Sullivan to return campaign contributions from Pebble...…Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan cemented his opposition to the Pebble mine on Thursday after of the project’s now-former CEO and another executive describing their relationship with Sullivan and other Alaska politicians.“Given the lies of Pebble’s leadership, the record needs to be set straight,” Sullivan said in a three-part Twitter post on Thursday afternoon.The recordings were quickly used by Sullivan’s Senate challenger, Al Gross, accusing Sullivan of hiding his support for the mine from the public. Gross called for Sullivan to return campaign contributions from Pebble...WW…

Alaska education officials this week announced a new statewide virtual school, the result of a sole source $525,000 contract with an embattled Florida public online education provider — a move the statewide teachers’ union says it was blindsided by and opposes.The will allow K-12 students kept home by the coronavirus pandemic to take ranging from kindergarten social studies to high school computer programming online, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development said Tuesday."While the world around us is scrambling with uncertainty, I believe our students and teachers can and...…Alaska education officials this week announced a new statewide virtual school, the result of a sole source $525,000 contract with an embattled Florida public online education provider — a move the statewide teachers’ union says it was blindsided by and opposes.The will allow K-12 students kept home by the coronavirus pandemic to take ranging from kindergarten social studies to high school computer programming online, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development said Tuesday."While the world around us is scrambling with uncertainty, I believe our students and teachers can and...WW…

Many of Alaska’s most popular musical artists performed Tuesday at the Ship Creek small-boat launch, though no large crowd gathered to see them.Videos captured there will become the AK4AK virtual music festival, which will debut online starting at 6 p.m. May 1.Organizers, including Showdown Productions and Anchorage Assembly member Christopher Constant, say the event was inspired by the sacrifices Alaskans made to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases and to thank shipping and port workers who keep food and supplies coming into the state.For musicians it was a welcome chance to play since...…Many of Alaska’s most popular musical artists performed Tuesday at the Ship Creek small-boat launch, though no large crowd gathered to see them.Videos captured there will become the AK4AK virtual music festival, which will debut online starting at 6 p.m. May 1.Organizers, including Showdown Productions and Anchorage Assembly member Christopher Constant, say the event was inspired by the sacrifices Alaskans made to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases and to thank shipping and port workers who keep food and supplies coming into the state.For musicians it was a welcome chance to play since...WW…

We're making coronavirus coverage available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting local journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week.One-time payments of up to $1,200, distributed by lottery, will soon be available to Alaskans struggling to make rent and mortgage payments because of pandemic-related income loss.Aimed at preventing homelessness, the payments will come from a $10 million funding pot administered by Alaska Housing Finance Corp. The money stems from the federal .The application...…We're making coronavirus coverage available without a subscription as a public service. But we depend on reader support to do this work. Please consider joining others in supporting local journalism in Alaska for just $3.23 a week.One-time payments of up to $1,200, distributed by lottery, will soon be available to Alaskans struggling to make rent and mortgage payments because of pandemic-related income loss.Aimed at preventing homelessness, the payments will come from a $10 million funding pot administered by Alaska Housing Finance Corp. The money stems from the federal .The application...WW…