(38) stories found containing 'alaska department of health & human services'


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  • Fired federal workers in Alaska, nationally are 'reinstated' after order, but are not back at work

    Corinne Smith|Mar 20, 2025

    Some fired federal employees received letters on Monday notifying them they were “reinstated” according to a federal court order, but on “paid, non-duty” status, a type of administrative leave. The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a letter to fired employees, including those formerly with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, who shared a copy with the Alaska Beacon. “When I first heard the decision, I was super excited,” said one former employee with NOAA, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid potential r... Full story

  • Some skepticism as Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposes biggest use of executive power in decades

    James Brooks, Alaska Beacon|Feb 1, 2024

    In an unusual use of executive powers, Gov. Mike Dunleavy this month issued 12 executive orders abolishing state boards and granting new powers to the heads of state departments. The orders, which account for almost 10% of all executive orders issued since statehood and are equal to the number of all executive orders issued in the previous 20 years, will automatically take effect in March unless the Alaska Legislature specifically disapproves of them in a joint vote of the House and Senate. “We have never, in my experience, had 12 executive o... Full story

  • Year in Review

    Olivia Rose|Dec 28, 2023

    In January The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously voted to award the construction contract for the Blind Slough Hydroelectric refurbishment project to McG/Dawson Joint Venture for an amount not to exceed $5,744,000. The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved an ordinance in its first reading that would rezone a lot located at 10 N. 12th Street for commercial use. The rezoning was requested by the Petersburg Indian Association ahead of their prospective purchase of the lot, which h...

  • A review of Kinder Skog's first year under the PMC umbrella

    Olivia Rose, Pilot Writer|Dec 7, 2023

    During October's hospital board meeting, program facilitators presented a review of the PMC Youth Programs under the Petersburg Medical Center community wellness department - primarily highlighting Kinder Skog's past year as a PMC pilot program. The outdoor-based childcare program transitioned from operating under Petersburg Lutheran Church's Good Beginnings Preschool to PMC in August 2022 after the hospital board agreed earlier that year to establish a pilot childcare program in the Community W...

  • Here's what to know about new federal policies for repaying student loans

    Ariana Figueroa, Alaska Beacon|Aug 31, 2023

    WASHINGTON — Following the Supreme Court’s summer ruling against 40 million federal student loan borrowers who would have qualified for debt relief, the Biden administration crafted a year-long delay in repayments. The policy, known as an on-ramp, is set to begin next month. Additionally, hours after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Department of Education unveiled a new repayment plan for those with federal student loans, known as Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE. The new income-driven repayment plan calculates payments based on a bor...

  • Tlingit & Haida Head Start plans to cut 80 classroom spots

    Larry Persily, Wrangell Sentinel writer|Aug 17, 2023

    The Head Start program operated in 10 Southeast communities by the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska wants to reduce its authorized enrollment by 80 children as the nonprofit adjusts to a tightening budget situation and staffing shortages. Tlingit & Haida is approved to serve 262 children across Southeast but has asked federal officials for permission to reduce the number to 182, according to Head Start Director Christa Green. Federal funding covers almost 80% of the program’s budget. The program provides 20 Head Start...

  • Alaska Department of Health moves to ease parts of child care licensing burden

    Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon|Aug 3, 2023

    The state government is taking aim at eliminating one of the most common barriers for people who want to open child care centers in remote communities: The state requirement for a special internet connection called a “static IP address.” Every device connected to has its own Internet Protocol, or IP, address. While most device addresses can change, static IP addresses don’t. They can be costly and hard to get in remote parts of Alaska where internet access is a known challenge. Would-be child care providers in remote parts of Alaska have said...

  • Tlingit & Haida awarded $49 million grant to develop broadband infrastructure

    Nov 24, 2022

    The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced last Thursday that it has been awarded a nearly $50 million grant to expand broadband deployment in the region. The grant is one of 18 awarded recently awarded to tribal entities in 11 states as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP)-a nearly $3 billion grant program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and part of the Biden-Harris...

  • To the Editor

    Apr 28, 2022

    Ocean Rangers To the Editor: If you were disappointed in the Senate Resource Committee’s decision last week and want to stop SB 180 please speak up now. As constituents of Senator Bert Stedman, it is very important he hear our concerns on this bill introduced by Governor Dunleavy that will eliminate Ocean Rangers on cruise ships. We need to ask him to hold SB 180, to not schedule a hearing this session, and urge him to reinstate funding for the Ocean Rangers on most ships, most of the time. Ask Senator Stedman directly what he is planning to d...

  • COVID-19 weekly update:

    Brian Varela|Sep 2, 2021

    Breakthrough COVID-19 cases found in Alaska April 30 Between Feb. 1 and March 31, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services identified 152 positive cases of COVID-19 among people in the state who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a report from DHSS. About 74 percent of the vaccine breakthrough cases, or 112 individuals, were among people who had received the Pfizer vaccine, according to the report. Thirty-eight percent of the breakthrough cases had received the Moderna... Full story

  • Medical experts layout local COVID-19 outbreak

    Brian Varela, Pilot writer|Mar 18, 2021

    State health officials held a town hall meeting via Zoom on Wednesday to give an overview of the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Petersburg and answer any questions. Since Feb. 18, Petersburg has reported new cases of COVID-19 nearly every single day, while maintaining an active case count. Since the outbreak peaked at 68 cases on March 3, Petersburg has seen a steady decrease in cases. As of Tuesday, Petersburg has recorded 94 cases of the virus since Feb. 18. State health officials were able to...

  • Alaska Fish Factor: Edict by CDC says fishermen must wear masks while underway, even while sleeping; Coast Guard will enforce it

    Feb 18, 2021

    Fishermen must wear masks while they are underway, even while sleeping, and the Coast Guard intends to enforce it. That’s an edict issued as a public health emergency by the Center for Disease Control in a Marine Safety Bulletin issued on Feb. 1. It requires the wearing of masks at all times in U.S. waters on all commercial vessels “when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel” to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The action states that “conveyance operators traveling into or within the U.S. may transport only persons...

  • Yesterday's News

    Jan 21, 2021

    January 21, 1921 Bishop Crimont returned from a trip to Petersburg on the steamer Jefferson, which arrived in port Thursday. He said that business conditions in Petersburg were excellent and that he believed “it was the richest little city of its size in the United States.” A Catholic Church will be built in Petersburg. Bishop Crimont, made arrangements and work will be started soon. January 18, 1946 If you notice a shiny, tin can on the counter of the store, or in fact, any business establishment, where you make your next purchase, let it rem...

  • Seafood netted historic firsts in nation's new dietary guidelines

    Laine Welch|Aug 6, 2020

    It got little attention from the mainstream media but seafood netted some historic firsts in the nation’s new dietary guidelines. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee submitted a report in July to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services that recommends what Americans should include in their diets from 2020 through 2025, a task it has undertaken every five years since 1980. “This is by far the strongest they’ve come out for seafood in all of the U.S. dietary guidelines history, and at virtually every point in the lifecy...

  • Two more cases of virus confirmed locally

    Brian Varela|Jul 9, 2020

    Two additional cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the community in the past week, bringing the total number of cases to seven, though four have recovered. The first was identified on July 2. The individual had developed symptoms and was evaluated by Petersburg Medical Center and tested on site, according to a joint press release between the Petersburg Borough and PMC. The person was directed to isolated at home. The second confirmed case of COVID-19 was identified as part of OBI Seafoods'...

  • One new case of COVID-19 locally

    Brian Varela|Jul 2, 2020

    A traveler coming into town through the James A. Johnson Airport has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a joint statement between the Petersburg Borough and Petersburg Medical Center released on Wednesday afternoon. The individual is a guest at Rocky Point Resort and has been at the lodge since his arrival from out of state earlier this week, according to the press release. The lodge guest did not have symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving in Alaska. This new case of COVID-19 brings the...

  • Test samples collected at Petersburg airport

    Brian Varela|Jun 18, 2020

    On Tuesday, Petersburg Medical Center staff were ready to start collecting test samples from passengers flying into town as of the afternoon jet to be tested for COVID-19, said PMC Director of Patient Care Services Angela Menish. As passengers get off the plane and exit the tarmac, they are greeted by borough employees. If an individual is arriving from another part of Alaska, then they can enter the community. If the individual is arriving from outside of the state or country, then they are dir...

  • Borough to screen incoming travelers

    Brian Varela|Jun 11, 2020

    An updated version of Gov. Dunleavy's state health mandate #10 took effect early Saturday morning and set new guidelines for residents and visitors who are entering Alaska from the lower 48 or another country. According to the revised mandate, travelers into the state will have to meet one of four requirements upon arrival to avoid having to self quarantine for 14 days. They can be tested for COVID-19 before traveling, or they can be tested in Alaska when they arrive. If the individual has...

  • Interstate travel mandate to expire Saturday

    Brian Varela|Jun 4, 2020

    With the upcoming expiration of the state's health mandate that requires anyone arriving in the state to quarantine for 14 days, Borough Incident Commander Karl Hagerman said at the COVID-19 community update Wednesday that the borough hasn't received much information from the state on what will happen next. Last Friday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced plans to change state health mandate #10 in a press conference. He mentioned that the Petersburg and Wrangell airports would be supported by state...

  • Pandemic brings on depression among Alaskans

    Brian Varela|May 28, 2020

    Petersburg Public Health Nurse Erin Michael warned the public that as people's lives change and adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they can begin to feel depressed and suicidal. At the COVID-19 community update on Wednesday, May 27, Micheal said the state reported an increase in emergency room visits related to suicide. She said it's not uncommon for people to feel anxious or depressed as they deal with the pandemic. Some specific causes of depression brought on by the pandemic can be a lack...

  • Top Alaskan medical professionals speak on COVID-19

    Brian Varela|May 28, 2020

    State health officials held a virtual work session with the borough on May 27 that updated the community on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska. Joe McLaughlin, chief of epidemiology in the state, opened the work session with a brief presentation on the virus. He said the state isn't entirely sure what the total number of COVID-19 cases are in Alaska because not everyone has been tested for the virus. It is possible that there might be double or even triple the amount of cases than...

  • Alaska loosens intrastate travel limitations

    Brian Varela|May 14, 2020

    On Monday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy released state health mandate #18, which eases previous restrictions on intrastate travel. The newest health mandate supersedes state health mandate #12, which had limited travel between Alaskan communities to critical infrastructure or critical personal needs. State health mandate #18 now opens up all purposes of travel for communities connected by the road system and the Alaska Marine Highway System. Travel between those communities does include the use of boats...

  • Borough to speak with top state medical staff

    Brian Varela|May 7, 2020

    Borough officials will be having a work session with state medical professionals next Wednesday to talk about the state's current and future approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. Borough Incident Commander Karl Hagerman said on Wednesday that the information gained from the work session can be used by community leaders to prevent a widespread COVID-19 outbreak as Petersburg begins to reopen parts of its economy. "I think it's very important to understand where the state is going with testing, and...

  • Testing numbers increase as third local case reported

    Brian Varela|Apr 30, 2020

    Another case of COVID-19 was reported in Petersburg on Monday, bringing the local number of COVID-19 cases to three, though two of the individuals have since recovered, according to a joint-statement made by the Petersburg Medical Center and the Petersburg Borough. PMC has sent out a total of 134 test samples to state and commercial laboratories to be tested for COVID-19, according to PMC Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Lauri Miller at Wednesday's community COVID-19 update. Of those samples,...

  • Assembly passes sheltering directive in a split vote

    Brian Varela|Apr 30, 2020

    The borough assembly approved a public health emergency directive at a special meeting on Tuesday that implements a temporary quarantine and isolation program for first responders, healthcare works and homeless individuals and families to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 in the community. Borough Incident Commander Karl Hagerman said just after the formation of the Emergency Operations Center, the team identified a need to create a plan on how the borough could help the homeless populatio...

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