WASHINGTON — The bipartisan tax package passed by the U.S. House last month is not a done deal, but the proposal’s supporters say it could restore some poverty-reducing benefits that reached millions under the pandemic-era child tax credit expansion. A majority of low-income families who do not currently qualify for the full credit would see […]
Posted inCommentary
Risky business not the state’s business
The advice for Las Vegas gamblers is don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. It’s generally the same advice for investors: Don’t take more risk than you can afford, even when the riskier bets look like they could pay off the same as 21 at the blackjack table. The six members of the […]
Posted inHealth, News
There’s a new pill for postpartum depression, but many at-risk women face hurdles
Suicide and overdoses are among the leading causes of maternal death in the U.S. The first pill for postpartum depression approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now available, but experts worry that minority and low-income women, who are disproportionately affected by the condition, won’t have easy access to the new medication. About 1 in […]
Posted inNews, Police
Alaska Public Safety officials say job vacancies hinder human trafficking response
Leaders from the state’s Public Safety Department proposed staffing a council that addresses human trafficking to the House Judiciary Committee on Monday. They said a staff would allow them to better collect and aggregate data to measure the issue. They also told legislators that the agency needs to fill its open positions to combat the […]
Posted inNews
Feds deliver stark warnings to state election officials ahead of November
WASHINGTON — Federal law enforcement and cybersecurity officials are warning the nation’s state election administrators that they face serious threats ahead of November’s presidential election. Secretaries of state and state election directors must be ready for potential cyberattacks, both familiar and uncomfortably new, according to the feds. And they must remain vigilant about possible threats […]
Posted inNews, Government & Elections
‘Until It Is Fixed’: Congress Ramps Up Action on Social Security Clawbacks
The Senate Finance Committee is ramping up oversight of Social Security’s overpayment problem and plans to meet with the agency every month “until it is fixed.” The Social Security Administration assured lawmakers in the past that it had been addressed, but “what you all found in your reporting is that the problem hadn’t been fixed,” […]
Posted inNews, Health
A new RSV shot could help protect babies this winter – if they can get it in time.
Emily Bendt was in her third trimester of pregnancy when she first heard the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had approved a new shot for infants to protect them from the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. By Oct. 5, Bendt was cuddling with her new baby, Willow, on the couch at home in Vancouver, […]
Posted inGovernment & Elections, News
USDA puts pressure on Alaska, other states to keep up with food aid
As Alaska continues to deal with a backlog of food aid applications, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to all state governors on Thursday, urging them to take steps to make sure their state’s programs issue benefits on time and of the correct amount. Data shows that Alaska is not alone in struggling […]
Posted inNews, State of Alaska
Governor says he’d like to send troops to Texas, but cost is a hurdle
Gov. Mike Dunleavy told reporters that he’d like to answer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s request for National Guard soldiers to support a state-run effort along the Mexico border, but he’s not sure the Alaska Legislature will approve the cost. “To send the Guard down will cost us about — according to Adjutant General Saxe — […]