AGP Executive Report

Alaska Election Access: Alaska Native groups (AFN, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, First Alaskans Institute) are urging the Division of Elections to fix rural election-worker shortages, delayed per diem payments, and ensure early voting sites stay open on schedule after a Nome location closure. Governor’s Race Spotlight: Alaska Public Media continues its “Behind the Ballot” candidate interviews ahead of the Aug. 18 primary, including independent Meda DeWitt and Republican Adam Crum, with focus on education, workforce, and energy costs. Rural Healthcare Funding: Alaska health officials awarded another $30M from the Rural Health Transformation Program, including support for state agencies, with more awards expected and a spend-down deadline by Oct. 2027. Native Culture & Community: Bethel’s Kuskokwim Consortium Library received a legislative citation for KuskoCon, highlighting comics and fandom as community-building. Local Governance: Ketchikan Borough Assembly member Dan Ortiz filed for reelection, emphasizing keeping Ketchikan’s community spirit strong. Women’s Equality Watch: WalletHub ranked states on women’s equality, with Alaska mentioned in the minimum-wage gender gap discussion. Housing Affordability: A new report says federal HUD spending hasn’t closed the affordability gap, as home prices outpaced wages in every state from 2015–2024. Back-to-School: Anchorage School District students return as more teachers were hired to offset earlier cutbacks, but a budget deficit remains.

Alaska Politics: Alaska voters head into Tuesday’s all-party primary for U.S. Senate and governor, with the top four vote-getters advancing to November under ranked choice voting—an especially crowded moment with no incumbent in the governor’s race. Local Economy: Fairbanks is feeling federal job cuts, with the borough losing hundreds of jobs in 2025 and deeper, faster federal losses than expected. Community & Culture: Anchorage’s Hmong Harvest Festival kicked off a new year for the city’s Hmong community, bringing traditional dance, music, food, and vendors together at Sullivan Arena. Arts & Identity: A new Yup’ik mural is taking shape in downtown Fairbanks, aiming to brighten winter streets with a rising-sun mask, rivers, tundra, and fireweed. Wildlife & Safety: A runner was injured in an Anchorage brown bear encounter after deploying bear spray and getting transported for treatment. Education & Representation: Sen. Murkowski is pushing delayed federal grants tied to Alaska Native education, while Alaska’s broader education landscape continues to track enrollment shifts.

Bear Safety in Anchorage: A runner was injured after a brown bear encounter on the Wolverine Bowl trail near Prospect Heights, and Alaska wildlife officials say to report aggressive or unusual animal behavior right away. Community Arts: Fairbanks is getting a bright new Yup’ik mural on Cushman Street, with artist Drew Michael aiming to bring color and cultural storytelling to the winter landscape. Cultural Festivals: Anchorage’s Hmong Harvest Festival kicked off a new year for the community, with food, costumes, dance, and music at Sullivan Arena. Education & Funding: Sen. Lisa Murkowski pushed for delayed federal Alaska Native Education Program grants, expected to reach 26 Alaska grantees after a month-long hold. Southeast Nonprofits: Juneau Community Foundation’s Douglas-Dornan fund awarded $52,728 to 24 nonprofits and schools to keep youth programs running. Alaska Long Trail: “Rafiki” completed the first solo thru-hike of the Alaska Long Trail, ending in Fairbanks and urging hikers to respect wildlife and leave no trace. History & Identity: A profile highlights Mahala Ashley Dickerson, who became Alaska’s first Black lawyer and first Black homesteader after starting over in 1958. Local Voices: An Alaska history column revisits the long tradition of mosquito stories in the state’s narratives.

Alaska Native Education: Sen. Lisa Murkowski says delayed federal grants for the Alaska Native Education Program are being expedited after grantees flagged the missing funds. Fisheries & Food Security: An Alaska opinion piece argues no fishery stands alone, urging pollock trawl decisions to weigh the full system impact—not just salmon bycatch. Kodiak History & Memory: The Alutiiq Museum is launching a two-year community planning project to create the Refuge Rock monument for the 1784 Awa’uq massacre, with public input guiding the site and concept. Higher Ed Leadership: UAA names Dr. Sam Hirt as the new director of Kodiak College, starting in January and focused on campus growth and community ties. Mining Workforce Investment: UAF leaders say they’re well-positioned for possible federal funding tied to a new Department of Energy push to expand mining education nationwide. Wildlife & Culture: A Northwest tribe is working to save endangered sunflower sea stars after a deadly outbreak, a reminder of how Indigenous stewardship and science can meet.

Alaska Education & Community: Anchorage School District is moving fast to hire more teachers ahead of the school year, using a mix of state-backed funding and budget planning after earlier cuts. Native History & Public Memory: The Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak is launching a two-year community planning effort for a Refuge Rock monument honoring Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people killed at Awa’uq in 1784. Higher Ed & Workforce: UAA has named Dr. Sam Hirt as the new director of Kodiak College, starting in January, with a focus on growth and community ties. Local Economy & Culture: Anchor Point Greenhouse was named Alaska’s 2026 Farm Family of the Year, celebrating decades of local agriculture and the “Fishy Peat” legacy. Civic Life: A public fishing policy forum is set for Aug. 21 in Kenai, with federal and western caucus leaders discussing conservation and access. Politics & the Ballot: Alaska’s Aug. 18 primary is narrowing a crowded governor field, with interviews highlighting candidates’ priorities and plans.

Alaska Education & Community: Anchorage School District is moving fast to hire more teachers ahead of the school year, using about $6 million from fund balance after earlier cuts tied to a $90 million deficit. Alutiiq Heritage: The Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak is launching a two-year community planning effort for a Refuge Rock monument honoring Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people killed in the 1784 Awa’uq massacre near Old Harbor. Higher Ed in Kodiak: UAA appointed Dr. Sam Hirt as the new director of Kodiak College, starting in January, with a focus on community ties and academic growth. Elections & Leadership: Alaska’s crowded governor race is in full swing as voters head to early voting for the Aug. 18 nonpartisan primary, with interviews spotlighting candidates including Bernadette Wilson and former Gov. Bill Walker. Local Agriculture: Anchor Point Greenhouse was named Alaska’s 2026 Farm Family of the Year. Public Policy Forum: A public fishing policy forum is set for Aug. 21 in Kenai, with federal delegation members and conservation groups on the panel. Culture & Travel: A look at Alaska’s brewing roots highlights how one Southeast brewery grew into a community-driven operation shaped by “no roads” logistics.

Education Leadership: UAA has named Dr. Sam Hirt as the new director of Kodiak College, starting in January, with a focus on community ties and growing academic programs. Cultural Memory: The Alutiiq Museum is launching a two-year community planning project to create a Refuge Rock monument honoring Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people killed in the 1784 Awa’uq massacre near Old Harbor. Workforce & Training: UAF could benefit from a proposed up-to-$100M federal push to expand mining education through the DOE’s PROSPECT initiative, aiming to boost graduates and engineers. Local Schools: Anchorage School District approved additional teacher hiring ahead of the school year, using a mix of one-time state support and fund balance while it waits on final state funding numbers. Elections & Governance: As Alaska’s Aug. 18 primary nears, coverage spotlights candidates including Bernadette Wilson and former Gov. Bill Walker, alongside debate about who’s truly ready to govern. Agriculture & Community: Anchor Point Greenhouse was named Alaska’s 2026 Farm Family of the Year, celebrating 50 years of local growing and Fishy Peat production. Public Forum: A Kenai fishing policy forum is set for Aug. 21, with federal and Western Caucus leaders discussing conservation and access.

Surrogacy & Abortion Clash: An Alaska surrogate, McKenna West, gave birth in Texas to “Baby Gabriel,” after a dispute with the intended Los Angeles parents over a serious heart defect led to court fights spanning multiple states and abortion restrictions. Privacy & Policing: Flock Safety announced major changes after backlash over its license plate reader surveillance network, which critics say enables mass tracking and has been used in ways that raise civil liberties concerns. Glacial Flooding in Juneau: Another glacial lake flood hit Juneau’s Mendenhall area, showing how warming glaciers are increasing summer flood risk for Alaska communities. Elections & Women’s Rights: A pro-Begich and Hnilicka opinion piece argues Alaska women should back the Democratic ticket for reproductive freedom and safety. Native Voting Access: Four Directions Native Vote – Indian Country made its first live public appearance at the Santa Fe Indian Market, pushing election protection and ballot access for American Indian and Alaska Native voters. Education Snapshot: Recent enrollment reporting highlights Alaska-related attention to student diversity and attendance pressures, while national policy moves continue to reshape school and health coverage debates.

Sitka Local Politics: Lisa Lane has filed to run for mayor, laying out a community-first pitch rooted in her decades in Sitka and her focus on how the city can better support residents and services. Alaska Education & Community Life: A new study estimates the income needed to “live comfortably” in Alaska is about $103,917 for a single adult, with the threshold rising 3.6% from 2025—an affordability reality check for families planning school, housing, and daily life. Alaska Culture & Public Health (National, with Alaska ties): The national surrogacy fight over “Baby Gabriel” includes an Alaska surrogate and has escalated into court battles across Texas, California, and Alaska, spotlighting how personal family decisions collide with state law and medical care. Wildlife & Parks: Wildlife officials are responding to reports of a viral “Grolar bear” cub spotted in Katmai National Park, urging caution as the story spreads. Public Safety Tech Backlash: A growing backlash against Flock Safety’s car surveillance network continues, with critics warning the systems can be misused and that “fixes” may not address deeper concerns.

Immigration Enforcement Contract: Koniag Government Services, a Kodiak/Anchorage-based Alaska Native corporation subsidiary, won a $63M DHS contract to run a national ICE call center in rural Tennessee, effective Aug. 6. Community Safety & Hate Threats: A Wasilla man was charged in federal court with threats and stalking tied to racist, anti-Muslim, and anti-LGBTQ+ language aimed at Dearborn, Michigan’s mayor. Native Health Leadership: The U.S. Senate confirmed Mark Cruz as Director of the Indian Health Service, ending a leadership vacancy of more than a year and placing a Native leader over care for 2.8M American Indians and Alaska Natives. Early Childhood Policy Watch: Bipartisan lawmakers are pushing back on sweeping Head Start deregulation plans, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski saying she’s monitoring impacts. Alaska Farming Pride: An Anchor Point family behind Anchor Point Greenhouse was named 2026 Farm Family of the Year, celebrating 50 years of local agriculture. Arctic Science: New research from CU Boulder and partners identified three rodent-like mammal species from northern Alaska’s ancient Arctic, reshaping ideas about polar evolution.

Alaska LNG: Gov. Mike Dunleavy sent a compromise Alaska LNG bill to the Legislature, keeping an S-corp income tax at 2% and delaying it to Jan. 1, 2030 (or first gas), while removing a provision tied to education aid—aimed at clearing the way for financing. Local Politics: The Alaska House Majority Coalition says the earlier LNG property-tax change bill lacks votes, collapsing a third special session and drawing a sharp rebuke from the governor. Community & Culture: Nome youth, with help from Kawerak and UAF Alaska Sea Grant, cleaned Middle Beach and found everything from tires to a dead murre—turning a beach day into an environmental lesson. Education: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District welcomed teachers back with a district-wide professional development day and community support outside Lathrop High School. Native Health: The U.S. Senate confirmed Mark Cruz as the next Indian Health Service director, with a focus on improving tribal care and reducing staffing gaps. Immigration & Alaska Native Business: Federal documents show DHS awarded an Alaska corporation a $63M contract to run an ICE immigration enforcement call center in rural Tennessee. Civic Safety: Dearborn police warned residents to avoid alleged anti-Islam protesters planning to attend an Aug. 18 city council meeting.

Alaska Native & Immigration Enforcement: Federal documents say an Alaska Native corporation, Koniag Government Services, is set to run a 24/7 ICE call center in Adams, Tennessee—raising questions locally about whether the tiny town is ready for the operation. State Politics & Education: Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed two bills without his signature and vetoed two others, including a University of Alaska requirement for fee notices and a hunting/fishing licensing measure tied to Permanent Fund-style rules. Schools & Attendance: Anchorage’s Service High School in Alaska is credited with boosting attendance from about 58% to 87% over recent years, using a Freshman Academy and peer mentoring. Culture & Arts in Southeast: Two Wrangell residents—teacher Laura Davies and author/mosaic artist Vivian Faith Prescott—were named Arts Ambassadors, each receiving $5,000 to expand creative projects tied to public education. Community & Workforce Training: On Prince of Wales Island, a new summer construction class is helping students build real community projects like decks and ramps, aiming to strengthen career and technical education access. Voter Roll Scrutiny: Alaska’s Division of Elections removed thousands from an “active” list tied to a DMV data-sharing arrangement, and a public-records document lists 2,809 alleged noncitizens registered to vote, with more Republicans than Democrats on the list.

Alaska Native Education Funding: Sen. Lisa Murkowski says delayed federal grants for the Alaska Native Education Program are being expedited, with $41.3M expected to reach 26 Alaska grantees after a month-plus hold-up. Community & Culture in the Classroom: On Prince of Wales Island, school districts are teaming up to expand career and technical education, with students building decks, ramps, and community projects as hands-on workforce training. Language Preservation: The Alaska Native Language Center faces uncertainty as staffing changes raise questions about its future, while researchers highlight the value of careful documentation and accessible language resources. Voter Access & Integrity: A new report says more than 2,800 Alaskans are on an alleged noncitizen voter list, tied largely to DMV data checks, with some still able to vote after extra verification steps. Alaska Politics Ahead of the Primary: Your Alaska Link’s “Behind the Ballot” series spotlights Democratic candidate Tom Begich, focusing on rebuilding trust with the Legislature and fully funding education. Nature & Safety: Alaska hikers and bear encounters keep making headlines, including a deadly fall from an Oregon waterfall that underscores how quickly outdoor plans can turn dangerous. Cruise Culture: Princess Cruises opened its 2028 Alaska summer schedule for booking, with eight ships and dozens of itineraries starting in late April.

Alaska Native Language Center: Staffing changes have put the Alaska Native Language Center’s future in question, raising worries about what comes next for language work. Cruise Culture: Princess Cruises opened its 2028 Alaska season for booking with eight ships, 185 departures, and routes from Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Community & Banking: Wells Fargo is rolling out a new consolidated Denali branch in Anchorage, adding HOPE Inside financial coaching and more in-person services. Education & Identity: Alaska’s school landscape gets attention through enrollment reporting nationwide, while Alaska-specific school staffing challenges also surface in coverage. Health & Care Access: Hope Valley Health and Wellness in Wasilla is coordinating flights for Veterans entering residential treatment, aiming to reduce delays tied to travel and coverage worries. Wildlife Moments: Viral bear-and-cat standoffs keep Alaska’s nature stories trending, from grizzlies to black bears. Immigration Enforcement: DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin visited Anchorage to highlight cargo screening and what’s slipping through. Refugee Snapshot: Alaska reported 4 refugee-related arrivals under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in fiscal year 2026.

Alaska Supreme Court Watch: The court is hearing arguments in X.A. v. Mat-Su Borough School District, a fight over bathroom access and privacy rules for transgender students, with a decision expected soon. Education Funding: Sen. Lisa Murkowski says delayed federal grants for the Alaska Native Education Program are being expedited, after grantees reported they still hadn’t received the money. Culture & Identity: Kaska Dena author Wendy Proverbs shares how her young-reader book “Letti in Progress” connects kids to Indigenous roots through a road trip and school support. Community & Lifestyle: National Alaska Cruise Week launches as a new annual observance aimed at helping travelers plan Alaska cruises during the busy August booking season. Civic Debate: A public schools op-ed argues Alaska classrooms shouldn’t turn civic education into political mobilization. Local Governance: Grand Forks School Board approved a 5-4 PILOT for a Ray Richards Golf Course development, setting up next votes by city and county. Environment Activism: Alaska youth activists renew pressure to ban polystyrene (Styrofoam), criticizing vetoes and pointing to other states and cities that already restricted it.

Alaska Native Education Funding: Sen. Lisa Murkowski says delayed federal grants totaling $41.3M for the Alaska Native Education Program will be expedited to 26 Alaska grantees after grantees flagged the missed timeline. Workforce & LNG: Alaska’s Department of Labor released an updated workforce analysis for the Alaska LNG Project, projecting peak construction demand of about 6,600 workers for AKLNG and up to about 8,600 statewide when concurrent projects are included. Broadband for Remote Schools: Actelis Networks says it received orders worth $100,000+ from regional carriers to extend cyber-hardened broadband to remote Alaska school districts and healthcare facilities. Japanese Community Spotlight: Anchorage’s Japanese Summer Festival brought music, dance, art, and food to the Kincaid Chalet, highlighting the local Japanese community’s size and strong ties. AI Governance Gap: An opinion piece argues Alaska is falling behind other states on AI guardrails, pointing to limited protections for children, privacy, and algorithmic decision-making. Culture on the Water: A travel roundup notes Alaska is best experienced by cruise in late summer and early fall, when crowds thin and wildlife stays plentiful. Politics With Alaska Ties: Sen. Murkowski’s “no” vote helped shape the narrow Senate confirmation of Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general, a move critics say further politicizes the Justice Department.