Anchorage news

• Alaska reports 50 new COVID-19 cases, breaking record for state’s biggest one-day increase

  02-07-2020 23:43 via ktoo.org
  
  Alaska recorded 50 new coronavirus cases from Wednesday, but no new deaths or hospitalizations. It’s the biggest one-day increase in infections in Alaska since the pandemic began, breaking the prior record set earlier this week.
  The latest COVID-19 cases include 39 Alaskans and 11 nonresidents, according to the latest data update Thursday from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
  The jump follows a series of double-digit, one-day case increases in Alaska for
  
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• Gardentalk – Your fruit, vegetables and flowers thank you for your support

  02-07-2020 21:39 via ktoo.org
  
  
  A kiwi plant climbs up the side of the building at the KTOO Agricultural Test Station and Garden of Science! (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)
  Many garden plants get too tall or too heavy to support themselves over the entire season.
  That’s why Master Gardener Ed Buyarski says it’s important that we do our best to lift them up as they grow.http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2020/06/Gardentalk062620.mp3
  Keeping plants off the ground helps with pollination, air circulation, and prevents
  
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• A Juneau police officer killed Kelly Stephens last year, now Stephens’ family is suing

  02-07-2020 19:36 via ktoo.org
  
  Residents and visitors at the Chinook apartment complex in the Mendenhall Valley show tattoos they were given by Kelly “Rabbit” Stephens on Dec. 29, 2019 in Juneau. Stephens was killed during an early-morning confrontation with Juneau police officer James Esbenshade. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
  Last December 29, someone left a note on Virginia Stephens’ doorstep. It had a case number on it and a phone number for her to call. She said she had a hard time tracking anyone dow
  
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• Juneau’s emergency shelter will stay open through September, hopefully longer

  02-07-2020 08:24 via ktoo.org
  
  People who stay overnight at the emergency shelter inside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center use the same cot and blankets on consecutive nights. (Photo by Adelyn Baxter/KTOO)
  Usually in the summer, there’s a drop in demand for services for people experiencing homelessness. But local service providers say that hasn’t happened this year.
  This spring, the city extended its contract with St. Vincent de Paul — the non-profit that runs the emergency warming shelter — until mid
  
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• Current, former leaders from both major political parties oppose election reform ballot initiative

  02-07-2020 08:08 via ktoo.org
  
  A voter enters an election both at Northern Light United Church during Municipal Elections on October 1, 2019, in Juneau. On Tuesday, the House State Affairs Committee heard testimony on an initiative that would overhaul Alaska’s election laws. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
  An initiative on the November ballot would reduce the role political parties play in Alaska elections. It’s a state where most voters don’t affiliate with a party — and have a history of backing ind
  
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• Newscast — Wednesday, July 1, 2020

  02-07-2020 03:10 via ktoo.org
  
  
  https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2020/07/070120-News-Update.mp3
  In this newscast:State public health experts gathered Wednesday to discuss the latest science and the medical response to COVID-19.
  Neiman Marcus is one of the clothing retailers that’s seen a decline in sales because of the coronavirus.
  Federal wildlife officials are asking the public to be on the lookout for an entangled humpback whale reported near Sitka.
  June was the second-wettest June ever recorded with 7.3 inche
  
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• Alaska health officials answer questions from the public, while COVID-19 cases continue to rise

  02-07-2020 01:18 via ktoo.org
  
  State public health experts gathered Wednesday to discuss the latest science and the medical response to COVID-19.
  They talked about the mechanics of masks and how they help to prevent the spread of the virus.
  State epidemiologist Joe McLaughlin explained that virus particles are very small, but they hitch a ride with a person’s larger respiratory droplets in order to infect someone else.
  “So, what we know is that when I cough or I sneeze or even I’m talking or I’m singi
  
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• That was the second wettest June on record in Juneau

  02-07-2020 00:59 via ktoo.org
  
  A wet Welcome to Juneau sign, taken on June 3, 2020. (Photo by Jennifer Pemberton / KTOO)
  Last month was the second-wettest June ever in Juneau with 7.3 inches of rain. That’s just shy of the June 2014 record of 7.48 inches.
  “It is well above normal,” said Kimberly Vaughan with the National Weather Service in Juneau. “The normal for the month of June is 3.24 inches. So, we’re just slightly over four inches above normal for the month.”
  Vaughan said June is norm
  
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• COVID Q&A: We answer legal and medical questions about Anchorage’s new mask mandate

  02-07-2020 00:23 via ktoo.org
  
  Face masks for employees at Salon Ivy in Anchorage. April 23, 2020. (Photo by Hannah Lies/Alaska Public Media)
  Anchorage’s mask mandate went into effect Monday in the midst of some strong opposition by individuals who claim such an order infringes on civil liberties or is medically harmful. One area of confusion has been how customers need to prove a disability that might prevent them from wearing a mask to a store owner.
  Alaska Public Media’s Lex Treinen spoke to some experts about
  
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