Claire Stremple (KTOO-Juneau)

Half of the first language speakers of Kodiak Alutiiq died between 2020 and 2022. But that’s not stopping new speakers from learning the language and passing along a distinct culture and worldview to the next generations.

The state’s Department of Health and Social Services — by far the largest state agency — has split into two smaller departments. State officials say the reorganization will result in two more wieldy departments.

University of Alaska Southeast will offer some Alaska Native language classes for free, starting in the fall. Alaska Native Languages professor X’unei Lance Twitchell says this is part of revitalizing the Lingít, Haida and Tsimshian languages.

A synthetic opiate called fentanyl is behind a surge of drug overdoses in Alaska. As a result, overdoses in the state have become so deadly that one of the tools used to fight them has changed.

Alaska is short on health care workers — especially nurses and nursing assistants. Experts say increasing our reliance on out-of-state workers is economically untenable. But one big roadblock to training a homegrown workforce is hiring enough nursing faculty at the state’s university.

A bone marrow transplant is a life-saving procedure for people with blood illnesses or cancers, but it’s harder for Alaska Native and mixed-race people to find matches because they’re underrepresented in the donor database. Advocates are hosting a drive next week to connect an Anchorage 6-year-old with a matching donor.

Tlingit and Haida launches online tool for addiction treatment and education

Wolverines, lynx and moose: Fish and Game screens wildlife for COVID

Alaska House votes to cut Medicaid funding for abortion services

Last year, the Gold Creek Child Development Center in Juneau was operating at half capacity even though it had more than 100 kids on its wait list. It was struggling to hire and keep teachers. But after an infusion of aid money, Director Amanda Gornik says things have turned around.