Good News of the Month
1. Fewer deaths from overdose.
Theresa Welton, manager of the Alaska Office of Substance Abuse and Addiction Prevention, announced the decline in drug overdose deaths in the state, even though the decline is less than the national average. Men, Alaska Native, Anchorage residents, and people between the ages of 35 and 44 are most at risk. Alaska has mobile crisis teams in Anchorage, Mat-Su, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and Juneau and has increased drug treatment, access to recovery housing, and therapeutic courts. 2. Free legal aid for vulnerable Alaskans. This is just a proposal. But it is encouraging news that the state’s most vulnerable population may be able to count on free legal assistance if the bill that would increase state funding for Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides high-quality, free civil legal services to low-income Alaskans in need, passes. ALSC is part of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which operates nationwide and is the largest provider of legal assistance for civil cases and survivors of domestic violence and abuse in Alaska. 3. Great reception for sports races in Alaska. The 750-mile race from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska, is biennial for the first time in 2026 and has been very well received. Aspiring teams could apply until April, but the quota was filled in January. Other races in 2026 include: Prince of Wales Island International Marathon (May), Duff’s Skagway Marathon (June), Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon & Half-Marathon (June), Alaska Salmon Runs Marathon (July), Bearfest Marathon (August), Anchorage RunFest (August), and Kenai River Marathon (September). 4. New apartment complex for seniors in Anchorage. The Cook Inlet Housing Authority has announced the construction of a new 72-unit apartment complex for adults 55 and older in Anchorage, under the city’s more flexible zoning rules. Construction of the apartments will begin in Airport Heights this summer. The Anchorage Assembly approved the rezoning of the four-acre (1.6-hectare) parcel on February 17. The next day, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance stated that “when we launched the ‘10,000 Homes in 10 Years’ strategy, we promised to reduce the red tape that slows down projects.” 5. Healthy Spaces in Anchorage. The municipality has doubled its efforts to clean up the city of Anchorage. We say it has doubled its efforts, literally, because it has doubled the number of workers assigned to this task. The Parks and Recreation Department has added ten more positions per year to its “Healthy Spaces” initiative, which is responsible for cleaning public spaces, removing trash, controlling illegal dumping, and remediating areas where illegal camping has occurred. |