The state of Alaska has asked a federal judge to stay his decision allowing gay marriages to go forward. Monday the state filed notice it will appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. It also asked U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess to stay his opinion issued Sunday, in which he found Alaska's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. A 3-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit earlier denied the state of Idaho's ban on same sex marriage, a decision that was used as a basis to strike down the Alaska law. In asking for the stay, state attorneys cited the likelihood the Ninth Circuit will grant Idaho a hearing before the full court. The state had sought a stay in oral arguments Friday if they were to lose, but Burgess did not grant the delay with his Sunday opinion.
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The non-partisan "Get Out the Native Vote" has made a big push to mobilize Alaska Native voters across the state. Roughly one in five potential voters in the state is Alaska Native. As KUAC's Emily Schwing reports, a number of Native organizations have signed on to help with the movement.
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State health officials are looking for ways to bring more health care professionals to rural Alaska, and to replace an aging health care workforce. The Fairbanks Daily News Miner says a report issued this month says the northern and southwest regions of the state are most lacking in health care providers.
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As climate change brings new threats to subsistence communities in rural Alaska, a conference held last week in Anchorage advocated community-based solutions. KSKA's Zachariah Hughes reports the focus of the 7th Annual Northwest Tribal Water Rights Conference was on how climate change is eating away at shorelines across rural Alaska. Erosion, worsening fall storms, and destructive flooding are driving communities like Shishmaref, Kivalina, and Newtok to take steps to relocate. Villages were advised not to wait for government assistance. Speakers described local efforts such as a local berm built of driftwood and plants, and the importation of beavers to build dams to stem water flow.