JUNEAU, Alaska, March 13 -- The Center for Biological Diversity issued the following news release: A federal judge rejected the Trump administration's enormous commercial timber harvest and road-building plan for Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest of southeast Alaska. The judge ruled that the project's approval violated the National Environmental Policy Act, which sets standards for public engagement on federal projects that will alter the environment, and the Alaska Nationa  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following policy brief: Medicaid is an important source of coverage for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), a population that faces high unemployment and persistent health disparities, including a high uninsured rate, barriers to care, and significant physical and mental health needs. Medicaid plays a key role in addressing these challenges, especially in states with large AI/AN populations that have expande  more

JUNEAU, Alaska, March 13 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on March 11: * * * - Decision is a win for subsistence hunters and families on Alaska's Prince of Wales Island * * * A federal judge rejected an enormous commercial timber harvest and road-building plan for Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska. The judge ruled that project approval violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which sets standards for public engagement on   more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Earthworks issued the following news release: * * * - Findings published amid push to gut public oversight and environmental review for new mines * * * Earthworks, along with four Alaska conservation, environmental health and justice organizations, released a report on the extensive record of spills and pollution violations at Alaska's five major operating hardrock mines: Red Dog, Fort Knox, Pogo, Kensington and Greens Creek. Metal mining is the leading source of tox  more

JUNEAU, Alaska, March 13 -- The Defenders of Wildlife issued the following news on March 12: * * * - Decision is a win for subsistence hunters and families on Alaska's Prince of Wales Island * * * A federal judge rejected an enormous commercial timber harvest and road-building plan for Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska. The judge ruled that project approval violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which sets standards for public engagemen  more

HOBOKEN, New Jersey, March 14 -- The Journal of Wildlife Management, a journal that says it features investigations into the biology and ecology of wildlife and their habitats, published research articles on the following topics in its April 2020 edition: * Bark Beetle-Affected Forests Provide Elk Only a Marginal Refuge from Hunters * Caribou Use of Habitat Near Energy Development in Arctic Alaska * Combining Harvest and Genetics to Estimate Reproduction in Wolves * Determining When Bobolink  more

JUNEAU, Alaska, March 13 -- The National Audubon Society issued the following news on March 12: * * * - Decision is a Win for Subsistence Hunters and Families on Alaska's Prince of Wales Island * * * A federal judge rejected yesterday an enormous commercial timber harvest and road-building plan for Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska. The judge ruled that project approval violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which sets standards for pub  more

MISSOULA, Montana, March 13 -- The National Forest Foundation issued the following news: The National Forest Foundation (NFF) and USFS Alaska Region (USFS) are pleased to announce the recipients of $71,000 in grants to improve landscape conditions, forest health and water quality in to benefit Southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The Community Capacity and Land Stewardship grant program helps forest collaboratives and community-based organizations reach agreement on landscape-scale resto  more

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, March 12 -- The Rasmuson Foundation issued the following news release: Anchorage, AK - An Alaska healthcare partnership has awarded the first grants from a new fund that aims to fill gaps in rural Alaska health care. Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska established the time-limited grant program in late 2019, providing $3 million to improve access to care in Alaska communities. The Premera Rural Health Care Fund is being administered by Rasmuson Foundation and is held at  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Wilderness Society issued the following news release: * * * - USDA Inspector General to look into whether taxpayer dollars were improperly distributed to local timber group advocating to lift protections in the Tongass * * * The Wilderness Society encourages the U.S. Forest Service to halt the Alaskan roadless rule process while the Office of Inspector General completes an investigation into whether the U.S. Forest Service improperly awarded funds slated for wildf  more