Mark Sabbatini

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Kim Kovol will be the acting commissioner for the new Alaska Department of Family and Community Services which debuts Friday. (Courtesy Photo)

New state department gets new commissioner

Kim Kovol, a longtime social services worker, will head the Department of Family and Community Services

Kim Kovol will be the acting commissioner for the new Alaska Department of Family and Community Services which debuts Friday. (Courtesy Photo)
The Alaska Department of Health And Social Services building in Juneau has no visible signs indicating the department is splitting into two agencies as of Friday. Top officials at the department said many of the changes, both physical and in services, are likely weeks and in some cases months away. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Little sign of big change for DHSS

No commissioner at new department, other Department of Health and Social Services changes may take months

The Alaska Department of Health And Social Services building in Juneau has no visible signs indicating the department is splitting into two agencies as of Friday. Top officials at the department said many of the changes, both physical and in services, are likely weeks and in some cases months away. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire This photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School on Tuesday evening. The school is one of three sites of the Juneau School District’s RALLY program. On Tuesday, children were served floor sealant instead of milk during breakfast at the school’s RALLY site.

Pouches of milk, chemicals delivered side-by-side

12 kids drink toxic fluid after supplies mistakenly delivered to school district on same pallet

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire This photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School on Tuesday evening. The school is one of three sites of the Juneau School District’s RALLY program. On Tuesday, children were served floor sealant instead of milk during breakfast at the school’s RALLY site.
Courtesy Photo/ City and Borough of Juneau Dense residential housing in areas such as Douglas includes a mixture of more expensive homes occupied by long-term owners, rentals occupied by residents from various income categories and an increasing number of short-term rentals occupied by tourists.

Debate continues on short-term rentals in Juneau

Mandatory registration of Airbnb and similar rentals favored by Assembly members.

Courtesy Photo/ City and Borough of Juneau Dense residential housing in areas such as Douglas includes a mixture of more expensive homes occupied by long-term owners, rentals occupied by residents from various income categories and an increasing number of short-term rentals occupied by tourists.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Lisa Denny wears “The Handmaid’s Tale”-inspired garb while holding a sign stating “I stand with Planned Parenthood” during a protest held near the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, May 3, following a leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision that would overturn the landmark case Roe v. Wade.

What does the leaked Supreme Court draft mean for Alaska?

Abortion access would remain, but elections and appointments would be heated

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Lisa Denny wears “The Handmaid’s Tale”-inspired garb while holding a sign stating “I stand with Planned Parenthood” during a protest held near the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, May 3, following a leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision that would overturn the landmark case Roe v. Wade.
A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

With federal funding ending, full-priced school lunches could be on the menu for many students next year

District hopes to continue offering free breakfast, ‘reasonably priced’ lunches

A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)