Rural Alaska hit hard by state's unprecedented food stamp backlog

Plus: Lawmakers say a new fiscal cap could stabilize Alaska’s economy. It could also tank it. Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Anchorage Daily News]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, February 27. In today's newsletter: - Rural communities are experiencing particularly dire consequences from the unprecedented backlog of federal food stamp applications in Alaska's Division of Public Assistance, advocates say. - Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration said it will pay a contractor nearly $2.5 million in a settlement for work done on the proposed homeless navigation center before it was halted. Anchorage Assembly leaders said such a move would be illegal. - A proposal in the Legislature would link spending to Alaska’s gross domestic product and require lower budgets, even as lawmakers reckon with the fallout from underfunded state services. March may be around the corner, but there's still ample time to fit in favorite winter activities — ice fishing, skiing, and for many people, adventuring on the snowmachine. Outdoor writer John Schandelmeier notes that there's [still plenty of good riding left]( this season, for the expeditioners and the joy riders alike. ☀️ Anchorage weather It's sunny but cold today, with a high near 11 degrees. Tonight the low temperature will dip down to 5 below. Tuesday calls for snow, and we could see that precipitation last until the end of the week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Alaska’s unprecedented food stamp backlog is taking a harsh toll on rural communities]( [Alaska’s unprecedented food stamp backlog is taking a harsh toll on rural communities]( Alaska residents far from a food pantry are struggling to feed their families, advocates say. Stories are emerging of people digging to the bottom of their freezers, relying on friends and neighbors to fill empty shelves, and even in some rare cases requiring hospitalization for malnutrition. [Read More]( [Bronson administration proposes $2.5M settlement for East Anchorage shelter construction; Assembly says it’s illegal]( [Bronson administration proposes $2.5M settlement for East Anchorage shelter construction; Assembly says it’s illegal]( The shelter project was halted when it was discovered the administration had approved millions in construction work without necessary approval from the Assembly, in violation of city code. Assembly leaders said the proposed settlement would be illegal because the Bronson administration needs legislative authorization for the payout. [Read More]( [Lawmakers say a new fiscal cap could stabilize Alaska’s economy. It could also tank it. ]( [Lawmakers say a new fiscal cap could stabilize Alaska’s economy. It could also tank it.]( A tighter limit on state spending is a top priority for Republicans in the state House this year, but a proposal to tie spending to gross domestic product is raising questions about whether a tighter limit will hamstring the state’s ability to fund critical services and weather future economic downturns. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT [Photos: Fur Rendezvous 2023 is in full swing]( [Photos: Fur Rendezvous 2023 is in full swing]( Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous opened on Friday and is in full swing, from a [snow sculpture competition]( and fireworks to sprint sled dog races and snowshoe softball. And there's still more to come this weekend. • Related: [Buddy Streeper wins Rondy sled dog race to secure his 10th world championship title]( [Read More]( [An Anchorage dance class aims to bring twerking back to its roots]( [An Anchorage dance class aims to bring twerking back to its roots]( The move evolved from a West African dance used as a form of celebration and worship. Participants in a class that started during the pandemic say twerking gives them a sense of freedom and personal expression. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Aklestad/Olstad team wins second straight Iron Dog title]( [Aklestad/Olstad team wins second straight Iron Dog title]( [Read More]( [Photos: Best of February 2023]( [Photos: Best of February 2023]( [Read More]( [Energy Department believes - with ‘low confidence’ - that lab leak was most likely the source of COVID, report says]( [Energy Department believes - with ‘low confidence’ - that lab leak was most likely the source of COVID, report says]( [Read More]( [West snaps Service title streak by sweeping boys and girls state ski championships]( [West snaps Service title streak by sweeping boys and girls state ski championships]( [Read More]( [Student brought knife to Anchorage elementary school and made threats, police say]( [Student brought knife to Anchorage elementary school and made threats, police say]( [Read More]( [Biden’s student loan forgiveness program comes before Supreme Court]( [Biden’s student loan forgiveness program comes before Supreme Court]( [Read More]( [Get digital access to the ADN for as low as $1.99 for the first month]( and help us cover the news that matters most here in Alaska. 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