Alaska News

Timber sales, birth certificates, Whittier tunnel: a list of potential effects of a government shutdown

Here's a list of some of Alaska's government programs and services that could be affected by a government shutdown, according to Gov. Bill Walker's administration.

Department of Fish and Game

*State-run bear and walrus viewing areas

*Sport and commercial fisheries

*Moose, caribou and goat hunts

Department of Natural Resources

*Oil and gas leasing

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*Park rangers and campground hosts

*Timber and land sales

Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

*The tunnel to Whittier

*Bridge maintenance

*State ferry system, with 10 vessels serving 35 ports and villages

Department of Health and Social Services

*Marriage and birth certificates

*Investigations of abuse in residential and health care facilities, except the most serious

*Efforts to fight the epidemic of opioid drugs

Department of Revenue

*Delays in the issuance of Permanent Fund dividends

*Child-support casework

*Cigarette and pull tab sales

Department of Education and Early Development

*Head Start, the preschool program for low-income children

*State library and museum

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*Processing of teacher certificates

*Summer food programs for children

Nathaniel Herz

Anchorage-based independent journalist Nathaniel Herz has been a reporter in Alaska for nearly a decade, with stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Read his newsletter, Northern Journal, at natherz.substack.com

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