Alaska
Loved ones gather to honor, remember lives of lost children
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The loss of a pregnancy or child creates unimaginable grief for the parents, siblings and extended families of the deceased. On Saturday, a walk of remembrance in Anchorage gave those who have experienced the tragic loss of a child or sibling a chance to honor their beloved.
The annual Walk To Remember was held at the Providence Alaska Medical Center on Saturday morning in recognition of those who have lost a child or pregnancy. The event, co-sponsored by Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital Bereavement Council and Hospice of Anchorage, offered a community of understanding as well as a physical way to honor those who are no longer bodily present.
Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital’s the Rev. Jamez Terry recognizes the healing that can be found in uniting with other families who have endured the same tragedy.
“I think one of the most important things is being able to connect with others who to share what you’re feeling, to share what you’re going through, to continue talking about your child and and keeping their memory alive in the world, which is one of the things that this event helps to do,” the Rev. Terry said.
The walk began at 10 a.m. inside Providence Alaska’s hospital facility and proceeded to the shore of University Lake for a short ceremony. Some carried ribbons attached to a stick, the names and messages written on them dancing in the wind as they walked across the Providence and UAA campuses.
Families then gathered lakeside as names and messages were read aloud to those not present to celebrate their twelfth birthdays, meet their younger siblings, go on ski trips or play in baseball games.
Then they headed down to the lake, where they gently placed handwritten notes made on water-soluble paper into the lake and watched as their messages vanished into the water, using the moment to remember the life of the deceased.
According to the CDC, 3,400 infants die unexpectedly each year, and approximately 24,000 pregnancies each year end in stillbirth. The infant mortality rate in the United States measures at an average of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 births — the highest in any developed nation — but for Alaska Native and American Indian populations, the average is a shocking 7.9 deaths per 1,000 births.
Regardless of whether the life of a child ends at 21 weeks or 21 years of age, the frustration and anguish of the loss can be devastating for the parents, siblings, grandparents and communities left behind.
“It’s an overwhelming loss. It is hard to put into words how much of a toll it takes,” the Rev. Terry said. ”It’s a thing that people get through but don’t get over you carry with you for the rest of your life.”
Saturday’s event was held ahead of similar events in other states, which are October to recognize Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss Month. Anchorage holds their walk in August, ahead of the first snowfall, to allow those of varying abilities to safely join.
A list of statewide and local resources for those who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, a stillbirth, or the death of a child are available at the Providence website. Most larger community hospitals in the state staff a department of bereavement specialists to assist families with immediate needs. The Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital Bereavement Council can be reached by phone at 907-212-3344.
Copyright 2023 KTUU. All rights reserved.
Alaska
Flight attendant sacked for twerking on the job: ‘What’s wrong with a little twerk before work’
They deemed the stunt not-safe-for-twerk.
An Alaska Airlines flight attendant who was sacked for twerking on camera has created a GoFundMe to support her while she seeks a new berth.
The crewmember, named Nelle Diala, had filmed the viral booty-shaking TikTok video on the plane while waiting two hours for the captain to arrive, A View From the Wing reported.
She captioned the clip, which also blew up on Instagram, “ghetto bih till i D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you.”
Diala was reportedly doing a victory dance to celebrate the end of her new hire probationary period.
Unfortunately, her jubilation was short-lived as Alaska Airlines nipped her employment in the bum just six months into her contract.
The fanny-wagging flight attendant feels that she didn’t do anything wrong.
Diala has since reposted the twerking clip with the new caption: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.”
The new footage was hashtagged #discriminationisreal.
The disgraced stewardess even set up a GoFundMe page to help support the so-called “wrongfully fired” flight attendant until she can land a new flight attendant gig.
“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” wrote the ex-crewmember. “Losing my job was devastating.”
She claimed that the gig had allowed her to meet new people and see the world, among other perks.
While air hostessing was ostensibly a “dream job,” Diala admitted that she used the income to help fund her “blossoming lingerie and dessert businesses,” which she runs under the Instagram handles @cakezncake (which doesn’t appear to have any content?) and @figure8.lingerie.
As of Wednesday morning, the crowdfunding campaign has raised just $182 of its $12,000 goal.
Diala was ripped online for twerking on the job as well as her subsequent GoFundMe efforts.
“You don’t respect the uniform, you don’t respect your job then,” declared one critic on the popular aviation-focused Instagram page The Crew Lounge. “Terms and Conditions apply.”
“‘Support for wrongly fired flight attendant??’” mocked another. “Her GoFund title says it all. She still thinks she was wrongly fired. Girl you weren’t wrongly fired. Go apply for a new job and probably stop twerking in your uniform.”
“The fact that you don’t respect your job is one thing but doing it while in uniform and at work speaks volumes,” scoffed a third. “You’re the brand ambassador and it’s not a good look.”
Alaska
As Alaska sees a spike in Flu cases — another virus is on the rise in the U.S.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU) – Alaska has recently seen a rise in both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV. Amidst the spike in both illnesses, norovirus has also been on the rise in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it’s highly contagious and hand sanitizers don’t work well against it.
Current data for Alaska shows 449 influenza cases and 262 RSV cases for the week of Jan. 4. Influenza predominantly impacts the Kenai area, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and the Northwest regions of the state. RSV is also seeing significant activity in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and Anchorage.
Both are respiratory viruses that are treatable, but norovirus — which behaves like the stomach flu according to the CDC — is seeing a surge at the national level. It “causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines,” as stated on the CDC webpage.
This virus is spread through close contact with infected people and surfaces, particularly food.
“Basically any place that people aggregate in close quarters, they’re going to be especially at risk,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent.
Preventing infection is possible but does require diligence. Just using hand sanitizer “does not work well against norovirus,” according to the CDC. Instead, the CDC advises washing your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds. When preparing food or cleaning fabrics — the virus “can survive temperatures as high as 145°F,” as stated by the CDC.
According to Dr. Gupta, its proteins make it difficult to kill, leaving many cleaning methods ineffective. To ensure a given product can kill the virus, he advises checking the label to see if it claims it can kill norovirus. Gupta said you can also make your own “by mixing bleach with water, 3/4 of a cup of bleach per gallon of water.”
For fabrics, it’s best to clean with water temperatures set to hot or steam cleaning at 175°F for five minutes.
As for foods, it’s best to throw out any items that might have norovirus. As a protective measure, it’s best to cook oysters and shellfish to a temperature greater than 145°F.
Based on Alaska Department of Health data, reported COVID-19 cases are significantly lower than this time last year.
See a spelling or grammatical error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
Copyright 2025 KTVF. All rights reserved.
Alaska
Sky Watch Alaska: planets align plus the aurora forecast
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – This is a great time of year to do some star gazing. If you have clear skies in your part of Alaska, take the time to check out the night — and morning — sky.
After sunset, look toward the southwest. Saturn and Venus are snuggled up together (of course, they are more than 800 million miles apart) in the evening sky. They set at about 9:40 p.m. in Southcentral.
Before 9:40 p.m., you can see four planets with the naked eye — Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and Mars. Jupiter and Mars stick around through the morning. Mars is very close to the moon right now.
The Aurora forecast is fairly weak for the next few weeks. That’s not to say there won’t be the occasional burst but overall, solar activity is expected to be fairly low until the beginning of February.
If you get great pictures of the planets, the sky, or the aurora, don’t forget to send them to Alaska’s News Source.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.
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