Feds allocate $10M to combat violence in rural Alaska

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Feds allocate $10M to combat violence in rural Alaska

By MICHAEL BALSAMO
June 28, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr declared a law enforcement emergency in Alaska on Friday, clearing the way for the Justice Department to award more than $10 million to combat crime in rural communities.

The announcement comes a month after Barr visited the state and met with Alaska Natives, who described disproportionately high rates of violence and sexual assault in Native communities and other problems, including not having any law enforcement presence in some villages.

It is the first time that Barr has personally declared a law enforcement emergency since he assumed the top post at the Justice Department in February. The department has previously declared similar emergencies after mass shootings and to combat spikes in violent crime.

The funding is meant to hire additional village and tribal officers and to pay for equipment and training. Additional money is also being awarded for federal prosecutors to target violent crime in rural Alaska and for tribes to pay for victims’ advocacy services.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/03b5999242a9414e856cdce36e9360aa

[madinmaryland]

2. Alaska has a teabagger governor. The state is in financial disarray.

They’re looking at government shutdown, if they can’t come to an agreement. Said teabagger wants to cut taxes and cut services. The guy is a nut job.