Alaska challenges vaccine mandate for head start

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 2:56 PM

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Joining 23 other states, Alaska has joined a lawsuit which is asking the U.S. District Court in Louisiana to block a nationwide vaccine mandate for workers and volunteers in head start.

Head Start is a federally funded preschool program for children from low-income families.

Alaska has 17 Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

According to the Alaska Department of Law, the Head Start vaccine mandate would apply to more than 273,000 staff and more than 1 million volunteers serving about 864,000 children nationwide.

Contractors who come into contact with or provide direct services to Head Start children or families would also be subject to the mandate.

“The federal government has again forced its way into matters delegated to the states and to the people under the 10th Amendment,” said Attorney General Treg Taylor.

“Our Head Start workers and volunteers have the right to decide for themselves whether to get vaccinated, without the fear of losing their jobs or without the fear of the federal government defunding Alaska’s preschool programs.”

Joining Alaska in the lawsuit are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

More from News of the North

• Emergency Services are Responding to an Accident at the Fred Meyer Intersection

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Emergency services are on scene at Egan outbound at Fred Meyer for a motor vehicle crash involving a Maroon Dodge 1500 and a blue Ford van

• Hōkūleʻa to be welcomed in Juneau before launching a four year voyage

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Hōkūleʻa, the legendary voyaging canoe that revived the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation and sparked a cultural renaissance in Hawaiʻi, is preparing to embark on a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. A welcome ceremony is to be held Saturday to honor her arrival in Juneau.

• Alaska state school board advances proposal to ban trans girls from girls high school sports teams

  Juneau, Alaska (Alaska Beacon) - An almost-unanimous decision will open a 30-day public comment period on the idea.

• 17th Coast Guard District welcomes Rear Admiral Megan Dean

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Coast Guard’s 17th District conducted a change-of-command ceremony Friday at the Alaska Army National Guard Army Aviation Operating Facility in Juneau.

• Building saved on Franklin Street due to sprinkler system

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - On Friday an incident occurred at a building on Franklin Street, but fire safety systems saved the building.

• Alaska State Troopers investigate the murder of 2 women found near Trapper Creek

  Fairbanks, Alaska (KINY) - On May 24, 30-year-old Fairbanks resident Sunday Powers was reported missing to the Alaska State Troopers.

• Update: Basin Road Trestle Bridge now open to all traffic

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Basin Road Trestle Bridge will be closed to all traffic including pedestrians between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week, beginning Jun. 1 due to structural repair work.

• Draft decision for Ward Lake improvement plans now available

  Ketchikan, Alaska (KINY) -The Ward Lake Recreation Area is set to see some significant improvements happening as soon as Aug. of this year.

• Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop between Honolulu and Seattle area’s second airport

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska Airlines is celebrating more aloha with new nonstop service between Seattle/Everett and Honolulu starting this fall – their first flight connecting Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport and the Hawaiian Islands.

• CBJ Assembly recruiting experienced leader to serve as next City Manager

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly is recruiting for an experienced leader and dedicated public servant to serve as the next City Manager.

• Murkowski, Whitehouse introduce Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act in honor of former congressman

  Washington, D.C. (KINY) - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chairs of the Senate Oceans caucus, with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joining as original co-sponsors, introduced the Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act (DY VACA), legislation.

• State Board of Education holds quarterly meeting in Soldotna

  Soldotna, Alaska (KINY) - On Jun. 7 and 8, the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development held its quarterly meeting in Soldotna.