Alaska delegation recommends AFN president as co-chair of federal Denali Commission

Alaska’s congressional delegation said Thursday that it has recommended Julie Kitka, longtime president of the state’s most prominent Alaska Native organization, to serve as the next federal co-chair of the Denali Commission. The independent federal agency funds economic development and infrastructure projects in rural Alaska, and assists communities facing climate threats, including coastal erosion. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a statement from the delegation that she can’t think of anyone more qualified to push for economic development in rural Alaska. “For 33 years, she served as the president of...