At the Jan. 28 annual meeting, Mary Becker was elected chairwoman of the Board of Directors for United Way of Southeast Alaska for 2012. Becker has been a board member since 2008.

JUNEAU - As lawmakers debate bills and budgets, a five-member committee is preparing to redraw Alaska's political map and perhaps the face of the Legislature itself.

Using the 2000 census figures released last month, the board must draw up a plan with 40 legislative districts roughly equal in size, each representing approximately 15,670 people. Each of those districts must then be paired with an adjoining district to create 20 Senate districts.

JUNEAU - As lawmakers debate bills and budgets, a five-member committee is preparing to redraw Alaska's political map and perhaps the face of the Legislature itself.

At least three towns and one borough have followed through on threats to challenge a redistricting plan the GOP calls anti-Republican.

A report issued Friday provides a wide-ranging look at Alaska Natives, including how the state's indigenous people are doing in areas of population, health, economics and education.