The Latest: Lynch wants better public safety in rural Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s meeting with Alaska Native leaders (all times local):

4:10 p.m.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch says she is directing her office to develop a series of consultations with Alaska Native leaders to focus on improving public safety in rural communities of the vast state.

Lynch made the announcement Friday after meeting with Alaska Native leaders during her first trip to Alaska. She says her daylong visit is focused on discussing issues facing indigenous communities in the state.

Lynch also says she will propose creating a committee of stakeholders such as Alaska Native representatives and government entities to address issues important to Alaska Natives.

Other issues discussed during the hourlong roundtable meeting in Anchorage included heroin use and criminal justice reform.

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3:35 p.m.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has met with Alaska Native leaders during her first trip to Alaska, discussing public safety, voting rights and other issues facing indigenous communities in the vast state.

Those meeting with Lynch on Friday included Native rights advocates and representatives of Native organizations.

Before their short round-table discussion in Anchorage, Native American Rights Fund attorney Natalie Landreth said she planned to address what she called inadequacies in the U.S. census.

She says the agency’s American Community Survey conducted every five years woefully undercounts Native communities in rural areas.

Landreth says that translates to less voting protections for Native communities and less funding across the board.

Other issues listed for the closed meeting included heroin use and criminal justice reform.