Julia O'Malley, Alaska's Energy Desk

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Two Fairbanks medical clinics are related to at least 15 COVID-19 cases, state says

Two medical practices in the same building in Fairbanks are connected to a cluster of COVID-19 cases, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. McKinley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and ATI Physical...

JBER declares emergency after seven test positive for COVID-19

Seven people have tested positive for coronavirus at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson testing center, according to a Facebook post on Sunday night.

4th Alaska coronavirus case reported in Ketchikan; UAF says one of the Fairbanks patients is an employee

The Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center reported a positive test for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The man has a history of travel to the Lower 48, officials said.

Dunleavy forms bipartisan team to tackle economic losses related to coronavirus

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Tuesday that his office has created an economic stabilization team that will develop a plan to help the state's economy weather the impacts of the coronavirus.

State asks Alaska healthcare providers to postpone non-urgent procedures

"Given Alaska’s distances and limited health care capacity, it is especially important to open acute health care beds for anticipated COVID-19 care," the state health department said.

Alaska health department issues advisory for travelers returning from other countries and states

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services issued an advisory Sunday recommending Alaskans returning to the state from other countries and other states practice varying degrees of isolation to halt the spread of coronavirus.

State of Alaska is exploring options for housing people quarantined for coronavirus

The State of Alaska put out a request Wednesday seeking "motel rooms, apartments, trailers, or other suitable dwellings" for people who may have to be quarantined for coronavirus.

The risk of coronavirus remains low in Alaska, but empty Anchorage store shelves reveal rising anxiety

Listen to this story: Although she lives in Wasilla, Ann Williams was on a city-wide tour of Anchorage stores Wednesday, looking for one very specific thing: hand sanitizer. "We've been to all of 'em, including...

It’s finally going to rain in Southcentral Alaska

Two low pressure systems are headed toward Anchorage in the coming week.

Sobriety during the holidays

Alcohol can be a fun addition to a gathering, but it can also be disastrous if not used responsibly. Alaska has a difficult relationship with alcohol and the holiday season can be tough for people trying to stay sober or limit their intake. Listen Now

Climate resilience workshops

The village of Shishmaref voted to move their village and along the coast of Alaska, discussions are taking place about how to adapt to survive into the future. Workshops designed to move beyond studying change to look for solutions within communities are happening and our guest host will lead the discussion about their findings. Listen Now

Local farming in Alaska

From hydroponic basil grown in an Anchorage café basement, to high-tunnel green houses in Homer, to hot-springs heated tomato farms in Fairbanks to local produce at the base of Brooks Range, climate change, technology, government grants and a greater interest in local food are changing agriculture in Alaska. Download Audio

For Homeless Teens, It’s About More Than Right And Wrong

Homeless teenagers have been in the news a lot lately. Not as individuals, but as a faceless group responsible for crime and vandalism in downtown Anchorage. Anchorage Daily News Columnist Julia O’Malley wrote last summer about two downtown bike police who questioned whether non-profits that serve teenagers aren’t making the problem worse. Earlier this month, she visited one of those non profits to get their side of the story. Download Audio

Budding Local Market For Local Blooms

The local food market in Alaska is well established. But there’s a quieter movement gaining momentum in Alaska agriculture: flowers. Peonies make up the largest share of flower farming in the state, and they’re exported around the world. And at Anchorage farmers markets zinnias, sunflowers and dahlias have moved in alongside the kale and potatoes. Download Audio

An Anchorage Woman Steps Up to Help Seng Family

Community support has been pouring in for the Mountain View couple who's grandparents were killed and 2-year-old daughter sexually assaulted on Memorial Day weekend. Last week, an event for the family at the Northway Mall raised nearly $25,000. It was organized in just a few days by an Anchorage woman who didn't know the family but wanted to find a way to help. Download Audio

AK: Hope

If you’re in the habit of running East Anchorage trails in the winter in the dark, then you might have run by a compact, dark-haired doctor named Joanie Hope, jogging slowly with her headphones on, singing. She is the state’s only gynecologic oncologist. But she's also in a rock band, that tours nationally to raise awareness for gynecological cancers. Their first Alaska concert is tomorrow.

Popp Family Meets Long-Lost Sibling

Last year, everything Bill Popp thought he knew about his family changed. He found out he had a younger sister, who his mom had to give up for adoption. In the first two stories, we heard why that family secret existed and how it was eventually revealed. In this final story, Anchorage Daily News columnist Julia O'Malley describes how the family was reunited again after fifty years.

Anchorage Family’s 50-Year-Old Secret Revealed

Bill Popp thought he knew his family. Popp is president of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation. And his family is a close-knit, longtime Alaska clan who talk and text and gather often at Bill’s house in east Anchorage. But last year, everything Bill thought he knew about his family changed. And all it took was one random Google search. A collaboration of the the Anchorage Daily News and APRN, hear the full 30-minute radio story of how the family came to be reunited on A Closer Look. KSKA: Saturday 12/29 at 6:00 pm & Sunday 12/30 at 7:30 pm

Anchorage Family’s 50-Year-Old Secret Revealed

This is the time for big family gatherings. And for Bill Popp’s family in Anchorage, those celebrations will be even sweeter this year. Last fall, Popp found out he had a younger sister, who his mom had given up for adoption in 1961. Yesterday, we heard how that family secret was revealed after 50 years. Today, Julia O’Malley tells part two of the story – why Bill’s mom Mary Lou had to put the baby up for adoption.

Web Search Reveals Painful, 50-Year Secret For Anchorage Family

Bill Popp thought he knew his family. Popp is president of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation. And his family is a close-knit, longtime Alaska clan who talk and text and gather often at Bill’s house in east Anchorage. But last year, everything Bill thought he knew about his family changed. And all it took was one random Google search. Anchorage Daily News columnist Julia O’Malley has the first story in a three part series.