Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Wesley Early covers Anchorage life and city politics for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at wearly@alaskapublic.org and follow him on X at @wesley_early. Read more about Wesley here.
Anchorage Assembly rejects resolution calling for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict
The Assembly opted to forgo debate and voted 9-3 to postpone the ordinance indefinitely, effectively killing it.
American Library Association president hears about struggles and successes from Alaska librarians
While the state faces unique logistical challenges, Emily Drabinski says that many problems facing Alaska librarians are happening across the country.
Heavy winds and wet snow lead to icy streets and power outages in Anchorage
The city saw gusts as high as 82 mph in the Potter Marsh area, leading to power outages for thousands of residents.
Advocates finalizing plan to use Anchorage marijuana tax revenue on child care
Some of the funding could be distributed as early as this fall, with much of it getting sent out by January of next year.
Anchorage school employee arrested after police say he assaulted a student
Police say the paraprofessional “put his hands” on a Baxter Elementary student following a disagreement on the playground.
Hometown hero? Valdez may soon get a life-sized statue of a ‘Star Trek’ icon
A group of fans want to honor William Riker’s Last Frontier roots with a bronze statue in the character’s hometown: Valdez.
Eagle River’s Mark Littlefield is sole candidate to fill soon-to-be vacant Assembly seat
Littlefield was the only person to file to run in a special election to fill Kevin Cross’ seat.
Anchorage legal settlement sets August deadline to get all police officers outfitted with body cameras
The Alaska Black Caucus sued the city in April 2023 over not having body cameras on officers, two years after voters approved their purchase.
Anchorage launches online checkbook, allowing public to access city financial records
Assembly chair Chris Constant says the new program allows the public to access city financial records without filing a records request and waiting months for a response.
Anchorage Assembly proposal would ban right-on-red turns in much of downtown
Supporters say the ban would bolster pedestrian safety and encourage more foot traffic. It’s part of a growing national trend.
Southcentral Alaska gas utility says high demand is straining gas storage system
“This is the most strained I’ve seen the system,” ENSTAR President John Sims said at a press conference Thursday.
Anchorage officials say residential and commercial building owners should consider shoveling roofs
City officials wrote that they estimate there are 500 to 1,000 commercial buildings in Anchorage that have wooden roof trusses of “immediate concern.”
Alaska inmates among 53 indicted in drug ring targeting communities, prosecutors say
The alleged drug traffickers sent fentanyl, among other drugs, to urban centers like Anchorage and Fairbanks, but also villages as far away as Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island.
Southcentral Alaska waterways survey finds widespread microplastics
“One hundred percent of our samples, we took 39 altogether, had microplastics in them,” said study co-author Dyani Chapman.
Anchorage museum exhibit spotlighting Filipino-Alaskan history defaced with crude sticker
The creative team behind “Mana: The History We Inherit” is criticizing how well the museum protected its exhibit.
Amazon opens first Alaska sorting facility in Anchorage
The facility is currently in a “ramp up” period and is expected to reach full operations over the next few months.
Anchorage Museum pauses free admission policy for Alaska Native visitors
The policy, announced earlier this month, would’ve allowed anybody who identified themselves as Alaska Native to not have to pay for admission.
Alaska excluded from free IRS direct tax filing pilot program
IRS officials say the direct file program doesn't support the reporting of Permanent Fund Dividends.
Veteran Anchorage TV reporter and anchor Maria Downey announces retirement after decades of Alaska journalism
Downey has been an anchor at KTUU, now known as Alaska’s News Source, for almost 40 years.
With Anchorage’s record-setting snow, officials say it’s not a bad idea to shovel roofs
There are several winter months still to come and the potential for more snow, as ice-damming on roofs is already a concern.