Lex Treinen, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Lex Treinen is covering the state Legislature for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at ltreinen@gmail.com.
Charges: Anchorage man argued with homeless people before returning and opening fire
21-year-old Anthony Lee Herring is charged with killing 37-year-old Jaclyn Welcome, in the early hours of Saturday morning. The shooting also left 4 people seriously injured.
Bronson administration details plans for large, city-funded shelter in Anchorage
"This is a sea change,” said Mayor-elect Dave Bronson about the proposal, which for the first time would have the city pay for the construction and operations of a shelter that could house up to 1000 people.
Drawing from diverse communities, rugby takes root in Anchorage
Players and coaches say low costs and welcoming culture make rugby a natural sport for the diverse city of Anchorage.
Bronson administration floats plan for massive East Anchorage homeless shelter
The incoming administration met individually with assembly members over the last week to float an idea for a 1000-person temporary shelter in East Anchorage that could house people experiencing homelessness once the Sullivan Shelter is shut down.
Bronson announces picks for Anchorage fire, police chiefs
Anchorage’s Acting Police Chief Kenneth McCoy will stay in his role under the new administration. Also, Doug Schrage will take over the lead of the Anchorage Fire Department.
The number of Alaskans released on discretionary parole fell sharply in 2020
Critics say that it's a problem, since it is denying people a chance to lead productive lives outside of prison, and is contributing to prison overcrowding.
After swastika sticker incident, Anchorage rabbi calls for acts of kindness
The director and curator of the Alaska Jewish Museum say they’ve beefed up security after several stickers with swastikas were found plastered on their building. But they say community support shows that there’s a lot more good than hate in Anchorage.
Anchorage’s largest soup kitchen looks to temporarily move food prep downtown
Bean’s Cafe Director Lisa Sauder said the kitchen identified the site of the Platinum Jaxx and LED Ultra Lounge on 6th Avenue as a building it could purchase and use to make meals.
Swastika stickers found at Anchorage gay bar, Jewish museum, police say
The black and white stickers were found at the main entrances of Mad Myrna’s, a gay bar in downtown Anchorage, and the Alaska Jewish Museum in Midtown. They were first reported to police on Tuesday.
Anchorage audit flags $30K in purchases for review
But the purchases make up less than half a percent of the city’s budget and are on par with previous years’ findings. “This is a story of government working well to check itself,” said the auditor who reviewed the 48,000 purchases.
Anchorage residents expected to have clear view of ‘super flower blood moon’
The glorified lunar eclipse will begin at around 1:45 a.m. Wednesday. For Alaska residents, it will appear extra large.
Mayor-elect Bronson names transition team, hints at plans for Anchorage
At his first news event since his opponent conceded, Dave Bronson named two experienced political players to head his transition team.
Popular Anchorage YouTuber NuttyNu finds his voice with raw portrayals of his hometown
Nu Xiong, aka NuttyNu recently revealed in one of his YouTube videos that he has a neurological disorder. It hasn’t slowed him down.
Anchorage to close shelter at Sullivan Arena with plans to buy former Alaska Club
But there’s big uncertainty in the plan: The city has entered into a contract to buy the former Alaska Club building on Tudor Road, however it will not close on the agreement until July 9, when a new mayor will be in charge.
Anchorage businesses face fraught decisions after mask mandate is lifted
Around Anchorage, businesses are facing similar in deciding what mask policies to set, balancing factors like the size of their shops, customer preferences and pandemic fatigue. For each business, the calculation is different: some rushed to lift the mask requirements, while others are keeping them in full force.
Cyberattack forces shutdown of some Alaska health department online services
Services like vital records, a background check system, and a count of available beds at mental health providers were taken down in response to the attack.
Assembly votes to immediately end Anchorage’s mask mandate
The announcement follows new guidance released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that states that vaccinated Americans don’t need to mask in most indoor settings if they are vaccinated.
On first full day of COVID vaccine eligibility, teenagers take the plunge
Dr. Brad Cruz has given plenty of COVID-19 shots during the pandemic, but he had a challenge he hadn’t encountered before when Josephine Wheat sat down for her shot: she had a case of the giggles.
How a troubled Anchorage strip club transformed into Baptist church
The team that turned Fantasies on 5th into Open Door Baptist say the coincidences that allowed them to create a Baptist church at the site during a global pandemic were serendipitous.
After a pandemic year, ‘extreme hip hop’ aerobics takes hold in Anchorage’s Pacific Islander community
Community leaders say that after the severe impact of COVID-19 on the Pacific Islander community, there's been a renewed focus on health and fitness.