Lex Treinen, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

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Lex Treinen is covering the state Legislature for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at ltreinen@gmail.com.
A redish sunset

Smoke from Western Alaska wildfires blankets much of the state

Smoke is expected to start clearing in the most heavily populated areas by Monday evening, but in Interior Alaska, the forecast shows that lightning strikes could lead to more wildfires.
8 faces of different people arranged in a grid

The largest homeless shelter in Alaska will close this month. Many staying there aren’t sure where they’ll live next.

Many guests are waiting for housing to open up, but they’re not sure it will free up before the end of the month. If they don’t find options, some say they’ll camp.
A green yard with a silver building behind it

Former Anchorage Museum employees demand investigation into work environment under director

Five former employees charged the museum’s director, Julie Decker, with fostering an opaque, chaotic and stressful work environment.
A large tan building with a stairwell in the front

As Anchorage phases out its main homeless shelter, providers fear a surge in campers

Some in the homeless services community say the transition plan from the health department has been poorly communicated.
A blond woman with glasses speaks into a microphone flanked by two others

Assembly investigates Anchorage library management following workplace allegations

Assembly members asked the Bronson administration to answer questions about unfilled staff positions and new rules at the library under its deputy director, Judy Eledge.
A whjite man in a red shirt gestures on a podium with another white man in a white button up shirt sits behind him

Anchorage Assembly postpones vote on process for removing mayor

The vote followed nearly five hours of public testimony that was marked by frequent interruptions. Security removed two people for yelling.
A white woman in yellow sitting at a seat

Anchorage’s top library administrator was being investigated for workplace complaints. Bronson fired the investigator.

Heather MacAlpine started looking into what she called “disturbing” allegations about the work environment under Deputy Library Director Judy Eledge shortly before she was fired, emails and interviews show.
Two people in front of a large portrait of a blond woman

Wasilla artist who died of COVID leaves legacy of kindness

Deb Lestenkof is remembered as generous and kind. Her family says her spirit is embodied in a popular Facebook group she started a decade ago that's meant to promote connection, kindness and paying it forward.
A black woman with hoop earrings

Bronson fires director of Anchorage’s Office of Equal Opportunity

Heather MacAlpine served in the position for seven years. She says she was not given a reason for her firing.
A blond woman smiles in front of some trees

Penalty partially reversed for 2 Iditarod mushers who sheltered dogs inside during storm

Mille Porsild and Michelle Phillips were the top female finishers in this year’s race. On one of the final runs they moved their dogs indoors to get out of a severe windstorm.
a man in uniform

Soldier killed by brown bear on JBER was marking course for navigation training

A bear den was found near the spot where a group of soldiers was attacked by a bear on Tuesday afternoon, killing one of them.
An excavator dumps dirt from a pile next to a mountain

Dozens of cars are still stuck behind Seward landslide as road clearing begins

Two excavators worked through the day Monday to start removing a 300-foot landslide that cut off the community of Lowell Point on Saturday evening.
A mirrored building.

Anchorage budget director returns to retirement

Longtime public servant Cheryl Frasca said after wrapping up the bulk of the first quarter budget revisions for the Bronson administration, she's returning to retirement.
A white man in a suit and glasses speaks into a microphone on a podium in front of some flags

Bronson submits lengthy records request to city clerk for information about April election

A critic called the move a ‘perpetuation of the Big Lie’ of former president Donald Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud from 2020.
A truck with officers

Two years after Anchorage police and fire departments commit to improving diversity, data shows little change

Police and fire officials say they’re hampered by a tight labor market, limited budgets and recruitment barriers that extend outside of their departments.
Passengers wait at a luggage gate

Anchorage air travelers say few passengers are wearing masks following this week’s court ruling

Alaskans at the Anchorage airport estimated about 10% of passengers on their recent flights had masks on.
An aerial view of a parking lot next to some woods.

Listening session on 200-person shelter in East Anchorage rescheduled for Monday

At the first listening session last week, some members of the public asked for more specifics about the plan and more input from officials involved.
a police officer outside

Wasilla man charged for terroristic threatening in downtown Anchorage hotel standoff

John Holman threatened to shoot Alaska Natives from a hotel room at the Captain Cook, according to a sworn affidavit from an Anchorage police officer.
Three people in snowshoes stand around a snow machine in a birch forest

As Alaska warms, birch tree tappers in Talkeetna wrestle with erratic season

Kahiltna Birchworks say they’ve seen more variability in the date of the first sap harvests, shorter seasons, less sugary sap and more pests.