Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
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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.
The glass door to the entrance of the PFD office. In black lettering is "PFD State of Alaska, Lobby hours Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m."

Alaskans begin filing for 2024 Permanent Fund Dividends

Eligible Alaska residents have until March 31 to file PFD applications with the state Department of Revenue.
A big boxy building with a smokestack next to it sending up steam

Feds award $9M to research carbon capture for proposed Southcentral Alaska coal power plant

Carbon capture storage is drawing attention at the state level, though critics say it’s expensive and may not have a large impact on emissions.
a search team

Search continues for woman who disappeared under Eagle River ice

Troopers say Eagle River resident Amanda Richmond, 45, went missing Saturday after she chased one of her dogs into the north fork of Eagle River.
A landscape shot of a neighborhood park.

Yes, most of Alaska will have a white Christmas, except for Southeast

Anchorage has already set a November snowfall record, and December has pushed the city to its snowiest 45-day period on record.

Anchorage’s homegrown Howard Weaver remembered as a ‘national-caliber newsman’

Tom Kizzia, who worked with the editor for more than a decade, says he urged Anchorage Daily News reporters to find stories on-the-fly in rural Alaska.
Photo: Governor Mike Dunleavy standing behind podium at a press conference.

Alaskans would get big PFDs but no per-student education funding increase in governor’s budget

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget include “full” statutory PFDs, money to sue the federal government and more funding for the state medical examiner’s office.
a group singing in front of the Alaska Capitol

Alaska chapter of federal MMIP report highlights historic violence, legal hiccups

Longtime tribal judge Michelle Dimmert says violence against Alaska Native women has been prevalent dating back to Russian colonization.

Southcentral Alaska mayors form coalition to address looming natural gas shortfall

State officials and utilities have warned that Cook Inlet, which supplies natural gas to Southcentral Alaska, may face a shortage by the end of the decade.
a vigil

Alaska’s domestic violence rates remain high, as advocates push for more preventative measures

Alaska women are more likely to be murdered by their spouse or boyfriend than in any other U.S. state.
A police car marked as Anchorage Police.

Anchorage police roll out body cameras, with about a quarter of officers outfitted so far

Anchorage voters approved a $1.6 million tax levy more than two years ago to buy and equip city police officers with body cameras.
a Cook Inlet oil platform

Cook Inlet natural gas producer says it’s sitting on large deposit, but nobody wants in

Natural gas extraction in the Cook Inlet region has become more difficult, and utilities are considering importing it from outside Alaska.

Alaska tribe’s members say corruption, self-serving deals brought Manh Choh gold mine to their land

A former tribal chief for the Native Village of Tetlin greenlit the mine and leased mineral exploration rights to a mining venture, now led by Kinross Alaska.
A woman in a yellow jacket walks her dog in the snow.

Alaska’s top veterinarian warns of respiratory illness that’s killed several Lower 48 dogs

More than a dozen states, including several in the Pacific Northwest, are reporting outbreaks of a new respiratory illness.
A float plane sits on the water in an overcast day.

On Alaska having 5 new Native corporations, Wilderness Society reverses opposition

Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee Springs and Wrangell were initially excluded from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Food Bank of Alaska sees record demand and a decline in donations amid the holiday season

"This year, we've really seen record levels of need at our partners. Many of them have said they are serving more people than ever before," said Cara Durr with the Food Bank of Alaska.

Wrangell search and rescue efforts continue after deadly landslide

At last report, there were three confirmed fatalities in the landslide, one known survivor and three people still missing.
Students in Halloween costumes hold signs during a walkout protest of recent school board decisions.

Alaska attorney general says teachers need parental consent to discuss gender identity

Attorney General Treg Taylor has reinterpreted a statute requiring public schools to notify parents in advance of any content involving “human reproduction” or “sexual matters.”
A children's playground covered in frost and surrounded by snow with sunlight shining on it.

Anchorage breaks November snow record but warmer El Niño winter still expected

“In Anchorage, every single day that had snow during that nine or 10-day period where it just seemed like it didn't stop, every one of those days was warmer than normal,” climate researcher Brian Brettschneider said.
a blonde woman smiles near a microphone

Alaska child care task force releases recommendations to address crisis

The recommendations focus on ways to make it easier for child care providers to get licensed, do background checks and bolster their workforce.

Kotzebue women’s deaths at former mayor’s property did not get thorough investigations, report says

“If those deaths aren't receiving careful consideration and a thorough investigation, then what hope does anyone else have of their loved ones’ death being thoroughly investigated?” said ProPublica and ADN’s Kyle Hopkins.