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.
State offers $750K settlement to ousted Human Rights commission director who sued for discrimination
Marilyn Stewart sued the state in 2022, alleging that she was removed as chair of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights due to discrimination.
Southcentral Alaska buried in more than a foot of snow from winter storm
The nine inches of snow that fell Wednesday in Anchorage broke a record for Nov. 8, and the storm continued in full force Thursday.
‘Alaska is the Center of the Universe’ podcast spotlights Indigenous stories from across the state
James Dommek Jr. says the idea behind the podcast’s name comes from the notion that, while many view Alaska as a final destination, for its Indigenous people, it’s where life begins.
Alaska governor names Thomas Baker to fill vacated seat in Legislature
The seat came open when Rep. Josiah Patkotak was elected to serve as mayor of the North Slope Borough.
Anchorage blanketed in white after first sizable snowfall
Anchorage saw a little over six inches of snow Sunday, shattering an almost 60-year-old record for the amount of snowfall recorded on Nov. 5.
Anchorage photo exhibit highlights Taiwanese diaspora in Alaska
Photographer Jeff Chen said he wanted to highlight the diverse experiences of those people who made Alaska their home.
Alaska’s outsourcing of guardianship led to dysfunction and debt
Anchorage Daily News reporter Iris Samuels says the man behind a nonprofit that took the cases “bit off more than he could chew.”
Anchorage looks for more shelter space, with number on waitlist now double expected capacity
“In total, we have about 1,000 people who are wanting to move throughout the sheltering system,” said Anchorage’s homelessness coordinator.
The new ‘Mana: The History We Inherit’ exhibit highlights Filipino history in Alaska
Mana is the Tagalog word for “inheritance” and the name of an exhibit launching at the Anchorage Museum on Saturday.
This year’s El Niño likely means warmer winter temperatures and maybe less snow
"It even may approach what we call a 'super' El Niño, which has only happened a few times in the last 50 years," said Alaska climate researcher Brian Brettschneider.
Anchorage superintendent discusses changes for next school year, including new start times and career academies
Students finished their first quarter on Friday, but many eyes are already on next school year, when the district will roll out three major changes.
Alaska’s 2 U.S. senators address AFN convention from afar
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is in Iceland for an Arctic conference, and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is headed to the Middle East.
AFN keynote speakers highlight the importance of perseverance and protecting ‘our ways of life’
Alaska Federation of Natives delegates heard from two keynote speakers this year: the outgoing CIRI president and the 2023 Iditarod champion.
Anchorage’s tight housing market is making breaking up harder to do
Housing is expensive in Anchorage and hard to find. It's a problem for everyone, especially if you're trying to find affordable housing fast.
‘We want to preserve every single thing’: Restoration begins on the oldest standing building in the Anchorage area
The St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church was built in 1875 in Knik and then moved to Eklutna.
Anchorage Assembly relaxes rules on marijuana testing
Now, most city workers will no longer be fired if they use marijuana off the clock.
Anchorage Assembly to vote on spending $2.5M to convert Solid Waste Services building into homeless shelter
Officials say the building could house up to 150 people and would provide food services, showers and case workers.
‘We’re still thriving and we’re still happy’: Hundreds gather at APU to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day
“It’s a way for us to say that we’re still here, after everything that we’ve been through," said Ellenia Dommek.
Anchorage police will start outfitting officers with body cameras in mid-November
The implementation of the cameras comes two-and-a-half years after Anchorage voters approved a $1.8 million tax increase to purchase the equipment.
Former Anchorage police officer arrested on sexual assault charges
Scott Boneta, 33, resigned from the Anchorage Police Department on Thursday.