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 side of a police car, it reads "Police, Anchorage."

Former Anchorage police officer arrested on sexual assault charges

Scott Boneta, 33, resigned from the Anchorage Police Department on Thursday.
A stone sign in the middle of a lawn reads "James M. Fitzgerald United States Courthouse & Federal Building." In front of the sign are pink, yellow and orange flowers.

Anchorage commissioner charged with defrauding city for more than $1.6M in COVID relief funds

Prosecutors say Rosalina Mavaega and her husband falsely claimed their nonprofit would use the money to provide housing, treatment and training services. Instead, federal charges accuse them of depositing the funds into personal accounts to finance and pay off taxes on their businesses.

In testimony to Assembly, Sami Graham says she didn’t try to overturn Anchorage’s April election

It’s the first time Graham has spoken publicly about her complaint — which has prompted concern about whether city officials are interfering with elections. 
Anchorage Votes banner and election observer sign

Anchorage Assembly issues subpoenas to former city executives involved in election challenge

Assembly members say they still have a lot of questions about the election challenge.
School buses parked next to each other.

Peruvian man arrested in connection with bomb threats made to Alaska schools

Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos is alleged to have sent more than 150 bomb threats to school districts, synagogues, airports and hospitals across the United States.

Alaska congressional delegation takes concerns about Albertsons-Kroger merger to FTC

U.S. Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan expressed "deep concerns." Congresswoman Peltola asked the FTC to block the merger.
several women in a board room

State task force begins drafting recommendations to address Alaska’s child care crisis

The task force is focused on three main topics for recommendations: licensing providers, background checks and the shrinking child care workforce.
the Anchorage PFD office

This year’s Alaska Permanent Fund dividend is $1,312

The Alaska Department of Revenue announced the amount in a statement Thursday afternoon.
A building on a corner. The side reads "CITY HALL."

Anchorage’s costs for outside counsel rise amid city attorney shortage

Mayor Dave Bronson said the city is struggling to hire attorneys because of competition from the state and private sector.
a man in a suit with a red tie speaks at a podium

Anchorage mayor names permanent CFO and announces OMB director’s departure

Mayor Dave Bronson has named Alden Thern as the city’s chief fiscal officer and says Courtney Petersen will leave her job as OMB director next month.
a large gray warehouse

Amazon’s first Alaska sorting facility to open by 2024

An Amazon spokeswoman described the Anchorage facility as a “last stop before packages arrive at customers' doorsteps.”
fire vehicles at a burned home

1 person dead in Midtown Anchorage fourplex fire

Officials say the apartment did not have working smoke alarms, an unfortunate trend for most of Anchorage’s eight fatal fires this year.

Anchorage’s winter shelter plan will rely on hotels, nonprofits and churches this year

The Anchorage Assembly voted Tuesday to put more than $6 million toward the winter shelter plan.

Anchorage Assembly activates its subpoena powers to get information on controversial election challenge

It's a rare move, and allows the Assembly chair to compel witness testimony and the release of documents, plus pursue possible legal action to get records.
A man in a blue suit walks up to the podium.

President Biden commemorates anniversary of 9/11 attacks at memorial in Anchorage

President Joe Biden stopped at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on his way back from the G20 summit in India and a diplomatic visit to Vietnam.
A man with a hat and glasses stands outside of a building.

Hamilton star says cast is feeling ‘so much love’ from Anchorage audience

"I mean, who doesn't want to play Hamilton, right?" said Pierre Jean Gonzalez.
a woman speaks into a microphone behind a podium

Anchorage Mayor Bronson sued by former city manager for wrongful termination

Amy Demboski's sprawling 24-page lawsuit includes numerous allegations against the mayor and high-level city staff.
A birch tree is splintered where it is snapped in half at the base.

Strong winds in Anchorage lead to power outages and downed trees

As of 5 p.m., the highest recorded gust in the Anchorage area was around 70 mph near Potter Marsh.