Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Casey Grove is host of Alaska News Nightly, a general assignment reporter and an editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cgrove@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Casey here.
Anchorage Assembly mask testimony has gone on as long as any in recent memory, with more to come
Thursday marks the Anchorage Assembly's sixth session scheduled for public testimony on an ordinance that would introduce a mask mandate for the city. Testimony has been heated, with people arrested at meetings and concerns about anti-Semitic behavior and homophobic remarks.
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she won't cross party lines to vote to increase the debt ceiling. Also, an Anchorage pastor knows he should get a COVID-19 vaccine but can't bring himself to follow through. And a mom in Petersburg gets a difficult diagnosis for herself and her daughter.
Over the last 4 years, 74 people living outside in Anchorage have died, many of hypothermia
More than 70 people experiencing homelessness have died outside in Anchorage in the last four years, according to reporting by Anchorage Daily News reporter Michelle Theriault Boots.
Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Sen. Dan Sullivan proposes a hardline approach to regulating teens' use of social media sites like Facebook. Also, a local reporter delves into the unseen deaths of the unhoused in Anchorage. And Tom Kizzia returns to McCarthy to mine stories for his latest book.
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, October 4, 2021
The Dunleavy administration has released few details on extensive cyberattacks on state government. Also, the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation’s top executive asks whether trustees are committed to the corporation’s independence. And a theater company in Skagway prepares for a season when tourists return.
Inside Alaska’s deciduous trees’ decision to drop leaves
The process is called senescence and it's the topic of Ned Rozell's latest column for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute's Alaska Science Forum.
Alaska News Nightly: Friday, October 1, 2021
Out-of-state healthcare workers settle into hospitals in Alaska. And Alaskans participate in a day honoring the troubled history of Indigenous boarding schools. Also: How and why some trees lose their leaves.
Anchorage’s mayor says masks don’t work. Many experts say they do. Here’s how they know.
Scientific research has shown masks to be a very effective, low cost, low impact way to reduce COVID-19 transmission. That's according to many studies, and Anchorage-based infectious disease specialist Dr. Ben Westley has been reading them.
Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, September 30, 2021
Another night of emotional testimony as Anchorage debates a mask mandate. Meanwhile, study after study has shown the masks work to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. And Southeast fishermen command record prices for Dungeness crab.
JBER requires masking as Anchorage COVID-19 surge continues
The new rule applies to military members, civilian personnel and anyone else on base.
Alaska News Nightly: Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Hundreds of out-of-state doctors and nurses begin arriving in Alaska to help fight COVID-19. Also, frontline workers in the pandemic welcome news of vaccine booster shots. And a Juneau café with dark magic vibes has helped heal its owner.
Alaska healthcare professionals frustrated about inaction, incivility around COVID-19
More than 300 Alaska doctors and other medical professionals signed an open letter this week asking people to think of what's best for their fellow Alaskans and consider getting vaccinated.
Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Hundreds of out-of-state doctors and nurses begin arriving in Alaska to help fight COVID-19. Also, frontline workers in the pandemic welcome news of vaccine booster shots. And a Juneau café with dark magic vibes has helped heal its owner.
Alaska’s North Slope grapples with soaring COVID-19 infection rate, low vaccinations
While the North Slope Borough's rate of vaccination for COVID-19 is on par with Anchorage, it's far behind that of other comparable, rural areas off the road system.
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, September 27, 2021
Alaska's North Slope sees the highest COVID-19 infection rate of any region in the state. Also, after blowing up an old dam, efforts continue to restore the Eklutna River. And beloved musician Hobo Jim is battling cancer, but he still has some big plans: to go fishing.
Why Anchorage COVID-19 infections prompted military leaders to enact stronger measures than the city
Military commanders at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage are asking airmen and soldiers to mask up and avoid off-base establishments that don't require masking, in response to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the community.
Alaska News Nightly: Friday, September 24, 2021
COVID-19 shows no sign of letting up in Alaska, which still has the nation's highest rate of infection. Also, the coronavirus is keeping school nurses very busy this school year. And military commanders at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson are taking stronger COVID precautions than the surrounding community.
State worker arrested on child pornography charges days after adopting 4 kids
Federal agents arrested John Daniel Brooks, 51, on Thursday. State records show Brooks is an analyst-programmer for the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Alaska does have more men than women, but the odds aren’t that odd
There are more men than women in Alaska, but it's not as big of a difference as you might think.
Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, September 23, 2021
Alaska sets another record for COVID-19 cases. And, statewide, officials say the Delta variant is hitting kids hard. Also, yes, there are more men than women in Alaska, but the gap used to be much larger.