Jeremy Hsieh, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Jeremy Hsieh, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
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Jeremy Hsieh covers Anchorage with an emphasis on housing, homelessness, infrastructure and development. Reach him at jhsieh@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8428. Read more about Jeremy here.
Anchorage City Hall

Funding and unresolved questions linger ahead of vote on Anchorage mayor’s homeless shelter proposal

If the Assembly approves the funding, the shelter is unlikely to fully open this winter.
A man wearing a brown suit jacket and blue jeans stands in front a signpost while speaking into a microphone at Point Woronzof.

Indigenous Place Names Project celebrates 4th Anchorage-area signpost

The new marker along the Coastal Trail says “Nuch’ishtunt,” which means “the place protected from the wind” in Dena’ina Athabascan.
A white van parked outside.

Anchorage Health Department announces firing, then un-firing, of contractor that runs 24-hour sleep-off service

The contractor’s service has been inconsistent for months due to staffing shortages. A fire department official says that’s better than going months without the service at all.

Panel recommends renaming port after Don Young and reverting to ‘of Anchorage’ 

The Anchorage Assembly is set to hold a public hearing and vote on the renaming Sept. 12.
An aerial view of the Port of Alaska.

Anchorage Assembly OKs Port of Alaska cargo terminal design and user fees to finance project

Modernizing the port, an essential cargo lifeline for the entire state, has been bogged down in political and technical processes for years.
a sheep on a steep rock face with a boom arm

Roadside assistance? This sheep got stuck along the Seward Highway. Alaska DOT helped her out.

“This is a new one on me,” said an area biologist who helped with the rescue.
The inside of a bus. One passenger stands in the middle, walking to the front door. People sit on either side.

Anchorage bus system apologizes to riders for canceled trips amid driver shortage 

Lots of employers in Alaska and nationally are hurting for workers with commercial driver’s licenses.
a map of part of alaska shows the Alaska Peninsula and part of the Aleutian Chain in red

Alaska emergency officials investigate why Saturday’s tsunami phone alerts went beyond targeted areas

Earthquakes in 2018 and 2020 also led to urgent tsunami phone alerts well beyond the intended audience.
a sharps container near tents

Anchorage Assembly OKs pilot campground for homeless residents

But it’s still unclear whether the city has the time, staff and money to establish the camp by the end of the summer.
A sign listing prohibited activities at a vacant lot

Can Anchorage clear homeless camps? Here’s where lawyers and the courts stand.

With shelter space full, Anchorage officials continue to tread lightly around how and when they will clear unsanctioned homeless encampments. 
The Best Western Golden Lion Hotel

This former Anchorage hotel is weeks away from reopening as permanent, low-income housing 

It’s been the subject of local controversies and shifting plans since the city bought it in 2020.
a sign on a tree near tents

In reversal, Anchorage halts its clearing of Mountain View homeless camps 

The city’s court filing says it initially acted on the camps neighboring JBER because it thought the military wanted them cleared – but never actually nailed down the military’s position.
a large painting of a person in spacesuit

Solstice concert organizers pledge donations to Anchorage’s lead homelessness nonprofit 

The music festival inadvertently led the city to displace homeless campers. Now, the concert organizers are giving back.
a man runs an excavator across the street from a junked car

Anchorage’s Third Avenue residents brace for a third wave of campers

The city doesn’t have enough shelter space for the soon-to-be-displaced campers, which leaves a large vacant lot at the edge of downtown as a likely space people will resettle.
A man in an olive green sweater speaks at a podium.

Anchorage green financing program closes biggest deal to date

The C-PACER program helps finance energy efficiency upgrades for commercial properties, like the former Aviator Hotel downtown.
A man in a shirt and tie

Anchorage Mayor Bronson picks permanent chief of staff, fifth of his tenure

Mario Bird has served in the position in an acting capacity since April.
Young students sit behind desks in an elementary school classroom.

Will Alaska lawmakers override Gov. Dunleavy’s public school funding veto? Probably not. 

The House minority leader says things could change as school districts reckon with the veto’s impact on their budgets for the coming school year.
A man in a military uniform speaks at a podium

High-ranking Alaska National Guard officer arrested on domestic violence assault charges

Prosecutors say Brig. Gen. Wayne Don's latest arrest violates conditions of a deal struck after another incident involving his wife from November.

Anchorage taxpayers will pay full bill for homeless shelter contracting failure

The city’s new municipal attorney vows her office won’t allow a mistake like this to happen again.