Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Kavitha George is Alaska Public Media’s climate change reporter. Reach her at kgeorge@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Kavitha here.
Frustration builds for Southcentral restaurants amidst third shutdown
Halfway through the city’s third pandemic shutdown, Anchorage’s hospitality industry is struggling, and increasingly frustrated.
Rep. Lance Pruitt files lawsuit challenging Anchorage election results
Democrat Liz Snyder narrowly beat Pruitt in the November election, and a recount last week affirmed her win by 11 votes.
State Department of Corrections announces third inmate death due to COVID-19
Three people serving time in Alaska's prison system have now died because of COVID-19. Twenty-one inmates are currently hospitalized, and more than 1,000 of the 4,500 people incarcerated in Alaska have tested positive.
Anchorage Assembly passes $15.4 million relief package
The last of the city's CARES Act funding will go toward rental and mortgage relief, small business grants, and food and voucher programs helping Anchorage families cover the essentials.
In Downtown Anchorage, a quiet holiday season and an uncertain future
In downtown Anchorage, the holiday season is usually a busy time. This year, with a hunker down order and increased COVID-19 transmission across the city, things look different.
Officials expect Anchorage’s CARES Act money to dry up by the end of the month
As the third hunker down order of 2020 hits Anchorage residents and businesses, the city has just $15 million in CARES Act funding left to provide relief.
Anchorage and Mat-Su reach grim ICU bed capacity milestones
Anchorage health officials announced worsening pandemic metrics on Friday, including that the city only has five adult ICU beds left. Of the 64 adults currently in ICU care, Anchorage Health Department reported 19 are COVID-19 patients. Nearby, the Mat-Su Borough is already at zero empty adult ICU beds.
Anchorage announces voucher program to assist residents during shutdown
In response to COVID-19, a new municipal voucher program means Anchorage families can apply for up to $400 to cover essentials such as groceries, gas and medications during the December shutdown.
New Mobile Crisis Team to shift Anchorage mental health crisis response from police to behavioral health experts
The Anchorage Assembly approved funding last week for a new mobile intervention team that will respond to mental health crisis calls. The program, which is funded by alcohol tax revenue, is meant to shift the city’s mental health response from police to behavioral health experts.
Anchorage will enter ‘modified hunker down’ for December
The order, which goes into effect on Dec. 1, closes down bars and restaurants to in-person service and puts capacity restrictions on other establishments.
Hard-hit Anchorage restaurants prepare for more restrictions
As COVID-19 cases soar in Anchorage, restaurants are bracing for the possibility of another shutdown. Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson said this week that she had no immediate plans for new emergency mandates, but noted the city may need to take action soon.
Anchorage Assembly urges Dunleavy and Alaska’s delegation to do more to fight COVID-19
In a nonbinding resolution, the Anchorage Assembly voted 9-1 to ask Gov. Mike Dunleavy to implement a statewide mask mandate.
Anchorage Assembly extends emergency declaration a sixth time
The Anchorage Assembly on Monday voted to extend the city’s emergency declaration for the sixth time, until January 15, 2021. The first declaration went into effect in March, with periodic votes to extend. In recent months COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed and hospital staffing has been increasingly strained.
‘Extra Tough’ exhibit fills in the gaps of women’s history in the circumpolar North
The Anchorage Museum launched a new exhibit this month celebrating the contributions, legacies and strength of women from the circumpolar north. Extra Tough: Women of the North gathers artwork from women from Alaska, Canada,...
Anchorage Assembly moves to include vaping, e-cigarette products in tobacco tax
The Anchorage Assembly last week passed an ordinance to include vaping and electronic cigarette products under the city’s existing tobacco tax.
Staffing concerns drove Anchorage superintendent to postpone opening schools
Anchorage School District announced on Sunday evening it would be reversing its controversial plan to return K-2 and special education students to in-person learning as COVID-19 case counts reach record highs in Alaska. Superintendent Deena Bishop made the call after new staffing concerns with both the school district and the city’s health care system emerged late last week.
Anchorage tightens exemptions on mask rule, limits gatherings as cases rise
Acting Anchorage Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson announced Friday the city will expand masking rules and tighten up permitted gathering sizes to combat the recent record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases.
Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson will lead until July
The Anchorage Assembly voted late Wednesday night against holding a special election to fill the mayor’s seat. The new mayor will be chosen at the regular election in April and Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson...
Another bid to end Anchorage mayor’s emergency powers fails
A motion to end the emergency powers of Anchorage acting mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson failed at an Assembly meeting Wednesday night. Assemblywoman Jamie Allard, citing a single-day drop in COVID-19 cases in the municipality this week, said residents should be able to “make decisions for themselves” when it comes to pandemic precautions.
