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.
High winds across Southcentral Alaska reach 72 miles per hour
Winds out of the north hit the Anchorage bowl at speeds of up to 42 miles per hour Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service. Unusually cold air from the Interior and a strong pressure gradient drove winds across Southcentral Alaska, hitting the Mat-Su Valley 72 miles per hour and Kenai at about 50 miles per hour.
How are Alaska families celebrating Halloween during COVID-19?
Like many celebrations in the last eight months, Halloween is looking a lot different as families try to incorporate public health precautions into their trick-or-treating plans.
Nate Baer and his family traditionally spend Halloween passing...
Anchorage Assembly weighs how to fill the mayor’s seat
On Friday evening, less than two weeks after Mayor Ethan Berkowitz resigned due to a scandal, Austin Quinn-Davidson was sworn in as the acting mayor of Anchorage. Now, the Anchorage Assembly is turning to decide how to permanently fill the mayor’s seat.
Austin Quinn-Davidson, a relative newcomer, sworn in as Anchorage mayor
Quinn-Davidson, a lawyer by training, says she'll work to regain trust in the city government while continuing to help residents get through the difficulties of the coronavirus pandemic.
House District 28 race centers budget crisis
Republican James Kaufman and Democrat-nominated Independent Suzanne LaFrance are battling to represent House District 28, in South Anchorage, including the Hillside and Girdwood. Both say solving Alaska’s fiscal crisis is their first priority, but their strategies are different.
Assembly reorganizes, elects Austin Quinn-Davidson to become interim mayor
The Anchorage Assembly voted to reorganize on Friday, electing Austin Quinn-Davidson to the role of Assembly chair. Following Mayor Ethan Berkowitz’s resignation on October 23, Quinn-Davidson will become the interim mayor of Anchorage until the public elects a new mayor.
Alaska Carrs-Safeway pharmacies offering $140 at-home COVID-19 test kits
Carrs and Safeway pharmacies in Alaska are now offering at-home COVID-19 test kits for $139.99 each, available in store or by mail delivery. Customers provide a saliva sample and then mail the kit to a lab using a prepaid FedEx label. Safeway Director Pharmacy Operations David Green said at-home testing won’t replace a community health response, but he hopes it provides some flexibility with the way people can get tested.
LISTEN: First Presbyterian rings bells to honor 200,000 COVID-19 deaths in America
The national COVID-19 death count crossed 200,000 last month. Social distancing and quarantine protocols have made it difficult to gather to mourn as a community, but yesterday, First Presbyterian Church of Anchorage held a short outdoor ceremony to recognize the huge death toll of the ongoing pandemic.
City officials weigh in on Anchorage’s recent COVID-19 spike
COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Anchorage, with an average of 70 new cases per day in the municipality this last week, up from 48 the week prior. Five new deaths were also reported in the last week, according to Dr. Janet Johnston, an epidemiologist with the city. Johnston and other health officials are not sure what is causing the spike.
Assembly approves police transparency resolution
The Anchorage Assembly approved a resolution on Tuesday that aims to improve transparency within the Anchorage Police Department. It passed with an amendment supported by both the Berkowitz administration and APD, requiring regular reports to the assembly of any changes to police policy. It also involves the existing Public Safety Advisory Commission in reviewing policy changes to determine if public input is needed.
Alaska’s COVID-19 cases rise, worries grow over hospital capacity
Alaska has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases over the last week, including five deaths last Friday. Daily case counts had been hovering in the upper double digits earlier this month, but have been above a hundred cases a day for the last six days.
City proposes CARES Act reappropriation to simplify relief spending
The municipality is proposing to use relief money to pay first responders like police, fire and public health workers. Then the general municipal funds that normally pay for first responders would fund the relief projects.
Facebook group for those with grievances against Anchorage’s mayor and Assembly grows
Over the last few months, a Facebook group called “Save Anchorage” has become an organizing place for people with grievances against the Berkowitz administration and the city’s largely progressive assembly. It began with neighbors who objected to the city’s plan to purchase properties to house the homeless and provide substance treatment and grew to include people against public health measures like mandatory masking and business closures.
Anchorage distributes thousands of free cloth masks to community
Anchorage began distributing 160,000 free cloth masks to the community on Monday.
Assembly tables bill to protect hotel workers
The Anchorage Assembly voted on Tuesday to indefinitely postpone an ordinance providing protections for hotel workers after several hours of public testimony against the proposed measure.
Anchorage Planned Parenthood graffitied with threatening messages
Anchorage Planned Parenthood staff arrived to work Wednesday morning to find the outside of the building graffitied with threatening messages. Photographs posted on social media show the phrases “Quit or die,” and “Stop killing our kids” spray painted on the windows of the Lake Otis clinic location.
Anchorage police: homicide, assault and property crime calls are down
The Anchorage Police Department reported this week that calls for police assistance appear to have decreased in the city this year, compared to the last three years. Reports of assault, thefts and property crimes are all trending somewhat down, according to Chief Justin Doll, who presented the statistics to the assembly’s Public Safety Committee on Wednesday.
Muni receives $18.6 million grant to support People Mover through the pandemic
Anchorage received a nearly $20 million CARES Act grant from the Federal Transit Authority this week to help support People Mover bus service with pandemic response.
Anchorage Assembly reopens for in-person public testimony
The Anchorage Assembly is reopening chambers for in-person testimony after the Berkowitz administration loosened limitations on gatherings last week.
Funerals in Anchorage are being delayed more than a year during COVID
Funerals are just another aspect of life that has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Anchorage, some families are postponing burial services, and others are forgoing them altogether.