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.
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.
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.