Lex Treinen, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Lex Treinen is covering the state Legislature for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at ltreinen@gmail.com.
Smoke from Western Alaska wildfires blankets much of the state
Smoke is expected to start clearing in the most heavily populated areas by Monday evening, but in Interior Alaska, the forecast shows that lightning strikes could lead to more wildfires.
The largest homeless shelter in Alaska will close this month. Many staying there aren’t sure where they’ll live next.
Many guests are waiting for housing to open up, but they’re not sure it will free up before the end of the month. If they don’t find options, some say they’ll camp.
Former Anchorage Museum employees demand investigation into work environment under director
Five former employees charged the museum’s director, Julie Decker, with fostering an opaque, chaotic and stressful work environment.
As Anchorage phases out its main homeless shelter, providers fear a surge in campers
Some in the homeless services community say the transition plan from the health department has been poorly communicated.
Assembly investigates Anchorage library management following workplace allegations
Assembly members asked the Bronson administration to answer questions about unfilled staff positions and new rules at the library under its deputy director, Judy Eledge.
Anchorage Assembly postpones vote on process for removing mayor
The vote followed nearly five hours of public testimony that was marked by frequent interruptions. Security removed two people for yelling.
Anchorage’s top library administrator was being investigated for workplace complaints. Bronson fired the investigator.
Heather MacAlpine started looking into what she called “disturbing” allegations about the work environment under Deputy Library Director Judy Eledge shortly before she was fired, emails and interviews show.
Anchorage firefighters put out blaze at auto body shop and warn of high fire danger in the city
The city remains under a burn ban and “red flag warning.”
Wasilla artist who died of COVID leaves legacy of kindness
Deb Lestenkof is remembered as generous and kind. Her family says her spirit is embodied in a popular Facebook group she started a decade ago that's meant to promote connection, kindness and paying it forward.
Bronson fires director of Anchorage’s Office of Equal Opportunity
Heather MacAlpine served in the position for seven years. She says she was not given a reason for her firing.
Penalty partially reversed for 2 Iditarod mushers who sheltered dogs inside during storm
Mille Porsild and Michelle Phillips were the top female finishers in this year’s race. On one of the final runs they moved their dogs indoors to get out of a severe windstorm.
Soldier killed by brown bear on JBER was marking course for navigation training
A bear den was found near the spot where a group of soldiers was attacked by a bear on Tuesday afternoon, killing one of them.
Dozens of cars are still stuck behind Seward landslide as road clearing begins
Two excavators worked through the day Monday to start removing a 300-foot landslide that cut off the community of Lowell Point on Saturday evening.
Anchorage budget director returns to retirement
Longtime public servant Cheryl Frasca said after wrapping up the bulk of the first quarter budget revisions for the Bronson administration, she's returning to retirement.
Bronson submits lengthy records request to city clerk for information about April election
A critic called the move a ‘perpetuation of the Big Lie’ of former president Donald Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud from 2020.
Two years after Anchorage police and fire departments commit to improving diversity, data shows little change
Police and fire officials say they’re hampered by a tight labor market, limited budgets and recruitment barriers that extend outside of their departments.
Anchorage air travelers say few passengers are wearing masks following this week’s court ruling
Alaskans at the Anchorage airport estimated about 10% of passengers on their recent flights had masks on.
Listening session on 200-person shelter in East Anchorage rescheduled for Monday
At the first listening session last week, some members of the public asked for more specifics about the plan and more input from officials involved.
Wasilla man charged for terroristic threatening in downtown Anchorage hotel standoff
John Holman threatened to shoot Alaska Natives from a hotel room at the Captain Cook, according to a sworn affidavit from an Anchorage police officer.
As Alaska warms, birch tree tappers in Talkeetna wrestle with erratic season
Kahiltna Birchworks say they’ve seen more variability in the date of the first sap harvests, shorter seasons, less sugary sap and more pests.