Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Wesley Early covers Anchorage life and city politics for Alaska Public Media. Reach him at wearly@alaskapublic.org and follow him on X at @wesley_early. Read more about Wesley here.
Why candidates are withdrawing from Alaska’s general election
Eleven candidates dropped out after the primary. Many said they wanted to help build support around stronger candidates.
UAF scientists hope new forecast method can predict major earthquakes months in advance
Társilo Girona says he and other researchers trained an algorithm to analyze 30 years of earthquake data in Alaska and California.
Delegates from Anchorage’s Japanese sister city celebrate park renamed in their honor
Anchorage’s Sand Lake Park has been renamed to honor the 55-year sister city relationship with Chitose, Japan.
Anchorage leaders hope proposed parental leave and telework policies will bolster city workforce
“The level of vacancies that we find ourselves with now is historically very out of the norm and high,” said chief administrative officer Bill Falsey.
Nancy Dahlstrom drops out of Alaska’s U.S. House race
Dahlstrom announced the end of her candidacy after placing third in the primary, behind Democrat Mary Peltola and fellow Republican Nick Begich III.
Anchorage leaders wrestle with how to respond to spree of police shootings
Not everyone is in agreement over what should be done, and how quickly to do it.
Prosecutors find officer justified in deadly shooting of Anchorage woman during SWAT standoff
Officials determined that Sgt. John Butler was legally justified in shooting and killing 58-year-old Lisa Fordyce-Blair in June after a lengthy SWAT standoff at her home.
Anchorage police say teenage girl walked toward officer with a knife before fatally shot
Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case released a few additional details about the shooting, but said much still remains under investigation.
More than 100 people gather in downtown Anchorage for vigil honoring teenager killed by police
Easter Leafa, 16, recently moved to Alaska from American Samoa and was set to start her junior year of high school this week before she was killed.
Anchorage Mayor LaFrance announces changes to police department after officer kills teenager
“We cannot take back the pain associated with this loss, but we can do everything in our power to make sure this doesn’t happen again in Anchorage,” Mayor LaFrance said in a statement.
Anchorage police fatally shoot teen girl who they say was holding a knife
APD Chief Sean Case said the 16-year-old approached officers holding a knife late Tuesday night, calling her death "tragic."
Local students get park renamed to honor Chitose, Anchorage’s Japanese sister city
Students from Sand Lake Elementary, which houses the school district’s Japanese immersion program, were behind the name change.
Anchorage’s Hmoob Cultural Center struggles to stay open as child care crisis continues
The child care provider is struggling with high operating costs and low state subsidies. It's a familiar trend in a state strapped for child care.
Anchorage’s aging snow clearing equipment likely won’t be replaced before winter
Chief Administrative Officer Bill Falsey said some city vehicles for hauling and clearing snow have a lot of years and miles on them.
Anchorage police chief says body camera footage of Handy shooting to be released ‘probably within a week’
A new body camera policy starting on Monday mandates the release of footage of police shootings within 45 days.
After a dry June sparked wildfire concerns, Alaska has had a very rainy July
Climate researcher Brian Brettschneider says the rain has “certainly, quite literally put a damper” on wildfire concerns.
Alaska officials say they’re working to speed up investigations of police shootings
So far this year, officers have shot nine people during responses, killing six of them. Five of those shootings involved Anchorage police.
Anchorage police set timeline for release of body camera footage in new draft policy
The policy would have the department release footage of “critical incidents” like police shootings within 45 days.
After a spree of Anchorage police shootings, advocates call for a citizen review board
The board would be staffed by professional investigators who would be guided by a board made up of Anchorage residents, aimed at holding the Anchorage Police Department accountable.
Anchorage man fired shotgun at police and stranger before officers shot him, charges say
Damien Dollison, 51, is charged with felony assault for firing a shotgun at officers and a witness at an Anchorage gas station early Monday morning.