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.
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.
Police shoot and critically injure man near East Anchorage gas station
The man is the fifth person shot by Anchorage officers during a police response since mid-May. Three of those people have died.
Alaska Pacific University to receive millions from NASA to study microplastics
APU is set to receive roughly $5 million from NASA to establish a microplastics research and education center.
Anchorage Mayor LaFrance announces 6 new executive hires
LaFrance announced a deputy chief of staff, policy advisor, constituent relations and external affairs directors and two special assistants.
Suzanne LaFrance sworn in as first woman elected Anchorage mayor
“Today's about this special place we call home and what we're going to do together to fix it up and make it the place we all know it can be,” LaFrance said.
This recently-launched news outlet aims to expand coverage of the Mat-Su Borough
The Mat-Su Sentinel is a new online news platform aimed at providing local news to an area the size of West Virginia, with a population of roughly 110,000 people.
Anchorage’s popular Ship Creek to close to sport fishing for 2 weeks
When the fishery reopens on July 14, anglers will not be allowed to retain any king salmon for the rest of the season.
Anchorage Assembly narrowly passes zoning change to allow for more duplexes
On a 7-5 vote, the Assembly effectively ended single-family zoning in the Anchorage Bowl in hopes of boosting housing.
Anchorage woman who died during SWAT team standoff had pointed a rifle at her neighbor, police say
The police chief says it’s still unclear how 58-year-old Lisa Fordyce-Blair died. SWAT team members were not wearing body cameras.
In his final days as Anchorage mayor, Bronson says he’s focused on a smooth transition
Dave Bronson says he has a number of accomplishments he's proud of as well as a few regrets.
4 men have died in Alaska’s North Slope oil fields in just over a year
Before the recent string of workplace fatalities, there had not been a death in the area since 2018.
LaFrance names municipal attorney, announces new chief administrative officer position
The new position of chief administrative officer will oversee the city’s human resources and IT departments, as well as purchasing and financial functions.
Anchorage man charged with making false bomb threat at federal building
James Pearce, 40, is accused of falsely claiming he had planted bombs at seven Anchorage locations.
Anchorage Juneteenth festivities kick off this weekend
Juneteenth is recognized as the oldest African American holiday in the United States, and marks the anniversary of when the last American slaves were freed in Texas on June 19, 1865.
Family of man fatally shot by Anchorage police lobbies to view body camera footage
Monte Handy, father of 34-year-old Kristopher Handy, said the family wants to see what happened for themselves.
Anchorage restaurants can now start serving alcohol 2 hours earlier
Under the new rules approved by the Assembly, restaurants can serve alcohol starting at 8 a.m.
How a 12-year-old got an Anchorage street named after a Harry Potter location
In the Harry Potter universe, Grimmauld Place is where Potter’s godfather Sirius Black lives. Now it's a West Anchorage street.
Anchorage Mayor-elect LaFrance announces chief of staff and municipal manager
Suzanne LaFrance has hired Becky Windt Pearson as her municipal manager and Katie Scovic as her chief of staff.