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 School Board recommends closing Abbott Loop Elementary among other preliminary budget cuts
Recommended cuts also include getting rid of virtual learning for elementary school students and increasing the district’s pupil to teacher ratio by one across all grade levels, likely making class sizes larger.
Anchorage teachers say they’re concerned about a proposal to increase class sizes
The Anchorage School District needs to cut spending by $48 million and raising the student-to-teacher ratio by one would save $7 million.
Gov. Dunleavy’s proposed budget continues yearslong trend of flat funding for Alaska schools
Because of inflation, flat school funding over the past several years essentially means that the money school districts have received has been worth less each year.
In wake of a smaller $48M deficit, Anchorage school officials weigh numerous budget cuts
School board members on Saturday found wide consensus on closing Abbott Loop Elementary School, increasing the student-to-teacher ratio by one and using roughly $28 million in savings to close next year's budget gap.
Anchorage school officials consider remote learning as winter storms keep students home for 4 days
In response to heavy snowfall, the Mat-Su Borough School District held remote learning days last Wednesday, Thursday and again on Monday.
Anchorage road crews working ‘around-the-clock’ as city braces for more snow
Road conditions were still so bad by Friday that the Anchorage School District closed schools for a third straight day.
Anchorage still shoveling out of its snowiest December day since the ’50s
The snowstorm closed schools for a second day on Thursday as road crews catch up.
Anchorage Assembly overrides Bronson budget vetoes, restoring funds to Brother Francis shelter
The largest veto overridden Tuesday night totaled roughly $1.2 million for Brother Francis shelter to permanently increase its capacity to 120 people.
Anchorage Assembly takes no action on Mayor Bronson’s request to expand Sullivan shelter capacity
Assembly members did not opt to put the proposal to a vote on Tuesday.
Donations pour into Stebbins as village reels from loss of only grocery store
The ANICA Stebbins store was the only local source for groceries and fuel in the community of just over 600 residents. It burned down on Tuesday.
Alaska officials hope switch to stronger opioid reversal drug will help quell rise in fentanyl
In May, the state switched from distributing Narcan to Kloxxado, an overdose reversing medicine that's twice as strong.
Anchorage Mayor Bronson issues vetoes to city budget
Among his vetoes: $1.2 million to permanently increase capacity at Brother Francis shelter.
Fire destroys the only grocery store and fuel source in Stebbins
“Looking at the store, I mean I grew up with it all my life, and so did practically everyone here. It was our only store standing," said Lydia Raymond-Snowball. "Now it’s gone."
Anchorage’s beloved holiday star will be switched on remotely for first time ever
In years past, teams from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson had to take snowmachines up the mountain to turn the star on and off.
In a historic first, Alaskans set to elect 3 LGBTQ lawmakers to state Legislature
In its more than 60-year history, Alaska has never had an openly LGBTQ state lawmaker. Now, Alaska voters are set to send three down to Juneau.
Anchorage police to start carrying overdose-reversing Narcan as early as next year
The move follows growing demands from residents, including parents of overdose victims, who want police to carry and use naloxone to curb a rising number of overdoses in Alaska.
After leading Alaska Health Department, Adam Crum named state’s Revenue commissioner
Heidi Hedberg was named acting Health commissioner.
Anchorage Police Department and union to settle body camera debate in arbitration next year
Municipal attorney Blair Christensen says the arbitration process will likely wrap up six to nine months from now.
‘My phone is constantly blowing up’: Alaska voters contend with increase in campaign text messages
Are you getting a lot of text messages from candidates running for office? You're not alone.
Anchorage Assembly nixes funding to build new shelter, killing project for now
Some Assembly members said they were dismayed that the mayor’s administration had given Roger Hickel Contracting the go-ahead to spend millions to begin building the shelter without the Assembly's approval.