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 entrepreneur named finalist for national award spotlighting Black community leaders
Jasmin Smith is an entrepreneur who was nominated for the inaugural theGRIO Hero award.
Jamie Heinz unanimously confirmed as Anchorage municipal clerk
Heinz has more than 12 years of experience, including serving as the deputy clerk for elections in Anchorage and city clerk for Kenai.
Bolstered by post-pandemic travel, Anchorage set to have another strong tourism year
While it’s still early, Anchorage tourism officials and tour operators say 2023 is likely to match last summer's post-pandemic banner year.
Anchorage Assembly delays vote on putting $11M towards homeless navigation center
The proposed navigation center and shelter would sit at the corner of Tudor and Elmore Roads and would host 150 beds, with a surge capacity of 200 people.
Alaska continues to rank among worst states for child well-being, report finds
In recent years, Alaska has consistently ranked in the bottom third among states of the annual Kids Count report for overall child well-being.
Former legislator Chris Tuck files to run for Anchorage mayor
Tuck joins incumbent Dave Bronson and former Anchorage Assembly chair Suzanne LaFrance in their bids for mayor.
As Alaska’s child care crisis looms, some businesses opt to launch centers for their employees’ kids
Companies with on-site child care report happier staff and better retention rates — especially as affordable child care becomes harder and harder to find.
Anchorage Assembly recommends use of vacant Midtown lot for homeless camp
The lot was one of five sites across Anchorage that a city task force recommended in May.
Girdwood’s only licensed child care facility ‘at the end of the line’ as organizers look to expand
Little Bears' board of directors has been working for more than a decade to expand — aiming to build a new center to serve more than 100 kids.
Anchorage Assembly to vote on paying $2.5M settlement to contractor for work on homeless shelter
The Assembly will vote June 16 on whether to pay Roger Hickel Contracting roughly $2.5 million for work it completed on a controversial homeless shelter project.
Man charged with selling bootleg alcohol to Anchorage homeless residents
Investigators say Brandon Reed sold thousands of dollars' worth of vodka to people at the Sullivan Arena and other places frequented by the homeless.
Anchorage police department and union reach agreement on body-worn camera policy, 2 years after approved by voters
Even with the agreement, the timeline for when the cameras will actually be on officers is still unknown.
Anchorage Assembly rejects $550K Demboski legal settlement, opts to pay out MacAlpine
Both Amy Demboski and Heather MacAlpine allege they were illegally fired by Mayor Dave Bronson's administration.
Anchorage families struggle with sparse and expensive child care options
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0KNdZwsGgA
Judy Eledge resigns as Anchorage’s deputy library director
Mayor Dave Bronson announced Tuesday that he had accepted Eledge's resignation, hours before Assembly members were set to vote on a resolution calling on her to step down.
Former Anchorage Assembly chair Suzanne LaFrance to run for mayor next year
LaFrance is registered nonpartisan, and represented South Anchorage on the Assembly from 2017 to 2023, serving as chair for two years.
High prices and lengthy waitlists: How Alaska’s child care crisis is impacting Anchorage families
The lack of available and affordable child care means some people are quitting their jobs, considering moving out of state or putting a big chunk of their income toward daycare.
Anchorage mayor names Tyler Anderson as new HR director
Tyler Anderson takes over from Raylene Griffith, who was acting HR manager after Niki Tshibaka's sudden resignation.
Policy finalized to put body cameras on Alaska State Troopers
Thirty officers already have the cameras, and the goal is for all troopers to be equipped with them by the end of the year.
Alaska has a child care crisis. We want to hear from you.
Help inform our coverage of Alaska’s child care shortage by sharing your story about finding care in the state.