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.
‘Lift your spirit’: Alaska Native dancers dazzle at first Quyana performance at AFN in 3 years
Anticipation was high for the return to Quyana, after two AFN conventions in a row were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As AFN convention kicks off in Anchorage, Native climate and subsistence advocates rally in the rain
The group held signs that said "Defend the sacred, protect the Arctic" and gave speeches, noting recent record storms and declines in subsistence foods.
Anchorage Assembly leaders condemn racist testimony about Alaska Natives
Assembly leadership said they wanted to ”speak out against the racist and offensive statements made by the member of the public.”
Bronson officials greenlit $4.9M to build East Anchorage nav center without Assembly approval
Public Works Director Lance Wilber said the city gave the go-ahead for building the homeless facility — but city code requires Assembly approval for projects over $50,000.
As Northwest Alaska heavy winds die down, flooding likely to impact communities
The National Weather Service has a flood advisory for the Kotzebue area through tonight, with Nome and Utqiagvik’s going into tomorrow. Officials say damage to fish and hunting camps along the coast is expected, with erosion also a possibility.
Anchorage officials issue eviction notices to homeless campers at Centennial Campground
There’s still dozens of homeless residents staying at the campground. They have 15 days to leave.
More than 100 people move to Sullivan Arena homeless shelter after city closes Centennial Campground
Anchorage homelessness coordinator Alexis Johnson says roughly 100 people are still staying at Centennial Campground.
‘It’s a lot’: Homeless residents at Anchorage campground get ready to move out following days of uncertainty
Some say they'll go back to the Sullivan Arena shelter, which the city confirmed on Thursday would reopen.
Anchorage protesters rally downtown, frustrated that local police still do not have body cameras
It has been about a year and a half since Anchorage voters approved buying body worn cameras for police.
‘There’s no help’: Anchorage homeless campers face uncertain future as Centennial Campground closure looms
Anchorage’s Centennial Park Campground, where hundreds of homeless residents have camped this summer, is closing on Saturday with no official plan for what's next.
Anchorage Assembly delays vote on using portable buildings as emergency winter shelters
The delay comes after Assembly members were told that several portable classrooms from the Anchorage School District wouldn’t be usable as shelters this winter.
Anchorage Assembly approves using the Sullivan Arena as a homeless shelter again
The return to using the arena as a shelter comes after more than a month of debate over how to house roughly 350 homeless people through the winter.
Guest House’s purchase means more low-income housing for Anchorage’s formerly homeless
All of the former hotel's residents have recently been homeless, and either have a job or are in the process of getting employed.
Mayor Bronson selects Virginia McClure as his fourth pick to lead Anchorage library system
McClure has a master’s degree in library science and was the head of Anchorage's Mountain View Library from August 2014 to July 2017.
Anchorage Assembly’s tentative emergency shelter plan includes once again using Sullivan Arena
The move came after strong public outcry against using the Dempsey Ice Arena as a shelter.
Anchorage task force recommends using ice arena and Golden Lion building for winter sheltering
The task force estimates being able to house between 85 and 170 people at the Golden Lion, with another 240 to 260 people at the ice arena.
Weather service officials say worst of heavy Bering Sea winds have passed
After a massive storm brought storm surge and flooding across hundreds of miles of Western Alaska coastline, officials with the National Weather Service say they expect the worst of the wind has passed.
Anchorage Assembly seeks to audit disgraced former health director Joe Gerace’s tenure
Assembly chair Suzanne LaFrance wants the audit to review Gerace's work as health director such as, “documents that were signed, disciplinary actions that were conducted, grants that were administered, contracts executed and policies enacted."
How an Anchorage woman is spreading awareness of FASD by painting rocks
Karen Lomack hopes her outreach helps inform people of how alcohol can affect pregnancy, and reduce the negative stigma of those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Anchorage Mayor Bronson announces new homeless coordinator, chief of staff
Bronson announced that his chief of staff Alexis Johnson will be taking over as the city’s homeless coordinator, a job vacant since Dave D’Amato resigned in February.