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 Mayor Bronson picks Grant Yutrzenka as city’s CFO
Before his job in the finance department, Yutrzenka was assistant general manager and CFO for Anchorage's water and wastewater utility.
Anchorage is still struggling to remove snow, weeks after a trio of winter storms
City officials say crews have made progress. But there are challenges.
Anchorage is switching to a new emergency messaging system. Here’s how to sign up.
The Municipality of Anchorage will soon begin using Rave Mobile Safety to send alerts about weather, traffic and other emergencies.
Anchorage Assembly starts process to fill Allard, Dunbar seats
Assembly members Forrest Dunbar of East Anchorage and Jamie Allard of Chugiak-Eagle River were both elected in November to serve in the Alaska Legislature.
Flight cancellations lead to hectic holiday travel for Alaskans
“We can safely say this was one of, if not the single worst, airline meltdown that we’ve seen," said Thrifty Traveler's Kyle Potter.
Snow buildup on Anchorage roads leaves drivers with fewer lanes and longer commutes
“I mean I stayed on Lake Otis for well over 30 minutes, because it was one lane,” said Anchorage resident Megan Premer.
Alaska’s first Miss America, Emma Broyles, reflects on her year in the spotlight
Broyles became a statewide sensation after she became the first Alaskan and the first Korean American named Miss America last year.
‘Black Lives in Alaska’ highlights more than 150 years of African American history in the Last Frontier
Author and historian Ian Hartman says while most of early Alaska history focuses on territorial days and the Klondike Gold Rush, Black people have lived and worked in the region long before.
Anchorage students may have stretch of longer school days to make up for recent snow days
District officials are proposing to add 30 minutes to each school day between Jan. 30 and March 9.
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.