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.
Avalanche blocks traffic, knocks out power along major Eagle River road
As of 11 a.m. Friday morning, Anchorage police say no homes were hit by the avalanche and there are no reports of people trapped.
Assembly sets special election date to fill new seat representing North Anchorage
The last day for citizens to register to vote for the special election is May 22.
Anchorage Assembly approves reapportionment map
The process to redraw district boundary lines occurs every 10 years, following the U.S. Census.
City of Nome pays $750K settlement and apologizes to woman after police mishandled her 2017 rape case
The city of Nome has settled a lawsuit with a former police dispatcher after officers mishandled her sexual assault report, her attorneys announced today.
Anchorage mayor Bronson seeks to name Port of Alaska after late Congressman Young
Bronson says, considering the hundreds of millions in federal money that Young was able to secure for the Port of Alaska, an appropriate way to honor Young’s legacy in the state would be to name the port after him.
Anchorage Assembly chair says she has more questions after receiving records tied to alleged improper actions by mayor
The records include more than 55 pages of emails and text messages. They corroborate the fluoride allegation, but provide less information about the two issues involving police.
BA.2 subvariant of omicron gradually gaining ground in Alaska
The first Alaska case of BA.2 was detected in early January according to state data. By mid February, more than a third of Alaska cases were the BA.2 subvariant.
Anchorage Assembly confirms Uluao ‘Junior’ Aumavae as chief equity officer
Aumavae was hired by Mayor Dave Bronson in October after the mayor fired Clifford Armstrong III without Assembly approval.
Despite more than 50,000 lost jobs, federal relief boosted Alaska incomes during first year of pandemic
“Who would’ve predicted that in 2020, overall income to Alaskans, even on a per capita basis, increased?" state economist Neal Fried said. "And why was because of all these transfer payments that people were receiving.”
ConocoPhillips says it’s still working to find source of North Slope gas leak
The company says a subsurface gas leak was first observed at the Alpine site early in the morning on Friday, March 4. By March 7, the company relocated 300 of the site’s roughly 400 workers. The site is currently not producing oil.
Alaska hospital cases drop by more than half as omicron wave recedes
Anchorage hospital officials dare to hope that we're nearing a return to more normal conditions.
As APD continues to draft policy for body-worn cameras, legal hiccups over access to footage have advocates concerned
Supporters of the policy say the point of body cameras is to increase transparency and accountability with Anchorage police. They say the draft policy doesn’t go far enough. On the other side, the city says it needs to follow state privacy laws.
Assembly leaders hope new jobs plan will bolster Anchorage economy
Assembly leaders say they’re encouraged by a recent forecast from the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation that predicts continued job growth and a potential record tourism season this year.
At spirited Service High homecoming, Miss America Emma Broyles highlights platform of inclusivity
“People tend to see a crown and a sash and they think, ‘Oh. She’s just a pageant girl,’" said Emma Broyles. "But I think it’s really important to show the world that I have so much more to say.”
Anchorage Assembly moves to narrow down options for reapportionment maps
At a meeting this week, officials hope the Assembly will narrow their selection down to one map that other members can make amendments to.
Anchorage’s deputy health director resigns
It’s unclear what led to Dave D’Amato’s resignation about three months into his job as one of the top officials in the city’s health department.
Municipality of Anchorage awarded $360M from lawsuit over port expansion project
The municipality sued the federal government over the various design and construction defects with the port project more than a decade ago.
UAA researchers hope to move child welfare away from separation and toward community building
The researchers say they hope their study will show people that to enact real change in child welfare systems, lawmakers and administrators will have to look beyond where families are and instead address how they got there.
Anchorage police have no timeline on implementing body-worn cameras as current draft policy draws scrutiny
Anchorage voters approved the purchase of the cameras during an election last spring. But Chief Michael Kerle says the department is still sorting through the thorny issues involved with implementing the policy.
2 years into the pandemic, 5 Alaskans reflect on all that has changed
We checked in with some of the Alaskans we interviewed earlier in the pandemic, to asked about how the past two years have shaped them. They spoke of illness and loss, but also growth and hope for the year ahead.