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.
Fight over required health precautions in Anchorage Assembly chamber ends meeting early
The Anchorage Assembly meeting ended earlier than expected Wednesday, with Assembly leadership and Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration locked in debate over new masking and social distancing requirements for the chamber.
Bronson administration launches online form to report Anchorage mask mandate violations
The link is on the municipal manager page on the Municipality of Anchorage website. There is still no public information regarding any fines or penalties for violations of the mandate.
Early election results show Anchorage Midtown voters rejecting recall of Assembly member Zaletel
There are still more votes to be counted.
Mayor Bronson talks future of port repairs in State of the City address
Mayor Bronson delivered his remarks virtually because he was quarantining after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Alaska COVID hospitalizations dip slightly after hitting record high
The number of hospitalizations from COVID-19 in the state dropped by 10 after hitting a record high on Thursday. There are now 232 patients with COVID-19 in Alaska’s hospitals.
Top advisor Craig Campbell among several departures from Bronson administration this week
Craig Campbell has served in several roles in the Bronson Administration, most recently as Policy and Programs Director.
Alaska’s COVID hospitalizations have hit a new high
The state on Thursday reported 242 patients with COVID-19 in Alaska hospitals, the most ever since the pandemic began.
State elections commission recommends fine for pro-Bronson group, citing a failure to file certain forms during runoff
The Alaska Public Offices Commission staff is recommending a $5,665 fine for a group that was raising funds to support Mayor Dave Bronson’s campaign.
Anchorage’s former real estate director sues Bronson administration, claiming she was illegally fired for making whistleblower complaint
Christina Hendrickson was fired in September, shortly after she made a whistleblower complaint to the Assembly regarding how fellow municipal employee Jim Winegarner was hired.
Anchorage teachers rally outside school board meeting, unsatisfied with district contract proposals
Teachers raised three main concerns over ASD’s proposed contract: no increase in salaries, the reduction of planning time, and a new health care plan which many found inferior.
Petition filed to recall Assembly member Jamie Allard
This is the third recall effort of an Assembly member that Anchorage has seen in a year, with Felix Rivera surviving a recall election in April, and Meg Zaletel’s recall election scheduled for next week.
Tens of thousands of dollars are flowing into both sides of the Zaletel recall effort
Midtown voters will decide next week whether to recall Assembly member Meg Zaletel.
Alaska pediatrician group criticizes Anchorage’s chief medical officer over ‘grossly misleading’ comments on COVID
The Alaska chapter of a national group of pediatricians has written a blistering letter to Dr. Michael Savitt, Anchorage’s chief medical officer, criticizing recent statements he made on the effectiveness of masking and the spread of COVID-19 in the city.
Who needs to wear a mask in Anchorage and where? Here’s a breakdown of the new ordinance.
The Anchorage Assembly on Thursday overturned Mayor Dave Bronson’s veto of an emergency mask ordinance. That means the masking rules for the city are back in place.
Anchorage Assembly overrides Bronson veto, upholding emergency mask ordinance
The Anchorage Assembly on Thursday overturned Mayor Dave Bronson’s veto of its contentious emergency mask ordinance.
It’s official: Anchorage records its first snowfall of the season
While some parts of Anchorage received more than 14 inches of snow in late September, the weather service's measuring station near the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport got barely a trace. And that's where official weather measurements are taken. So, Thursday will technically be counted as Anchorage's first snowfall of the season.
Anchorage Assembly will decide tonight whether to override Bronson’s veto of masking measure
The Assembly's meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Assembly Chambers at Loussac Library.
Anchorage Assembly to hire a lawyer for help with ‘separation of powers’ at Loussac
y chair Suzanne LaFrance, describes several instances where members of the mayor’s staff were “asserting control over the Loussac Library grounds.”
Anchorage Assembly approves emergency mask mandate
The order approved by the Aassembly takes effect immediately. It mandates that people wear masks in indoor public places and in communal spaces. Those exempted from the masking rules include children under age of 5, people in police custody, people participating in sports, people at church and Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration.
Commission in charge of Alaska elections upholds $38,500 fine for Bronson mayoral campaign
The Alaska Public Offices Commission has ruled that Anchorage mayor Dave Bronson did not file accurate campaign spending reports during the runoff election earlier this year. As a result, they have fined Bronson $38,500.