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.
Six lightning-caused fires burn tundra in Noatak National Preserve
While the area is made up of tundra, lake core studies show that naturally-occurring fires happened fairly regularly.
Officials suspect community spread of COVID-19 in Kotzebue, as new case is reported
A Kotzebue resident has tested positive for COVID-19, Maniilaq Association officials announced Friday night. That marks the third case in the city and fourth in Maniilaq’s service area, which covers the Northwest Arctic Borough and the village of Point Hope.
As test demand increases, Northwest Alaska officials say their supply can’t keep up
Maniilaq says that with increased testing in Kotzebue and in smaller villages, the regional health corporation says that demand for testing has gone up.
First coronavirus case reported in North Slope Borough
A resident from the North Slope Borough has tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first positive case in the region.
Pilot dead, passenger survives after North Slope charter plane crash
The pilot of a charter plane is dead after crashing near Teshekpuk Lake southeast of Utqiagvik Thursday night.
Long-serving state senator faces young challenger supporting statutory PFD
It's only the second time Donny Olson (D-Golovin) has faced a challenger in his two decades.
Beaver numbers have exploded in Northwest Alaska with some striking effects on the environment
In 2002, scientists counted two active beaver dams in the region of the Baldwin Peninsula. Now there are 98, which scientists and locals say is contributing to climate change and affecting salmon spawning.
Under Dunleavy’s new CARES Act distribution, rural boroughs will get more funding
Three rural boroughs will get considerably more funding than Dunleavy originally proposed.
Sullivan defends inclusion of Alaska Native Corporations in CARES Act funding
Tribal governments, including some in Alaska, say that CARES Act funding should not be going to for-profit Alaska Native Corporations.
Dunleavy vetoes $150K in funding for rural REAL ID assistance
The veto comes after the state previously solicited donations from the public to fund DMV staff travel to rural villages to implement the federally-mandated REAL IDs.
Citing coronavirus disaster, Alaska’s investment authority wants to bypass regulations to fund Ambler Road Project
Citing Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s coronavirus emergency declaration, the state’s investment authority is looking to bypass regulations to put funding into the Ambler Road Project.
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) Board of Directors...
To curb coronavirus spread, North Slope Borough suspends travel into its communities
As coronavirus spreads across the state, the North Slope Borough has suspended air, sea and land entry into any of the borough’s eight village communities.
Bush Alaska lawmakers seek extension of REAL ID deadline due to coronavirus concerns
Legislators who represent the bulk of Alaska’s villages are asking the state’s congressional delegation to try to extend the deadline for Alaskans to get REAL ID-compliant identification. The request comes amid concerns over the coronavirus.
Village of Savoonga contends with power outage as region is hit with heavy storms
While coronavirus causes concern in communities across the state, heavy winter storms have knocked out the village of Savoonga’s power twice in the last week.
Kobuk 440, last major race of mushing season, canceled due to coronavirus
As the leading Iditarod mushers approach the finish line in Nome, a different sled dog race has been crippled by the coronavirus.
Alaska state basketball tournament canceled due to coronavirus concerns
In a statement, the ASAA says “MarchMadness Alaska is possibly the largest statewide gathering each year and ASAA would not be acting responsibly if we were to host this year’s event.”
Amid coronavirus concern, Alaska state basketball tournaments postponed
The Alaska School Activities Association wrote that the ASAA/First National Bank state basketball and cheer tournaments have been postponed until further notice. The tournaments were set to start the week of March 15.
Revisions to VPSO laws gain support from Native groups, though some parts remain controversial
A bill that would substantially reform the state’s Village Public Safety Officer Program received public testimony Tuesday from various Native leaders across the state.
Alaska Senate unanimously passes Ashley Johnson-Barr Day bill
The Alaska Senate last week unanimously passed a bill to establish Ashley Johnson-Barr Day.
Former Kivalina substitute teacher charged with sexual exploitation of multiple children
Jayson Knox, 21, is accused of soliciting explicit pictures from children, sending obscene photos to a minor and attempting to meet some of the children for sex.