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.
National credit rating agency downgrades University of Alaska’s credit rating by three notches
The lower rating means it will be more expensive for the university to borrow money for various projects.
As University of Alaska faces uncertain financial future, officials focus on supporting current students
In the face of an unprecedented cut from the state, University of Alaska staff, faculty and students have a high degree of uncertainty about their futures.
Molly of Denali launches nationwide
The first nationally broadcast children's show with an Alaska Native lead character premiered today.
UAA students, staff respond to impending, unprecedented budget cuts
The University of Alaska is preparing to absorb a 41 percent cut in state funding. At the Anchorage campus, administrators estimate they will have to lay off 700 employees and eliminate more than a third of the school's academic programs.
University of Alaska president: Campus closures, program elimination and layoffs on the table under Dunleavy vetoes
The University of Alaska stands to lose $134 million in state funding if Governor Mike Dunleavy's line-item vetoes are not overturned by legislators.
Anchorage School Board formally opposes Dunleavy vetoes
In a resolution passed last week, the Board wrote that the governor's vetoes to public education funding could have "detrimental" effects on student outcomes.
49 Voices: Dimetros Baynesagn of Anchorage
This week we're hearing from Dimetros Baynesagn in Anchorage. Baynesagn is a UAA student originally from Ethiopia.
Meet Sovereign Bill, the voice behind Molly of Denali
Sovereign Bill voices Molly Mabray, the first Alaska Native lead character in a nationally-broadcast children's program.
Defendant in Anchorage teen’s homicide case now faces federal child porn charges
New federal charges have been filed against two people involved in the June 2 murder of 19-year-old Cynthia Hoffman in Anchorage.
GCI announces state’s first wireless 5G network in Anchorage
The state's largest telecommunications company announced it's building the first 5G wireless network in the state's largest city.
Dunleavy: Wasilla special session will be focused on PFD, capital budget can come later
Dunleavy held a press conference Friday in front of Wasilla Middle School, his recommended venue for the session. He says while there is still work to be done on the capital budget, the dividend is his priority for this session.
49 Voices: Kyra Dushkin of Kenai
This week we're hearing from Kyra Dushkin from Kenai. Dushkin is a student at the Kenai Peninsula College, hoping to become an OB nurse.
PFD rally brings out governor’s ardent Mat-Su supporters
Governor Mike Dunleavy held a rally Thursday night in Wasilla in support of a Permanent Fund Dividend amount that adheres to the law established in 1982. There was no vocal opposition to Dunleavy from the crowd.
Alaska Native students get hands-on medical experience at UAA nursing camp
This week, high school students from around the state attended a three-day camp at the University of Alaska Anchorage to learn skills in one of the most in-demand job fields in the state: nursing. It's part of a UAA program designed to get more Alaska Natives into the medical field.
Two Anchorage juveniles arrested in two separate homicide cases
Anchorage police today announced the arrests of two Anchorage boys in two separate homicide investigations.
‘Enough is enough’: Attorney General Barr hears from Native leaders about rural justice problems
Barr will spend four days traveling around Alaska, learning about the unique challenges rural areas, particularly villages, face.
49 Voices: Frank Hauser of Anchorage
This week we're hearing from Frank Hauser in Anchorage. Hauser is principal of Robert Service High School in Anchorage and was selected last week by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals as 2019 Principal of the Year.
Under a new pilot program, several Anchorage elementary schools will have longer lunch and recess next fall
This fall, several Anchorage elementary schools will have longer lunches and recesses. It's part of a pilot program that the school district is rolling out in an effort to better meet students' needs for good nutrition and exercise.
Police charge Anchorage School District HR head with harassment
The Anchorage School District's head of human resources has been charged with harassment towards another ASD employee.
49 Voices: Geser Bat-Erdene of Anchorage
This week we're hearing from Geser Bat-Erdene in Anchorage. Bat-Erdene is a foreign exchange student at the University of Alaska Anchorage who will serve as commencement speaker on Sunday. He had previously served as UAA's student body president; a term that ended last weekend.