Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
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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.
Green leaves in the snow

Anchorage blanketed in white after first sizable snowfall

Anchorage saw a little over six inches of snow Sunday, shattering an almost 60-year-old record for the amount of snowfall recorded on Nov. 5.

Anchorage photo exhibit highlights Taiwanese diaspora in Alaska

Photographer Jeff Chen said he wanted to highlight the diverse experiences of those people who made Alaska their home.
the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska’s outsourcing of guardianship led to dysfunction and debt

Anchorage Daily News reporter Iris Samuels says the man behind a nonprofit that took the cases “bit off more than he could chew.”
A picture of a beige building

Anchorage looks for more shelter space, with number on waitlist now double expected capacity

“In total, we have about 1,000 people who are wanting to move throughout the sheltering system,” said Anchorage’s homelessness coordinator.
Three people posed in front of a a white wall

The new ‘Mana: The History We Inherit’ exhibit highlights Filipino history in Alaska

Mana is the Tagalog word for “inheritance” and the name of an exhibit launching at the Anchorage Museum on Saturday.
A man in a hat pushes a snow blower spraying snow.

This year’s El Niño likely means warmer winter temperatures and maybe less snow

"It even may approach what we call a 'super' El Niño, which has only happened a few times in the last 50 years," said Alaska climate researcher Brian Brettschneider.
A man in a black suit with a red tie stands in front of a banner and shelf of CD's.

Anchorage superintendent discusses changes for next school year, including new start times and career academies

Students finished their first quarter on Friday, but many eyes are already on next school year, when the district will roll out three major changes.
A man on a screen giving a speech

Alaska’s 2 U.S. senators address AFN convention from afar

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is in Iceland for an Arctic conference, and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is headed to the Middle East.
portraits of two people speaking on stage

AFN keynote speakers highlight the importance of perseverance and protecting ‘our ways of life’

Alaska Federation of Natives delegates heard from two keynote speakers this year: the outgoing CIRI president and the 2023 Iditarod champion.
The Anchorage Skyline with rainy clouds and the Sheraton Hotel.

Anchorage’s tight housing market is making breaking up harder to do

Housing is expensive in Anchorage and hard to find. It's a problem for everyone, especially if you're trying to find affordable housing fast.

‘We want to preserve every single thing’: Restoration begins on the oldest standing building in the Anchorage area

The St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church was built in 1875 in Knik and then moved to Eklutna.
A mirrored building.

Anchorage Assembly relaxes rules on marijuana testing

Now, most city workers will no longer be fired if they use marijuana off the clock.
A beige building.

Anchorage Assembly to vote on spending $2.5M to convert Solid Waste Services building into homeless shelter

Officials say the building could house up to 150 people and would provide food services, showers and case workers.
A group of dancers sing before a crowd on stage. Some holding drums, others clasing their hands together while wearing traditional Tlingit attire.

‘We’re still thriving and we’re still happy’: Hundreds gather at APU to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day

“It’s a way for us to say that we’re still here, after everything that we’ve been through," said Ellenia Dommek.
close up of a police car, it reads "Emergency 911."

Anchorage police will start outfitting officers with body cameras in mid-November

The implementation of the cameras comes two-and-a-half years after Anchorage voters approved a $1.8 million tax increase to purchase the equipment.
The side of a police car, it reads "Police, Anchorage."

Former Anchorage police officer arrested on sexual assault charges

Scott Boneta, 33, resigned from the Anchorage Police Department on Thursday.
A stone sign in the middle of a lawn reads "James M. Fitzgerald United States Courthouse & Federal Building." In front of the sign are pink, yellow and orange flowers.

Anchorage commissioner charged with defrauding city for more than $1.6M in COVID relief funds

Prosecutors say Rosalina Mavaega and her husband falsely claimed their nonprofit would use the money to provide housing, treatment and training services. Instead, federal charges accuse them of depositing the funds into personal accounts to finance and pay off taxes on their businesses.

In testimony to Assembly, Sami Graham says she didn’t try to overturn Anchorage’s April election

It’s the first time Graham has spoken publicly about her complaint — which has prompted concern about whether city officials are interfering with elections. 
Anchorage Votes banner and election observer sign

Anchorage Assembly issues subpoenas to former city executives involved in election challenge

Assembly members say they still have a lot of questions about the election challenge.
School buses parked next to each other.

Peruvian man arrested in connection with bomb threats made to Alaska schools

Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos is alleged to have sent more than 150 bomb threats to school districts, synagogues, airports and hospitals across the United States.