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.
Anchorage sets new record for amount of snow on the ground in April
There's 31 inches of snow stacked up in West Anchorage, with more in other parts of town.
Gov. Dunleavy creates task force to address Alaska’s child care crisis
“It’s a real issue that needs to be looked at and scrutinized so that we can come up with some models that can help our folks, our families, our mothers,” said the governor.
Anchorage’s police body camera policy is again delayed, frustrating Assembly and community members
Anchorage Assembly members say they may need to take a more hands-on approach to get the body-worn cameras implemented.
Trombley out as Anchorage Mayor Bronson’s chief of staff
Bronson named Mario Bird as acting chief of staff, effective Wednesday. Bird is a lawyer who had previously been rejected to be the city’s municipal attorney.
Initial results show Anchorage voters approving school bond and using marijuana taxes to fund child care
Almost all other ballot propositions were passing. But, there are still thousands of ballots to count in Anchorage’s by-mail city election.
Anchorage voters to decide on using marijuana taxes to fund early education, child care programs
Proposition 14 would specifically allocate Anchorage marijuana tax revenue to child care and early education initiatives.
As coastal erosion pulls rural Alaska communities into the sea, new research seeks solutions
For years, coastal Alaska communities have contended with erosion. A growing field of research explores ways to address the problem.
How an Alaska oil and gas expert thinks the state could make money by not drilling in ANWR
Larry Persily wants the state to consider selling carbon credits for keeping the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's oil and gas in the ground.
In effort to rein in Bronson spending, Anchorage Assembly makes changes to contracting code
The move comes after the mayor's administration was accused of approving major contracts and work without Assembly approval.
Anchorage Assembly approves parental leave policy for non-union employees
The policy would allow employees to receive four weeks of paid leave after the birth of a child, or an adoption or foster care placement.
Report finds that Dunleavy administration quietly removed policy protecting LGBTQ Alaskans from discrimination
Anchorage Daily News reporter Kyle Hopkins discusses his findings with Alaska Public Media’s Wesley Early.
State says Anchorage faces more than $600K in fines for safety violations. City officials say they’ve been addressed.
Safety concerns went back to the administrations of Mayors Ethan Berkowitz and Dan Sullivan and ranged from a lack of guardrails in some facilities and workers being exposed to electrical hazards to workplace injuries not being reported on time.
Mat-Su school bus drivers reach tentative contract agreement, potentially ending month-long strike
Teamsters Local 959 officials announced Thursday night that they’d reached a tentative agreement with Durham School Services.
Anchorage Assembly member wants to ban the city from using of facial recognition technology
“Oftentimes, facial recognition algorithms and the databases they use end up having inaccuracies," said Assembly member Joey Sweet.
Bronson aims to pay contractor millions for work on nixed homeless shelter, without Assembly approval
In a response letter, Assembly leaders wrote that “making the proposed payment without additional Assembly action would be illegal.”
Anchorage Assembly considers adding paid parental leave for city workers after mayor revoked policy
It’s the second time in less than two years that Assembly member Austin Quinn-Davidson has attempted to secure paid parental leave for city workers.
Fur Rondy’s sled dog sprint races draw a large crowd to downtown Anchorage
The three-day sprint mushing event brought veterans and rookies alike, all competing for the glory and prize money in front of a packed crowd.
Anchorage School Board passes a budget that largely relies on savings and one-time funds
The roughly $900 million budget is about 6% larger than this year’s.
Anchorage mayor sued in federal court for firing investigator looking into deputy library director complaints
Heather MacAlpine served as the director of Anchorage’s Office of Equal Opportunity from 2015 until 2022, when she was abruptly fired.
Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples Day are now Anchorage municipal holidays
The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday unanimously agreed to add the two holidays.