Wesley Early

‘We have to be vigilant’: Anchorage marks decade of LGBTQ protections “Those rights were given by the stroke of a pen, and a stroke of a pen can take them away,” said Anchorage Ombudsman Darrel Hess.

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the Municipality of Anchorage protecting civil rights on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The fight to enshrine those rights stretches back to the municipality’s earliest days.

alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

Jane Angvik, one of the architects of Anchorage’s charter, reflects on 50 years of a unified municipality It sounds technical, but Angvik said unification was about more than things like land-use boundaries and taxes. It also helped the community respond to disasters.

Back in the office after 2 weeks off, just in time to celebrate the Municipality of Anchorage's 50th Birthday!

Before I left, I spoke to Jane Angvik, one of Anchorage's founding mothers, about how the muni's charter came to be, and what the next 50 years will hold. alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

APD clarified that he resigned.

Anchorage police spokesman fired after shoplifting charge Police department officials wrote that Christopher Barraza, 40, shoplifted from a South Anchorage Target store on Aug. 19. He was allegedly wearing his police department-issued jacket at the time.

Anchorage police department officials wrote that Christopher Barraza, 40, shoplifted from a South Anchorage Target store on Aug. 19. He was allegedly wearing his police department-issued jacket at the time. alaskapublic.org/news/public-...

www.anchoragepolice.com/news/former-...

Just got word that Anchorage Police Department Spokesman Chris Barazza was fired for shoplifting.

Per APD, "Barazza was wearing an APD issued jacket when the incident occurred on August 19, 2025."

Anchorage Assembly tables ordinance that would’ve allowed on-site marijuana smoking Members voted 7 to 3 to postpone the ordinance indefinitely, with some citing Anchorage voters’ rejection of a similar ballot proposition in 2020.

The Anchorage Assembly voted Tuesday night to table an ordinance that would’ve legalized marijuana smoking at businesses with on-site consumption endorsements from the city and state.

No. This is a weird mix of inaccurate information and questionable use of footage.

Anchorage restaurant worker, an asylum seeker, detained by ICE ICE officials say they detained Santiago “Diego” Martinez, 30, for having a drunken driving conviction. Martinez’s attorney said ICE later told her they made a mistake, but they won’t release him.

ICE officials say they detained Santiago “Diego” Martinez, 30, earlier this month in Anchorage for having a drunken driving conviction. Martinez’s attorney said ICE later told her they made a mistake, but they won’t release him. alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

“Next time in Moscow” - Vladimir Putin

Here are some shots of the Alaska summit held on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with President Donald Trump & Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Though there were hopes for an agreement re: a ceasefire with Ukraine, no deal was made.

On Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote that he will have a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15.

‘Everybody asks me about it’: Murkowski noncommittal on potential bids for governor, reelection “What I'm trying to do is not win elections. I am just trying to do the best that I can for Alaskans,” Murkowski told reporters, defending her vote for President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

In a wide-ranging sit-down with Alaska reporters today, Sen. Lisa Murkowski was a little flippant when asked if she's considered running for governor next year.

“Sure,” she said. “Lots of Republicans have.”

alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Man wrongfully detained by ICE claims officers discarded his wallet, immigration documents Roble Salad, a 28-year-old Somali refugee, has filed a theft report, alleging that ICE officials discarded his social security card and his work permit.

A man who was wrongfully detained in Anchorage by federal immigration officials filed a theft report with the Anchorage Police Department after he claims ICE officers discarded his wallet, which contained his immigration documents and social security card. alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

Drake Brought Out Vanessa Carlton For "A Thousand Miles" At Wireless Night 2 Drake is spending the weekend headlining the Wireless Festival at London’s Finsbury Park, promising three entirely different sets over three nights. Things kicked off Friday with an R&B-focused set th...

Apparently Drake brought Vanessa Carlton out at his show Saturday night to play “A Thousand Miles.”

Last week, she canceled a show in Anchorage, AK scheduled for that night due to “an uncontrollable scheduling issue.”

www.stereogum.com/2315192/drak...

Clipse: Tiny Desk Concert The hip-hop duo delivers its best live performance ever recorded and one of the hardest Tiny Desks of all time.

CLIPSE! www.npr.org/2025/07/11/g...

One year in, Anchorage Mayor LaFrance reflects on housing, homelessness and public safety Suzanne LaFrance recently marked her first year as mayor of Alaska’s largest city and discussed some of her accomplishments, the city’s response to homelessness, goals for increasing the city’s housin...

Here’s our full interview with Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, where we spoke about her first year in office.

Topics included:
- housing
- homelessness
- public safety
- Southcentral Alaska’s impending natural gas crunch
- overall quality of life.

alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

The full interview with the mayor will be published tomorrow morning.

Mayor LaFrance calls Anchorage ICE arrests ‘frustrating’ In an interview, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said she’d rather see assistance from the federal government in tackling violent crime and drugs. “We don't have, to my knowledge, any issues or probl...

In an interview with Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance this week, I asked for her thoughts on ICE arrests occurring in the city. She called the actions "frustrating," and said she wished federal agencies focused more on drugs or violent crimes, instead of immigration. alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

The full interview with the mayor will be published tomorrow morning.

Small error, but it's Alix "Soliman," with one L.

Small preview for tonight's Alaska News Nightly.

This may be the longest "reporting from" list I've ever had to read.

Anchorage officials working to revamp public safety advisory commission The commission, designed to give citizens an opportunity to weigh in on how the police and other public safety agencies operate, has been defunct for years.

Anchorage officials are working to revamp the public safety advisory commission. The commission, designed to give citizens an opportunity to weigh in on how the police and other public safety agencies operate, has been defunct for years. alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

Man... Brian Wilson and Sly Stone both gone in the same week. Two legends!

ICE officials send 40 immigration detainees to Alaska correctional facilities A state DOC spokeswoman said the state is being reimbursed $223.70 per man per day, and the department anticipates the men will be held in the state for about a month.

Alaska Department of Corrections officials said today that ICE has sent 40 immigration detainees to state correctional facilities.

A DOC spokeswoman said the men are expected to be held in the state for about a month.

alaskapublic.org/news/2025-06...

Girdwood breaks ground on major expansion to the resort town’s only child care center The new facility would almost quadruple existing child care capacity, and add two infant care class rooms. But a loss of federal funding has put the project in jeopardy.

Girdwood recently broke ground on a major expansion to the community's only child care center. The facility would almost quadruple its child care capacity, and add two infant care classrooms.

But a loss of federal funding has put the project in jeopardy.

alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

City of Anchorage reaches $2.11M settlement with family of teenager shot by police On Aug. 13, 16-year-old Easter Leafa was shot by Anchorage police, prompting community outrage and a series of reforms from the city.

The city of Anchorage has reached a $2.11 million settlement with the family of 16-year-old Easter Leafa, who was shot and killed by police last summer, prompting community outrage and a series of reforms from the city.

akpub.io/4jml1Rb

If you know of any families impacted by the cancellation of ANSEP’s Summer Acceleration Program, I’d love to talk to them.

Today marks one year since Kris Handy was shot and killed by Anchorage police. Handy was the first person shot by an APD officer after they were equipped with body cameras.

This most recent shooting marks the 13th person shot by Anchorage police, and 8th killed, since officers got body cameras.

2 years after Anchorage voters approved using marijuana taxes for child care, officials plan first rollout of funding The roughly $5 to $6 million the city receives in marijuana taxes annually will go towards covering child care costs for those working in the sector, as well as projects aimed at expanding existing pr...

Two years after Anchorage voted to dedicate the city's marijuana taxes for child care initiatives, officials are working to roll out the funding.

One chunk will go specifically to cover child care costs of those working in the child care sector. alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

Meeting with superintendents, Dunleavy threatens to veto compromise education bill Gov. Mike Dunleavy is demanding the Legislature pass additional education policy changes, or he'll veto a compromise bill that passed with wide support, superintendents said.

Breaking story from @eriwinsto.bsky.social:

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is demanding the Legislature pass additional education policy changes, or he'll veto a compromise bill that passed the Legislature by a combined vote of 48 to 11, superintendents said. alaskapublic.org/news/politic...