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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · 19h

In other Alaska-ICE news, an Anchorage restaurant worker who was arrested by ICE in August was released Tuesday from detention following a judge's ruling in a class action lawsuit.

The judge ruled that Santiago Martinez, 30, couldn’t be held without bond.

alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

Anchorage restaurant worker released from ICE custody following class action lawsuit

ICE arrested Santiago Martinez, a Mexican national seeking asylum in the U.S., on Aug. 11. A judge ruled this week that Martinez couldn’t be held indefinitely without bond.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · 23h

Immigration-related arrests in Alaska have more than quadrupled under the Trump administration.

My latest story is about the shock some Alaskans are feeling amid the sudden spike in ICE activity, and how they are stepping up to help those detained.

alaskapublic.org/news/anchora...

As ICE arrests surge in Alaska, advocates step up to support detainees

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · 11d

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...

‘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.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · 25d

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...

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.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 29

APD clarified that he resigned.

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Reposted by Wesley Early

Alaska Public Media @alaskapublic.org · Aug 29

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-...

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.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 28

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

Former APD Employee Charged with Theft by Shoplifting — Anchorage Police Department

At 6:48 PM on August 21, 2025, Anchorage Police responded to 150 W 100th Avenue for reports of shoplifting at the business. As a result of the investigation, former Anchorage Police Department (APD) e...

www.anchoragepolice.com

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 28

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."

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Reposted by Wesley Early

Alaska Public Media @alaskapublic.org · Aug 27

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.

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.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 27

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

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 19

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...

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.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 16

“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.

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 8

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

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Aug 5

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...

‘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.

alaskapublic.org

Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jul 15

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...

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.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jul 13

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...

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...

www.stereogum.com

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jul 11

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

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.

www.npr.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jul 11

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...

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...

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jul 10

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

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jul 10

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...

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...

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jul 10

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

Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jun 17

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

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jun 17

Small preview for tonight's Alaska News Nightly.

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

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jun 12

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...

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.

alaskapublic.org

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Wesley Early @wesleyearly.bsky.social · Jun 11

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

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