"Bill Falsey"

The mayor’s decision leaves a leadership void in Alaska’s largest city as daily COVID-19 cases climb to record highs.

The city is ramping up testing at homeless shelters and soup kitchens to try to contain a large COVID-19 outbreak tied to the Brother Francis Shelter.

Mayor Berkowitz said the restrictions were necessary because bars and restaurants have been major transmission sites for COVID-19.

Providence Alaska’s chief medical officer says the drive-thru is intended for people with mild symptoms, and they must have a referral from their health care provider or an urgent care clinic.

Combined with an earlier grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, $45 million in federal grants will offset tariffs to pay for upgrades Anchorage officials say are desperately needed.

For many of the residents whose property saw the most severe damage, the Anchorage earthquake has gone from a natural disaster to a financial one.

The full price tag for upgrading the cement and petroleum terminal at the port is $214 million. The terminal is a critical component in delivering fuel and construction material to Alaska.

Officials say it will take years before they decide whether to add more water that could help restore salmon in the Eklutna River.

The Campbell Park Fire was first reported Tuesday afternoon and quickly grew to 15 acres, causing a small evacuation effort. By about 8 p.m, an Anchorage official said crews were confident they had the fire largely under control.

Alaska’s biggest port is in dire need of improvements. Structural failure threatens the flow of essential supplies like food, fuel, and construction material into the state. According to the latest estimate, needed repairs will be twice as expensive as originally forecasted, leaving Anchorage officials dismayed.