Joey Klecka
Digital reporter/producer
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Joey is a longtime Alaskan with family roots in the midwest. Having been raised in the Last Frontier since childhood, he has a strong grasp of what makes Alaska unique.
Joey graduated from Eagle River High School, attained a bachelors degree in Journalism from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and spent eight years covering the sports scene on the Kenai Peninsula.
At Alaska's News Source, Joey worked as producer of the Morning Edition, before taking up a role as digital reporter.
Education
Awards
Updated: 17 hours ago
|By Joey Klecka
A spokesperson with the Division of Forestry said that there are approximately 27 off-grid residences within a mile of the fire that were notified of current operations, but none were asked to evacuate.
Updated: May. 25, 2022 at 1:24 PM AKDT
|By Connor Matteson, Tim Rockey and Joey Klecka
A spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers said the DHC-3 DeHavilland fixed-wing plane suffered an emergency problem that led to the crash that injured four people.
Updated: May. 25, 2022 at 12:35 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Alaska Airlines pilots voted with a “99 percent” approval rate to authorize a strike, although it would likely take at least a month before that happens.
Updated: May. 24, 2022 at 10:59 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The road, just south of Seward, has been blocked since May 7 due to a massive slide that trapped approximately 200 residents from the main town.
Updated: May. 23, 2022 at 3:59 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Fish and Game said in a release that adult razor clam abundance surveys completed at Ninilchik and Clam Gulch beaches in April and May of this year were below the abundance threshold required to allow limited clamming on those beaches.
Gov. Dunleavy chooses former Department of Corrections commissioner as running mate in 2022 election
Updated: May. 23, 2022 at 1:41 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy officially announced his run for a second term Monday and with it, announced who will be his running mate this fall.
Updated: May. 20, 2022 at 9:05 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka and Tim Rockey
The National Weather Service issued multiple red flag warnings Friday as a dry spring has led to a warm stretch of weather brought on by a system of high pressure.
Updated: May. 19, 2022 at 11:18 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 49-year-old Antoine Lapoleon Davis, also known as “Shorty”, trafficked drugs into the state through the U.S. mail system, distributing large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine.
Updated: May. 17, 2022 at 12:40 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Alaska State Troopers said a 1978 Taylorcraft F-19 aircraft “overturned” in the mudflats just east of the airport, located across Knik Arm from Eagle River.
Updated: May. 17, 2022 at 12:09 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
A Superior Court judge ruled Monday that the latest map put forth by the Alaska Redistricting Board gives the Eagle River district an unequal share of voting power by splitting it into two districts when combined with other districts within the Municipality of Anchorage.
Updated: May. 16, 2022 at 2:55 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
All three men pleaded guilty to leaving the viewing platform at Brooks Falls, a notorious hot spot for brown bears feeding on salmon swimming upstream, and wading into the Brooks River, located in Katmai National Park, in August 2018.
Updated: May. 13, 2022 at 3:54 PM AKDT
|By Tim Rockey and Joey Klecka
Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued three separate disaster declarations on Friday for the Lowell Point landslide, spring flooding, and the Galena fire hall roof collapse.
Updated: May. 13, 2022 at 11:33 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Alaska Airlines' CEO said the company had 63 fewer pilots than what was planned for when the schedule was originally built out.
Updated: May. 12, 2022 at 4:28 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The flooding resulted in one to two inches of water on the highway near the Fuller Creek trailhead, a popular hiking spot on the Kenai Peninsula, and forced the road to shut down temporarily.
Updated: May. 12, 2022 at 12:21 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka and Tim Rockey
The man was attacked Tuesday evening during a training exercise west of the Anchorage Regional Landfill, in an area known to Alaska Army as Area 412.
Updated: May. 12, 2022 at 10:04 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Both Mille Porsild and Michelle Phillips sought refuge inside a shelter cabin along the race route due to the extreme weather on the night of March 14, causing them to lose places in the event.
Updated: May. 11, 2022 at 6:04 PM AKDT
|By Carly Schreck and Joey Klecka
Different styles of barriers were evaluated by a project design team that coordinated with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game to determine potential impacts on wildlife movement in the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge.
Updated: May. 11, 2022 at 11:47 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The blaze that grew up to three acres in size between miles 46 and 47 on the Sterling Highway is now under control, according to officials.
Updated: May. 11, 2022 at 10:16 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Police responded around 5:45 p.m. to a report of bullet holes in a duplex wall shared with a neighbor.
Updated: May. 10, 2022 at 1:04 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Dry conditions in recent weeks have created an excess of burn fuel on the Peninsula, and windy weather has only increased the possibility of a manmade wildfire sparking to life.
Updated: May. 9, 2022 at 7:58 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka and Tim Rockey
Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, 38 at the time of her disappearance, went missing Oct. 17, 2019, triggering a massive search effort that lasted months.
Updated: May. 9, 2022 at 5:37 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The Anchorage Fire Department said that 23 units were called to a residence on Mirror Lake Drive around 2:16 a.m. Monday.
Updated: May. 7, 2022 at 10:00 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The first Tesla Supercharger station in the state of Alaska is now open for use in Soldotna.
Updated: May. 6, 2022 at 10:31 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The indictment stems from a double homicide case that began when Anchorage police found Raechyl and Jayla Blackshear dead with “shotgun wounds” on April 15 in a Northeast Anchorage residence.
Updated: May. 5, 2022 at 2:03 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The port of crossing will be open for three months this summer — from June 1 to Sept. 1, 2022.
Updated: May. 5, 2022 at 11:10 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Adding to the seven names already announced are four more acts that feature music and comedy.
Updated: May. 4, 2022 at 11:55 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Alaska Airlines debuted its newest livery to come out of the hangar Wednesday as part of the company’s “Star Wars Day” celebrations, according to a press release.
Updated: May. 4, 2022 at 8:23 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Anchorage police said officers responded to the shooting at 6:40 a.m. to 1500 Karluk Street, near East 15th Avenue. They said the man that was sent to the hospital has injuries to the “upper body” and his condition is still unknown.
Updated: Apr. 29, 2022 at 10:53 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
In a press conference Friday morning, fellow Wasilla Rep. Cathy Tilton said Eastman was asked to leave the caucus after a meeting was held between Republican members.
Updated: Apr. 26, 2022 at 1:57 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Hatcher Pass Road has reopened after avalanches forced it to close.
Updated: Apr. 25, 2022 at 2:05 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Alaska Airlines said in an email that nonstop service between Anchorage and the Honolulu airport on the island of Oahu will return in November, “along with our Maui and Kona nonstop service.”
Updated: Apr. 21, 2022 at 2:28 PM AKDT
|By Megan Pacer and Joey Klecka
Court documents have shed more light on the double homicide case being investigated by the Anchorage police, in which a woman and her daughter were found dead this past Friday.
Updated: Apr. 20, 2022 at 5:50 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka and Megan Pacer
Anchorage police said 39-year-old Jalonni Blackshear was taken into custody in New York state.
Updated: Apr. 19, 2022 at 8:38 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka and Taylor Burke
Anchorage police are looking for a man they consider armed and dangerous, and say he’s connected to a homicide case in which a woman and girl were found dead on Friday.
Updated: Apr. 19, 2022 at 1:36 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The termination of the mask mandate applies to public transit options such as People Mover, AnchorRIDES and RideShare, according to the municipality.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2022 at 9:41 PM AKDT
|By Tim Rockey, Joey Klecka and Taylor Burke
The Alaska Division of Forestry reports that a fire estimated at 2,000 acres is burning in Southwest Alaska.
Updated: Apr. 14, 2022 at 1:49 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka and Lauren Maxwell
The Anchorage School District announced Jharrett Bryantt, an executive at a Houston, Texas school district, the next Anchorage superintendent.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2022 at 2:57 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka and Megan Pacer
In all, 3,232 total loads of snow were cleared from the area, which just under three weeks prior sat under 80 feet of snow that measured 400 feet across on Hiland Road.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2022 at 1:51 PM AKDT
|By Connor Matteson and Joey Klecka
A Golovin man has been charged with attempted murder stemming from an April 6 incident in which he was shot at by an Alaska State Trooper. The man remains in "serious condition."
Updated: Apr. 6, 2022 at 10:24 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The seven-day period from March 30 to April 5 saw a 6% increase in new cases compared to the week of March 23 to March 29.
Updated: Apr. 5, 2022 at 11:54 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Ernest Freeman Gray III, 39, struck and killed 36-year-old Sylvia Heckman while traveling south on Minnesota Drive on Oct. 23, 2021, according to Anchorage police.
Updated: Apr. 4, 2022 at 5:30 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Two Anchorage men were indicted by a grand jury Thursday on murder charges stemming from an investigation involving a body found in a tote container in a Muldoon-area neighborhood.
Updated: Apr. 4, 2022 at 2:12 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
A Utah climber has been banned from climbing Denali and fined $10,000 after making misleading calls in attempts to be rescued off a dangerous section of North America’s tallest peak, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Updated: Apr. 1, 2022 at 6:29 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha and Joey Klecka
Just one day ahead of what is expected to be a massive memorial service at Anchorage Baptist Temple to honor the late U.S. Rep. Don Young, dozens of people filed for office to fill his seat.
Updated: Mar. 31, 2022 at 12:04 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Alaska residents have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to file for a 2022 Permanent Fund dividend check.
Updated: Mar. 31, 2022 at 7:59 AM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
The Anchorage Police Department detained a man early Thursday morning after firefighters responding to a fire reported that he pulled a gun on them at the scene.
Updated: Mar. 30, 2022 at 6:14 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
Matanuska Electric Association crews have restored power all residents affected by the Hiland Road avalanche, and the Anchorage Assembly voted to extend the mayor's emergency disaster declaration.
Updated: Mar. 30, 2022 at 1:22 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
A Soldotna man was arrested Wednesday in connection to a homicide investigation by the Alaska State Troopers.
Updated: Mar. 25, 2022 at 9:49 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka, Tim Rockey and Megan Pacer
An avalanche blocking Hiland Road up South Fork Eagle River on Friday morning with depths of up to 80 feet cut off access for some residents behind the slide path, initially knocking out power to many.
Updated: Mar. 24, 2022 at 2:06 PM AKDT
|By Joey Klecka
A partial schedule of this year’s concert lineup at the Alaska State Fair has been announced, bringing with it the usual flair and pomp of big names.