Rebecca Palsha
Assistant News Director
Anchorage, AK
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Rebecca Palsha was a senior reporter and anchor at KTUU until being promoted to assistant news director in 2019. Her main areas of focus are climate change, politics and food. She has won numerous local and national awards including an Edward R. Murrow award for excellence in writing. Additionally she was also part of the team that won the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, award for the documentary, "Climate Changed."
(Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photography)
Awards
Updated: Jan. 26, 2023 at 3:59 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha and David Bernknopf
The former Health Department Director Joe Gerace has been accused of civil fraud.
Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 at 4:32 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Members of the Anchorage Assembly say a Bronson administration report doesn't provide enough details about the hiring of former Health Department Director Joe Gerace.
Updated: Jan. 24, 2023 at 10:27 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
The Anchorage Assembly went into executive session Tuesday night to review documents from the investigation into former Anchorage Health Department Director Joe Gerace, who fabricated much of his resume.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023 at 12:26 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
House elects speaker on 2nd day of 33rd legislative session
Updated: Jan. 17, 2023 at 6:20 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
The 33rd Alaska Legislature began Tuesday morning in Juneau.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 at 9:08 AM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Raiden Toms-Moonin’s parents say they were unable to find long-term treatment centers in Alaska so they started looking Outside, which is when they learned about Oak Plains Academy.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023 at 3:05 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
A man with connections to Alaska is in custody and facing several charges in Nebraska.
Updated: Dec. 20, 2022 at 7:21 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
The Anchorage Police department's list for outdoor deaths increased this year over the past two years. In 2020 there were 20 deaths and in 2021 there were 19.
Updated: Dec. 7, 2022 at 2:56 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Some hemp products being sold at stores in Anchorage are most likely illegal and, if eaten, are intoxicating.
Updated: Nov. 30, 2022 at 9:53 AM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Art Mathias is leading an effort to have ranked-choice voting on the ballot in 2024 — but this time to get rid of the system, which was approved by voters in 2020, 51% to 49%, and used for the first time in 2022.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2022 at 5:38 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
When the rules for cannabis shops were being crafted after legalization in Alaska Eagle River lawmakers took a strict approach, making it almost impossible to have a retail cannabis shop in the area.
Updated: Nov. 9, 2022 at 5:31 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Democrat U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola maintained her lead Wednesday afternoon--pulling slightly ahead-- after first-choice votes were tallied overnight and throughout the day. Peltola holds a large lead in the race with more votes over the current second-place candidate, former Gov. Sarah Palin who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Updated: Nov. 7, 2022 at 3:39 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Alaska's News Source followed the four candidates for U.S. House as they wrapped up an intense campaign season this past week. Each projected a confident tone and confidence in their own win.
Updated: Nov. 2, 2022 at 3:15 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Almost every program within the Anchorage School District, elective or position is being considered for cuts as the Anchorage School District struggles with its budget deficit.
Updated: Sep. 1, 2022 at 10:49 AM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Democrat Mary Peltola will become the first Alaska Native representative in Congress and Alaska’s first female congresswoman, winning the ranked-choice election to replace the late Republican Rep. Don Young. Peter Zampa spoke with Alaska's News Source's Rebecca Palsha about what her start in Congress will look like.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2022 at 4:33 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Five vendors, including Bonanza Mexican Food, El Perico Steak Tacos, and Taco Dan’s, are listed as “Mexican food” with Taco Dan’s claiming it is one of the oldest food vendors here.
Updated: Aug. 17, 2022 at 4:52 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Wednesday morning, Bryantt was interviewed about his goals for this upcoming year, which will be his first as the head of the district. Already, Bryantt has concerns about the budget and teacher retention. His priority for right now, he says, is fixing the bus driver shortage.
Updated: Aug. 15, 2022 at 6:31 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
The hospital kitchen is run by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Part of its mission statement is to provide healthy eating and food security.
Updated: Jun. 24, 2022 at 6:42 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
When gold was discovered in Anvil Creek in 1898, it changed the area of Nome — and Alaska — forever.
Updated: Jun. 24, 2022 at 3:57 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Ahead of the 2022 special primary election to serve the remainder of the late Rep. Don Young’s term, Alaska’s News Source Assistant News Director Rebecca Palsha asked candidates to share information about their campaigns — including their position on Roe V. Wade.
Updated: Jun. 23, 2022 at 8:16 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
About 60 miles northeast of Nome, nestled within the Kigluaik Mountain range, is Pilgrim Hot Springs. The turn for the retreat is marked by an old yellow dozer that sits rusting in the brush.
Updated: Jun. 22, 2022 at 7:30 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Nome, is located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. At Pilgrim Hot Springs, about 60 miles north of Nome, they say most of their guests come from Germany.During the Solstice party this past weekend people from Kansas, Minnesota and Mississippi lined the parade route hands outstretched for the candy being tossed from the floats.
Updated: Jun. 22, 2022 at 5:22 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
According to the family, there were six operating dredges — which are used to dig up objects from underwater — in Nome in the early 1900s. There was no seventh dredge, but Judy liked the number so the name stuck.
Updated: Jun. 21, 2022 at 5:45 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
In what may be a little-known tradition outside of Nome is the annual “robbing of the bank,” which happens around Solstice after the parade.
Updated: Jun. 7, 2022 at 9:02 AM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
The Alaska Scenic Byways program was started in 1993 to, "recognize and celebrate some of the most beautiful landscapes in our state," according to the DOT. This means the route, "possesses distinctive cultural, historic, natural or other qualities that are unique among neighboring states. Designation as an All-American Road, the higher designation of the two, indicates that the route has not only regional but national significance and is a destination unto itself" according to DOT.
Updated: May. 24, 2022 at 10:49 AM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Almost 50 people have signed up to run in the June 11 special primary election for Alaska’s U.S. House seat after the death of Rep. Don Young.
Updated: Apr. 20, 2022 at 2:08 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
According to the National Gardening Association, the lawn and garden industry is led by wealthy households, and millennial households report strong levels of spending also. Millennials, according to the association, are reported to have revived the houseplant market.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2022 at 2:06 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Glen Klinkhart the director of the Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office. has resigned. In an email to Alaska's News Source Klinkhart said he's moving on to work at the Department of Revenue in the Criminal Investigations Unit.
Updated: Apr. 2, 2022 at 2:54 PM AKDT
|By Tim Rockey and Rebecca Palsha
A memorial service for the late Rep. Don Young was held in Anchorage on Saturday.
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. 11, 2022 at 5:46 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Along with vertical integration, one cannabis business is focusing on edibles and healthier ways people are consuming marijuana. There is also the question of how the state collects taxes and how federally legalized marijuana would impact the local economy.
Updated: Mar. 10, 2022 at 5:20 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
According to the Alaska Department of Revenue, more than 3% percent of the taxes collected in Alaska came from marijuana in 2021. That’s more than $30 million for fiscal year 2021 alone.
Updated: Mar. 9, 2022 at 6:28 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democrat from Sitka, has introduced a bill that would make minor marijuana convictions, which happened before legalization, confidential.
Updated: Mar. 8, 2022 at 7:55 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
As legal marijuana becomes more mainstream, the conversations about how to talk to children about pot have been evolving in Alaska. Experts say parents should be upfront with their children about the impacts of marijuana — especially on young, still developing brains.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2022 at 4:32 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Alaska's marijuana industry is thriving more than seven years after legalization. But, according to industry experts, federally legalized marijuana could put local grows, manufacturers and pot shops out of business. This week, Alaska's News Source looks at the impact of the marijuana industry in Alaska since legalization.
Updated: Jan. 26, 2022 at 5:26 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Alaska was ranked as one of the top ten states for illicit drug use in 2010-11. Additionally the ACLU of Alaska says about 96% of the prison population will be released, at some point, and Alaska's rate of recidivism is about 66%.
Updated: Dec. 9, 2021 at 4:10 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
This can be a hard time of the year for many. It’s dark, the pandemic continues to impact all of us, these are stressful times. Here are a few ideas we're collected that could bring you some happiness.
Updated: Nov. 23, 2021 at 1:30 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
Dozens of graduates of the United States Military Academy wrote an op-ed in the Mat-Su Frontiersman calling on Republican Rep. David Eastman to resign from office.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2021 at 3:14 PM AKST
|By Rebecca Palsha
According Alaska Backyard Chickens, which is associated with the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, some of the most popular chicken breeds, such as Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red and Ameraucana, do well in Alaska and northern climates.
Updated: Nov. 4, 2021 at 5:29 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
The emergency shelter at the Sullivan Arena was a temporary solution when the pandemic began, but it has remained the only solution until long term plans to help people come to fruition. It's also led to growing tension between the neighborhood and people who stay at the arena.
Updated: Nov. 3, 2021 at 5:11 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
According to data from the weather station at the base of Aleyska, Girdwood has had about a foot and a half of rain over the past five days. Alaska's News Source Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey says looking at records this amount of rain "smashes any previous records."
Updated: Nov. 2, 2021 at 2:19 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
The city's first chief equity officer, Clifford Armstrong III, struck back after being fired by Mayor Dave Bronson. Tuesday morning, he filed a lawsuit against the municipality of Anchorage saying that his firing wasn't legal.
Updated: Nov. 1, 2021 at 6:13 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Hundred's of people experiencing homelessness have been living inside the Sullivan Arena for more than a year since the start of the pandemic. Reports of poor conditions have emerged from the shelter, while the city administration says calls to 911 have gone down under the new contractor.
Updated: Oct. 29, 2021 at 3:55 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
The Anchorage Assembly approved $1.3 million for the operator and $5.59 for services at the Sullivan Arena to continue through December.
Updated: Oct. 28, 2021 at 3:22 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
The city's first chief equity officer, Clifford Armstrong III, gave Alaska's News Source his personnel files. The mayor's spokesperson has continuously said the city is not allowed to talk about why Armstrong was fired because it is a personnel issue.
Updated: Oct. 27, 2021 at 2:58 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
Wednesday is the deadline Mayor Dave Bronson was given to tell the Anchorage Assembly why the city's first chief equity officer, Clifford Armstrong III was fired. The assembly could consider legal action as the next step.
Updated: Oct. 26, 2021 at 9:42 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
About 40% of Anchorage students are missing class more than 10% of the time right now, according to the district.
Updated: Oct. 21, 2021 at 4:13 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
After two years of pandemic buying online and a strain on global supply chains, customers and shop owners are finding their goods being delivered months after being ordered. In Alaska it means fewer Christmas toys and shortages of parts for things like helmets.
Updated: Oct. 20, 2021 at 4:00 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
An Alaska lawmaker has ties to an extremist group that was reportedly a large part of the violent Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Updated: Oct. 19, 2021 at 4:25 PM AKDT
|By Rebecca Palsha
A little more than a week after Anchorage's first chief equity officer was fired and replaced by the Bronson administration, Clifford Armstrong III updated his LinkedIn profile with an article he wrote about the reasons he believes he was let go.