Rebecca Palsha
Senior Anchor/Investigative Reporter
Anchorage, AK
Rebecca Palsha is the senior anchor and investigative reporter at NBC and CBS affiliate Alaska’s News Source. Her main areas of focus are climate change, politics and cannabis. 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)
It was dark outside while across the city elementary students were still getting ready to leave for school when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck just north of Anchorage at 8:29 a.m. on Friday morning, at a depth of about 35 miles. Now, five years after the quake, engineers and city leaders reflect on what has changed since that time and what lessons were learned. The big question: Are we in a better place now than we were then?
A shocking 50 people have died outdoors in Anchorage this year, according to the Anchorage Police Department. In just the month of November, the Anchorage Fire Department reported 20 emergency calls to the three largest camps at Davis, Cuddy, and Buttress Park areas.
The Northern Justice Project and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska filed a lawsuit against the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District for the removal of 56 books from school libraries.
Last month there were 43 deaths that police classify as "outdoor deaths." The city dashboard currently shows 35 beds are available at the winter shelter sites at the old sanitation facility, although and the number has not been updated since Wednesday.
The ACLU of Alaska and the Department of Corrections have conflicting numbers about inmate deaths.
Garrett Elder, the Anchorage man accused of defrauding people out of millions of dollars in a Ponzi-like scheme, was in court Wednesday afternoon for his sentencing.
Alaska’s News Source takes a deep dive into some of the issues that face veterans in Alaska and some of the resources available to help.
Many women don't apply for the veterans services they earned. In a 2016 Service Women's Action Network survey, 74% of respondents said the general public did not recognize their service.
From cannons to engines and gunfire, there are many reasons people in the military have hearing loss. As of 2020, more than 1.3 million veterans were receiving disability compensation for hearing loss, according to the Veterans Benefits Administration Compensation Report. Rebecca Palsha recently met with two veterans from very different eras, facing similar issues. She brings us their story.
As Anchorage prepares for temperatures to drop this week, the number of people who have died outdoors — 43 — has extended the single-year record for Anchorage.
Starting this Monday, homeless residents will have 10 days to leave the encampment or face abatement. Clearing out what was the largest homeless camp in Anchorage began several days ago when a fire truck, a boat and several cars were towed away. There were noticeably fewer people in the camp Monday.
There are new regulations on hemp in Alaska that require the ingredient that gets a user “high” to be removed.
This week, the Anchorage Assembly approved a $4.34 million contract to Alaska Hotel Group for 137 rooms in the downtown Aviator Hotel, which would be used for sheltering 274 people.
Seeking Shelter/Seeking Solutions lets those most involved in the search for answers to homelessness tell their own stories.
A row of tow trucks arrived outside of the homeless encampment on Third Avenue and Ingra Street Thursday morning to begin removing vehicles from the site as part of the city’s abatement process.
A report published this week by the U.S. Department of Justice says police pursuits should only happen if an officer is aware a violent crime has been committed or when a person poses a threat of violence. Anchorage police say that's one guideline it already follows, along with stopping the pursuit as quickly as possible and taking into consideration the conditions, and situation.
Several cannabis businesses are expected to close this year, according to the Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office. Since legalization in 2016, 109 cannabis businesses — including retail stores and cultivators — have either surrendered or let their licenses expire.
This year, the Department of Corrections says seven people have died in custody but the ACLU of Alaska disputes that number.
Since July 2022, a total of 36 residents have taken a flight away from Anchorage, a plan that was implemented by Mayor Dave Bronson to help alleviate the homeless problem.
President Joe Biden visited Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday, where he spoke with troops, first responders and families.
A lawsuit was filed Friday by Amy Demboski against Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson alleging violation of the Anchorage Whistleblower Act as well as unlawful gender discrimination and wrongful termination, amid other claims.
Officials aren't certain exactly how many homeless children are in the Anchorage School District, but there are programs to help get them into the classroom.
On Friday night, Alaska’s News Source, which is across the street from a large homeless camp near Cuddy Park, had multiple bags of human waste spread across its front entrance.
Attorney General Treg Taylor has filed a lawsuit against the Swickard auto group for violating consumer protection laws.
The country is facing a crisis that's it's never experienced before: loneliness, isolation and negative messages on social media that could lead to suicide attempts by young people.
Since the disappearance of the Titan submersible near the wreck site of the Titanic, many people have questioned the value of taking trips that could be considered risky.
Bronson’s administration says it will not pursue a plan to allow people experiencing homelessness to camp at Centennial Campground as it did last summer.
According to DOC 18 people in died custody in 2022. Of those deaths, seven were a result of suicide.
The Glenn Highway remains closed to one lane of traffic after massive flooding in Glennallen.
Everyone in Alaska is ready for fresh salmon, especially the folks at the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery.
According to NASA, the Columbia Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier that flows directly into the sea, and is one of the most rapidly-changing glaciers in the world — losing more than 12 miles since the 1980s.
Valdez has so many museums, you might end up at a new one without even trying! Rebecca Palsha hit the road and ended visiting some of the town's many museums.
Saturday afternoon, Melissa Burns, a four time U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic team member and airshow show display pilot, wowed a crowd of hundreds.
Are they called “bunnies” or “rabbits?” It’s a divisive choice of words here in Valdez.
Nothing beats taking home some one-of-a-kind art from Alaskan makers to remembers a dream vacation.
Magpie’s on the Fly is famous for its scones, cinnamon rolls and sandwiches, but there's so much more to owner Maggie Nylund's world.
When vacationing in a fishing town caffeine is essential.
On this Roadtrippin’ drive, Alaska’s News Source travels from Anchorage to Valdez. With several stops along the way to gather photos it took the crew most of the day to get there.
Anchorage and the Mat-Su have seen a spike in overdoses from fentanyl during the month of April. This reflects a growing crisis across the country that has lawmakers scrambling to create new laws to stop the spread of the deadly drug, which is often involved during intentional drug use.
The Anchorage School District says five students overdosed on fentanyl during school hours, but off school grounds.
Municipal candidates Q&A: Why they’re running, revitalizing Anchorage, helping the homeless and more
There are 17 candidates for Anchorage Assembly seats and four candidates for Anchorage School Board seats in the April 4 election.
Anchorage police report that calls from the Sullivan Arena, the city’s temporary homeless shelter, and calls from the neighborhood that surrounds it have gone up dramatically.
The former Health Department Director Joe Gerace has been accused of civil fraud.
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.
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.
House elects speaker on 2nd day of 33rd legislative session
The 33rd Alaska Legislature began Tuesday morning in Juneau.
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.
A man with connections to Alaska is in custody and facing several charges in Nebraska.
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.
