Anchorage News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Fat Bear Week is back bigger than ever—this year featuring 16 grizzly bears competing in a wild, salmon-fueled bracket tournament from September 22nd to 29th. What began as a small online phenomenon has exploded into a global spectacle, with millions voting for their favorite bear based on who’s fatter, gained the most weight, or just has the best vibe. Rangers hand-picked this year’s field, refle...

A pedestrian died instantly after being struck in Anchorage Thursday morning, prompting charges against 60-year-old driver Vaiee Samuelu for leaving the scene and failing to render aid. Authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity as they notify their family, marking this the sixth pedestrian fatality in Anchorage this year. Samuelu was booked into jail and scheduled for her first court...

A tragic motorcycle collision in Juneau claims the life of 26-year-old Ryan Jollimore, who was struck by a USPS vehicle on North Douglas Highway just before 2:30 p.m. The impact was severe; Jollimore died at the scene while the postal driver escaped injury. Authorities are investigating whether lane changes contributed to the crash and have not yet ruled out charges. This heartbreaking loss leaves...

Get ready for a busy week in Juneau—The Bridge Adult Day Program hosts an open house Wednesday, September 23rd, and the Rotary Club’s annual Capital Brewfest kicks off Friday, September 25th, with a Beerfeast dinner and brewers from across Alaska pouring local craft beer. It’s community, connection, and celebration all rolled into one unforgettable weekend. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a S...

The DOJ just declared a major legal shift: federal law banning handgun sales to 18-20-year-olds from licensed dealers is unconstitutional, aligning with Supreme Court Second Amendment rulings. This reinterpretation of 18 U.S. Code 922 means dealers can’t be criminally penalized for selling to responsible young adults in that age group — a landmark move with big implications for gun policy and futu...

In Eagle River, Alaska, conservative Rep. Jamie Allard faces a fierce reelection battle as three challengers—Democrat Jim Arlington, Republican Ruby Jones, and Democrat Lee Hammermeister—seek to unseat her. With a history of controversial stances, including opposing pandemic restrictions and alienating allies, Allard’s hardline conservatism clashes with her opponents’ calls for bipartisan cooperat...

A tragic motorcycle crash on North Douglas Highway claimed the life of 26-year-old Ryan Jollimore after his bike collided with a postal truck around 2:30 PM near the Douglas Bridge. The driver of the truck escaped injury, but Jollimore was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still investigating how the collision occurred and have not yet filed charges. His family is devastated by the sudden l...

In Soldotna, Alaska, Derek Berry’s May disappearance turned deadly when his body was found — confirming a homicide. Suspect Joseph Mesa, 35, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, burglary, and drug offenses after allegedly covering up the crime. Arrested on a separate warrant, Mesa was questioned about Berry’s death, leading to an indictment by a Kenai Gran...

The House just passed a groundbreaking bill requiring big data centers to pay for the electricity they consume — a rare bipartisan win that’s sparking fierce debate. While lawmakers agree these energy-hungry facilities are straining the grid and utility bills, opinions diverge on how to handle them: some want outright bans, others push for local control, and progressives demand stronger regulation...

Whittier’s $80 million cruise ship dock — a landmark opening just two years ago — is now a total loss after a devastating fire erupted on September 15, destroying the facility and damaging a nearby tour boat. Firefighters battled the blaze with over 112,000 gallons of water, hauling it in from across town since the dock’s hydrants failed. The Norwegian Jade escaped unscathed, but the Klondike Expr...

A massive cruise ship, the Norwegian Joy, docked in Sitka Sound hours late after striking an endangered fin whale between Hoonah and Sitka—sending shockwaves through the community and raising urgent questions about marine safety. This isn’t the first collision of its kind in Alaska, with roughly ten documented incidents since 2001, though many go unreported or undetected. The whale, estimated at 3...

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly is fiercely resisting a state plan to hand over nearly 20,000 acres of prime recreation land near Houston to Alaska’s development agency, arguing that growth should instead focus on already-developed areas like Point MacKenzie and West Susitna — where infrastructure exists and public investment has already been made. While the state proposed using the land fo...

Chugach Electric is launching a bold new pilot program for 1,000 members—residential and small business—to test time-based electricity pricing. Instead of one flat rate, costs will spike to over 21 cents per kWh during peak hours (9 a.m.–9 p.m.) and drop to about 10.8 cents overnight (9 p.m.–9 a.m.). The utility hopes this shift will help reduce strain on the grid and give savvy users a chance to...

Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is rolling out a bold new safety measure: allowing teachers and staff to carry concealed weapons in schools, funded by state and local taxpayer dollars despite recent deep budget cuts. The decision, made without waiting for outside funding, reflects the district’s urgent push to enhance school security amid financial hardship and staffing challeng...

For the first time ever, Congress held a hearing dedicated solely to menopause, calling for federal action to boost research, improve doctor training, and close care gaps. Senators Gillibrand and Scott led the charge, urging the GAO to investigate funding, insurance hurdles, and treatment access. Experts highlighted the need for more hormone therapy research and warned of rising economic costs fro...

The University of Alaska is poised for major transformation: rolling out a sweeping AI policy across all campuses, eliminating out-of-state tuition by 2027, and launching a groundbreaking School of Indigenous Studies with Tlingit & Haida tribes — while navigating labor disputes and a high-stakes court case over transgender student bathroom rights. This is a pivotal moment shaping Alaska’s higher e...

Spice up your salmon chowder with a bold jalapeno-corn twist—perfect for late summer’s sweet corn harvest. Lightened with half-and-half, this crowd-pleasing recipe layers bacon, veggies, and potatoes before simmering in creamy corn goodness. Add the salmon just long enough to cook through, then let residual heat finish it off. Adjust thickness with stock, top with fresh herbs and optional jalapeno...

Alaska’s elections division faces a major legal challenge as the state seeks to dismiss a privacy lawsuit, while new details emerge from last month’s deadly plane crash. In Kodiak, candidates debate fisheries amid political tensions, and Fairbanks’ chief of staff pushes back on record requests for police footage. Meanwhile, a North Pole woman receives a 21-year sentence for a fatal overdose — unde...

Unalaska’s City Council is backing a bold new idea: a temporary ferry from Cold Bay to Unalaska during January’s critical pollock fishing season, aimed at solving the chaos caused by weather-delayed flights that strand workers, families, and students for weeks. Proposed by UniSea, the plan would fly seafood crews to Cold Bay and then ferry them to Dutch Harbor — with the Alaska Marine Highway Syst...

Seniors in Alaska are facing a silent crisis as suicide rates among those 65 and older surge, driven by isolation, chronic illness, and spiritual despair. Experts warn that elders often don’t want to die—they just want the pain to stop. To combat this, federal trainers are equipping Alaskan professionals with tools tailored to rural isolation, healthcare shortages, and gun safety measures like sep...

Alaska’s U.S. House race is exploding with national money and attention as independent Bill Hill, a Dena’ina Athabascan with roots in fishing and education, battles incumbent Republican Nick Begich. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has officially backed Hill’s bid to flip the seat, while Republican PACs, including MAGA Inc., are pouring cash into ads to stop him. Despite Begich’s 12...

Denali Montessori School in Anchorage shut down Friday after a major water main break near Ninth Avenue and Cordova Street left the campus without running water—forcing an immediate emergency closure, canceled programs, and safety-first protocols, with hopes of full restoration by Monday. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: adve...

Denali Montessori Elementary in Anchorage is shut down Friday after a busted underground water main left the school dry—no water means no classes, no after-school programs, and no community events. The district’s on emergency alert, with staff following shutdown protocols, but fingers are crossed for a Monday reopening once crews fix the leak. A stark reminder of how fragile our infrastructure is...

Donlin Gold’s massive mine proposal is facing escalating backlash as new evidence reveals it may be even larger—and riskier—than planned. With ownership consolidated by Novagold and Paulson Advisers, the project now aims to expand further, potentially uncovering another gold deposit that could amplify environmental threats. Local tribes and communities fiercely oppose the mine, warning of irrevers...

A new survey reveals a startling trend in civics classrooms: over half of students withhold their opinions not out of fear, but because they’re worried how peers will react. This self-censorship undermines the core purpose of civics — practicing democratic dialogue — and is worsened when teachers avoid controversial topics to dodge backlash. The fix? Empower students through anonymous feedback and...