With the federal government’s outsized influence in Alaska, impacts from a shutdown could be acute.

Happy Friday! That means it’s time for the Anchorage Weekender. From Oktoberfest at Alyeska, to National Public Lands Day, a food & wine fest downtown, and even the Nordic Market — there’s so much to do! Get the deets at alaskapublic.org/weekender

Murkowski said it was "highly inappropriate" for the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to say last week that his agency could take action against Jimmy Kimmel “the easy way or the hard way.”

Jeff King wants the 1,000-mile race across Alaska to change. He says his ideas will help more mushers finish the race, prevent dog deaths and lower the burden on Iditarod staff.

Dr. Anne Zink, the state’s former chief medical officer, says she hopes Alaskans won’t get overwhelmed by national news on vaccines — and that access to vaccines likely will remain largely the same this year in Alaska.

The Anchorage mayor’s office has released the latest draft of a controversial plan that officials say would make it easier to build more housing.

A student in Italy who calls voting “a disservice to the fatness of the other bear.” A school in Virginia where kids measure themselves against a life-sized bear cutout. And a priest who says, “It’s Jesus, my family, then fat bears." Meet the superfans of Fat Bear Week.

The Alaska LNG Project netted two more agreements earlier this month during an energy conference in Italy. Both agreements are nonbinding, but proponents say they're proof of ongoing positive momentum.

Hey, Anchorage: For an upcoming story series, we're looking for your best advice for how to thrive (or at least survive!) during our looooong winter. Let us know your best tips at the link below:

The Exit Glacier Trail in Seward is closed until further notice after two people were attacked by a brown bear while hiking Wednesday. Both sustained non-life-threatening injuries after fighting off the bear.

Fall is in the air, and the final weekend of September is full of reasons to get out and enjoy it. In this edition of The Anchorage Weekender, we’ve got outdoor movies, indoor markets and everything in between.

Researchers at the University of Alaska Anchorage are looking for community problems to solve using artificial intelligence.

Anchorage police are soon getting $12 million in technology upgrades, including new drones, license plate readers and better security camera coordination. Police chief Sean Case said the equipment will boost public safety and help deescalate dangerous situations. But some worry about privacy.

Healy's only year-round medical clinic will close in November. Denali Borough Mayor Chris Noel said he was surprised by the announcement and hopes the community can work together to find a solution.

A specialized plane, camera and a crew of four are in Alaska to better understand the ecosystems of the Bering and Chukchi seas. That includes deploying buoys packed with sensors to track conditions in the waters.

The Juneau community has raised more than $350,000 to treat a local child’s rare disease as his family strives to reach their $1.15 million goal.

A judge has thrown out a former Eagle River nurse practitioner’s convictions for overprescribing pain medication, after a scandal ousted the previous judge overseeing the case.

Gov. Dunleavy has vetoed Senate Bill 54, his eighth veto so far this year. The bill let interior designers register with a state board, so their work on large public-use projects could go to permitting agencies without an engineering review. (via Alaska Beacon)

The Anchorage Police Department is now using artificial intelligence software to better review investigative data, like hundreds of hours of calls from jails. It’s the first time APD has adopted AI for department use.

Unless Congress steps in with a solution, thousands of Alaskans will lose health insurance subsidies at the end of December and see the cost of their premiums shoot up.

The Mat-Su Borough wants federal officials to forgive millions of dollars of transit grant repayments it owes as part of the failed Knik Arm ferry project. (via Mat-Su Sentinel)

The State of Alaska has filed criminal charges against Steve Kroschel, two months after authorities raided his once-popular wildlife facility near Haines.

Fat Bear Week kicks off today! Here's how to vote for this year's chubbiest champ.

An Anchorage biologist says it's not uncommon for moose to get entangled in outdoor lights, soccer nets and playground equipment this time of year.

A University of Alaska Fairbanks project to map out the Pacific Northwest's critical mineral potential won an approximately $7.5M federal grant this winter. But researchers haven't received a single cent of that funding.

Alaska’s high court has confirmed an unprecedented decision by the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners to revoke a license issued to a Fairbanks chiropractor. (via Alaska Beacon)

Democrats and independents in the Alaska state Legislature are urging Congress to preserve federal funding for science and research.

The lower Kuskokwim River community of Akiak has been without power since Sunday night due to a mechanical failure at the city's power plant. City Council member Olinka Jones said it's too early to gauge the potential impact on frozen subsistence food.

With more ships traveling in the Arctic, the U.S. Coast Guard is proposing a new two-way shipping route along the northern Alaska coast. The idea is to make travel in the region safer for the environment and more efficient.

For years, a national database that tracks and maps landslides has had a major hole: Alaska. But that’s about to change.

There are only about 60 centenarians in Alaska and they're sharing their advice. Norma Alderfer, who will soon turn 102, said she has worked hard and played hard. “Still like a good martini in the evening with cheese and crackers or hors d'oeuvres."

The library at Sand Lake Elementary School is getting a makeover, thanks to volunteer Andrew Halcro and his wife. The renovation includes a mural by artist Ted Kim, additional seating and new iPads to help students find books more easily.

Trying to get a COVID vaccine right now? Here's what to know.

A pedestrian was struck and killed on a sidewalk in Anchorage early Saturday by a driver who then fled the scene, according to police. The driver was soon arrested nearby.

Champion Alaska skier Kikkan Randall is set to be inducted into the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. She joined us on Alaska News Nightly to talk about her career. Take a listen:

More than 100 Alaskans gathered in Fairbanks to celebrate the life of Mary Shields, the first woman to complete the Iditarod. "I don't think she ever knew how much she inspired me 30 years ago," Aliy Zirkle said.

It’s Friday, so that means it’s time for the Anchorage Weekender. And there are so many things to do this weekend! From a free end of summer concert tonight to markets Saturday, plus a few events focused on fall fun. Get all the deets at alaskapublic.org/weekender!

Heat pumps work well in places like Anchorage. But only a tiny number of residents in the city have one. That’s because of the cost, says a university researcher.

Sen. Murkowski broke from other Republicans on the Senate health committee at a hearing on the firing of the CDC director. “It's about trust in our public health institutions,” she said, “because that's what I'm worried most about.”

The state of Alaska is overhauling the long-term plans for its three state forests to boost revenue from a new source: carbon credits. But in at least one instance, that could mean eliminating logging restrictions.

Officials with the University of Alaska Anchorage say they’re seeing their largest increase in enrollment in over a decade. “Six percent is a big deal,” said UAA Provost Denise Runge. “It is a big deal in a single year."

This September has been full of cloudy days, but the Anchorage Weekender wants to help you make it a month to remember. Here are eight things to do this weekend.

Anchorage police are now enforcing a new law that makes it a criminal offense to camp in certain areas, like near schools or playgrounds. Alaska Public Media's Hannah Flor recently accompanied police on a day of camp visits.

The brown bears in Katmai National Park and Preserve have been packing on the pounds this summer. Starting Tuesday, you can vote online for the chunkiest bear in the annual Fat Bear Week competition.

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to add a roughly 300-word statement honoring Charlie Kirk and other victims of political violence to the front of its official election booklet, which is mailed to nearly 100,000 voters. (via @matsusentinel.bsky.social)

Tuesday’s hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee on "unleashing Alaska's extraordinary resource potential" unspooled like a tale of two Alaskas.

A 37-year-old man died Sunday after he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Anchorage Correctional Complex, according to state officials.

Former Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor has filed to run for governor in 2026. He's the 10th Republican to enter the race.

Anchorage police have arrested a 19-year-old man who is accused of tracking down a woman near downtown Anchorage over the weekend and killing her in a drive-by shooting.

The federal government has cut a $3.3 million grant for career and technical education at the Anchorage School District, district leaders announced this week.