Good morning, Anchorage.

In Anchorage, Central Lutheran Church and the Food Bank of Alaska hosted their annual Thanksgiving Blessing a few days before the holiday—volunteers loaded cars and delivered nearly 1,000 meals, continuing a 40-year tradition of uniting the community.

Anchorage People Mover received 77 submissions for a contest to redesign bus stop signs with local art that honors Dena’ina heritage—three finalists were announced, including Jasmine Edelle Ross, Julia Ditto, and Dean Potter.

The finalists will each receive $1,000 to refine their designs until Dec. 29, and the winning design will earn $4,000 and be featured citywide.

Urban Alaska's electric utilities plan two LNG import projects to fill a natural gas gap—both proposals risk raising consumer bills as infrastructure costs grow.

Harvest will retrofit a Kenai Peninsula export plant with a projected cost over $500 million starting as soon as 2026, while Enstar may pass study costs on to customers even if its new project does not proceed.

Alaska’s commercial salmon harvest rebounded this year to 194.8 million fish, nearly doubling last year’s low catch even though harvesters earned only $541 million — the 13th lowest ex-vessel value since 1975 when adjusted for inflation, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Sockeye salmon drove most of the value while pink salmon accounted for most of the volume.

The Anchorage School District has approved a plan to lease empty classrooms to private childcare providers at a low cost—each provider must reserve 25% of slots for ASD employees and 25% for first responders to ease the local childcare shortage.

The district will request proposals in January and expects the centers to open in about a year and a half.

At COP30 in Belém, indigenous leaders discussed climate change and native rights, stressing that clean energy projects require prior consent from local communities—Alaska voices linked these talks to recent storm damage and permafrost concerns.

A lawyer for the Anchorage School District criticized state leaders for political grandstanding over non-endorsement stickers mistakenly placed on Constitution booklets given to students since 2017—he said the error has sparked an internal review of the district’s processes.

The dispute began after requests from the Daughters of the American Revolution led to the inclusion of a disclaimer on the booklets, which state officials questioned for causing confusion about the district’s policies.

The U.S. Coast Guard is set to boost its icebreaker fleet with funding approved for eight new vessels and more planned to secure the Arctic as it warms fast.

Sen Dan Sullivan said many new ships will be based in Alaska with upgrades planned for Seattle and Juneau — a move to strengthen security as new shipping routes open.

Federal health care subsidies that lower costs may expire and force thousands of Alaskans to face higher premiums on federal marketplace plans.

JAMHI Health and Wellness in Juneau is ready to help locals as Congress debates extending tax credits before open enrollment ends on Jan. 15.

Alaska Club for Women in midtown Anchorage will permanently close on December 1 due to declining enrollment+ members can transfer their memberships to nearby locations as the club shifts to offer family fitness options.

UAA volleyball secured a share of the GNAC title after winning key matches on the weekend—achieving a three-set sweep of Montana State Billings and a four-set win against Seattle Pacific.

UAA men’s cross country runners earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Kenosha—two Seawolves finished in the top 50.

After Hours Featuring Midnight Son & Kala Jenkins

7-9 p.m. — Momentum Studios — Ticketed event — Experience soulful music and captivating visual art from Anchorage's local talent.

Candlelight: 90s Unplugged

4-5 p.m. — 49th State Brewing - Anchorage — Tickets available — Experience the nostalgic tunes of the 90s played by a string quartet under candlelight.

Python for Scientists Training Class

Dec 8-12 — Frontier Safety And Supply, LLC — $2250 — Enhance your Python skills with hands-on training tailored for scientists.

Holiday Wreath Workshop

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Dimond Greenhouse — $45 per wreath — Create your own festive wreath using fresh cut greens for the holiday season.

The Snow Globe Run

11 AM – 1 PM — Peanut Farm — Check for entry fees — Lace up for a festive run, walk, or cheer along at this community winter event.

Winter Solstice Festival

5-8 p.m. — Cuddy Family Midtown Park — Free entry — Celebrate the shortest day of the year with winter activities, warm festivities, and holiday cheer.

West Anchorage High School Basketball Game

6:00 – 7:15 PM — West Anchorage High School — Free entry — Catch an exciting girls basketball matchup at the local high school.

Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings

8:30-9:30 p.m. — 49th State Brewing - Anchorage — $38 — Experience a magical evening of Christmas carols performed by a string quartet in candlelight.