🚔 Anchorage Police Adopt AI to Analyze Investigative Data
Anchorage’s police department has formally begun using artificial intelligence to sift through large volumes of case data and improve investigative efficiency. Alaska Public Media
- The software, called Closure, has been under trial for months and was approved under a five-year contract worth $375,000. Alaska Public Media
- Chief Sean Case said the AI will help identify names, phrases, or threats buried in jail calls and other records, reducing manual review burdens. Alaska Public Media
- The municipal attorney and local prosecutors reviewed the tool to ensure it wouldn’t hinder prosecutions. Alaska Public Media
- This new adoption comes after the department previously trialed another AI for generating police reports (Axon’s Draft One), but declined to move forward with it. Alaska Public Media+1
What to watch: How well the tool performs in real-life cases, whether defense attorneys challenge AI-assisted findings, and whether the department will expand its use beyond jail call analysis.
🛢️ No Public Comment or Hearings on Environmental Review of Oil Leasing in Cook Inlet
In a controversial move, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced it will not allow public comment or hearings on a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) for an oil lease in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, citing a Trump-era “streamlining” policy. Alaska Beacon+2Anchorage Daily News+2
- The draft EIS addresses legal deficiencies identified by courts in prior lease sales but will proceed without the usual public input phase. Alaska Beacon+1
- BOEM argues the supplemental review is narrowly focused on “court-ordered” issues and thus exempt from broader comment. Alaska Beacon+1
- Critics decry the exclusion of public participation, calling it a dilution of the National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA) democratic safeguards. Alaska Beacon+1
- The lease in question stems from a 2022 Cook Inlet sale that drew only one bid and was later deemed legally flawed for failing to assess impacts on endangered beluga whales. Alaska Beacon+1
What to watch: whether environmental or native rights groups challenge BOEM’s process in court, and how the final EIS addresses the beluga whale impacts without public feedback.
🦅 Trump Administration Nears Deal for Road Through Alaskan Wildlife Refuge
The Trump administration is reportedly finalizing a proposal to transfer 490 acres within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to enable construction of a road corridor between King Cove and Cold Bay, Alaska. Politico Pro
- Under the deal, the Interior Department would effect a land swap allowing refuge land to be repurposed while receiving other acreage in return. Politico Pro+2Environmental and Energy Law Program+2
- The road is proposed as a medical-evacuation lifeline for residents of King Cove who lack reliable winter access to Cold Bay’s airport. Alaska Public Media+1
- The proposal revives a long-standing battle between infrastructure needs and environmental protection. Previous swap proposals were struck down by courts for procedural and environmental missteps. Environmental and Energy Law Program+2Alaska Public Media+2
- Under President Trump’s January 2025 executive order, the Interior was directed to expedite development of Alaska’s resources — including resolving the King Cove road issue. Environmental and Energy Law Program+1
What to watch: whether Congress or courts intervene; whether local tribes and environmental groups mount legal challenges; and how the ecological costs (especially to migratory birds and eelgrass habitat) are assessed.
⚖️ Jury Selection Begins in 2016 Anchorage Teen Kidnapping Case
In Anchorage, jury selection is underway for a 2016 kidnapping and sexual assault case, marking a long-awaited step toward trial. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com+1
- The defendant, a Fairbanks man named William Doug Burgess, is accused of abducting a teenage girl and assaulting her, along with two co-defendants. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
- Prosecutors say Burgess and two others forced the victim from a vehicle, tied her hands and feet, and abandoned her in a remote area. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com+1
- One of the co-defendants, Jean Olivier Vagao, pleaded guilty in 2022. Serge Azede II faces an adjudication hearing this fall. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
- The court expects the trial to last no more than two weeks. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
What to watch: What forensic or witness evidence emerges after nearly a decade, and whether any appeals or delays occur.
🧑🏽⚕️ UAS Ketchikan Opens New Nursing Lab
The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Ketchikan campus has officially inaugurated a new nursing laboratory, improving hands-on training capacity for nursing students across Southeast Alaska. connect.uas.alaska.edu
- The ribbon-cutting was held mid-September 2025 at the Paul Building, where remodeling created clinical learning spaces. connect.uas.alaska.edu+1
- The remodel includes mechanical, electrical, and IT upgrades to support medical simulation and lab equipment. aws.state.ak.us
- The enhanced facility is expected to help mitigate health care staffing challenges in remote communities by training nurses locally. (Note: this expectation is based on broader trends rather than specific press statements.)
What to watch: How many additional students can be accommodated, whether curriculum shifts to include more simulation-based training, and how clinical partners respond.
H-1B Visa Moves Reshape Staffing in Kodiak and Rural Schools
Kodiak Island Borough School District has ramped up use of H-1B visas to attract and retain teachers from abroad amid chronic staffing shortages. Alaska State Legislature+3Alaska Public Media+3Alaska Beacon+3
- The district now sends recruiters to the Philippines (Manila and Cebu) to interview candidates in person. Alaska Public Media+1
- Historically, many Alaskan rural districts relied on J-1 exchange visas for teachers, but these are limited to shorter terms. H-1Bs allow longer tenures and path toward green cards. Alaska Public Media+1
- According to a legislative resolution (HJR 25 am), Kodiak had filled roughly 22 teaching positions via H-1B since 2022. Alaska State Legislature
- Still, H-1B caps, visa delays, and uncertainties in federal immigration policy make the strategy risky for long-term planning. Alaska Beacon+1
Key takeaways: Kodiak’s pivot underscores how remote Alaska districts are increasingly dependent on international recruitment. But legal caps and visa backlog could limit how sustainable this model is over time.
🫎 Anchorage Biologist Warns of Moose Entanglements During Mating Season
As bull moose enter their rutting season, wildlife biologists caution that urban and semi-urban areas must be vigilant to reduce accidental moose entanglements. Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- Moose may snag outdoor items like netting, cables, swing sets, Christmas lights, or garden hoses. Such entanglements can cause injury, exhaustion, or death. Alaska Department of Fish and Game+1
- In one recent instance, a moose was seen with Christmas lights around its neck in an Anchorage neighborhood. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
- To help prevent harm, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game recommends removing or securing loose nets, cords, and decorations during peak antler activity. Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- If an entangled animal is spotted, the public is urged to report it via ADF&G’s “Report a Wildlife Encounter” portal. Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Why this matters: During the rut, bulls are more active, aggressive, and oblivious to surroundings. As suburban and exurban zones encroach on moose habitat, entanglement risk rises — especially where yard gear remains outdoors year-round.
❄️ Alaska Sees First Widespread Mountain Snow of the Season
On the heels of the Fall Equinox, Alaska experienced its first broad snowfall at higher elevations, marking the unofficial kickoff of winter in the high country. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
- Several inches were reported along mountain passes on the Richardson Highway and in the Eastern Alaska Range. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
- The Parks Highway near Healy and peaks in the Chugach Mountains also picked up light snow. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
- Forecasters note that while frost and overnight freezes are now common statewide, lower elevations have yet to see sustained snow cover. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com+1
- The snow arrives amid a weather pattern trending cooler, with light snow showers expected in Interior Alaska and rain building toward the Gulf Coast in coming days. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
What to watch: Whether this early snow holds or melts, and how ski areas and mountaineers adapt. Ski resort opening projections (e.g. late November) remain in flux depending on storm tracks and temperature trends. OnTheSnow
🛜 Mat-Su Borough to Launch Revamped Website
The Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough is preparing to roll out a new, modernized official website intended to streamline resident access to services, alerts, and municipal information.
- The new site is designed to better integrate online permitting, public notices, and connectivity across borough departments.
- The borough’s Facebook page recently previewed some of the design elements and announced a forthcoming “go live” window. Facebook
- The launch is part of a broader push toward digital modernization by local government to serve a growing population and improve civic engagement.
What to watch: How the new site handles high-traffic service functions (e.g. building permits, tax payments), and whether the borough solicits citizen feedback to refine usability post-launch.
‼️ Public Notice: Lakeview Road Closure
Dates: September 9 – October 15, 2025
- Location: Lakeview Road
- Reason: Pavement preservation work.
- Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Traffic: Local drivers should use caution and follow directions from flaggers at the site.
- Contacts:
- John Klotunowitch, (907) 232-5726
- Vivian Weaver, (907) 354-8484
🤧 Alaska Flu Cases and Deaths Rose Last Season Amid Low Adult Vaccination Rates
State health data show that the 2024–2025 influenza season in Alaska was among the most severe in recent years, coinciding with low adult vaccine uptake. Alaska Public Media
- Officials recorded 11,900 lab-confirmed flu cases and 25 deaths — including one pediatric death. Alaska Public Media
- By contrast, the 2023–2024 season had ~10,200 cases and 10 deaths. Alaska Public Media
- Analysts note that enhanced lab reporting since COVID-19 likely improved case detection, yet the severity metrics remain concerning. Alaska Public Media
- The state’s nurse epidemiologist, Carrie Edmonson, pointed out that low adult vaccination was a contributing factor. Alaska Public Media
- The spike in flu aligned with national trends, with higher overall hospitalization and mortality levels. Alaska Public Media+1
Take-home message: Public health agencies will likely urge stronger vaccination campaigns this year — emphasizing flu shots for adults, children, and vulnerable populations — especially given Alaska’s harsh climate and rural health care challenges.
🪴 Nome Garden Tour Showcases Hidden Green Spaces
This summer, Nome hosted a local garden tour celebrating the ingenuity of Alaskan gardeners who coax life out of the tundra.
- Residents opened their yards to the public, showing off raised beds, greenhouse experiments, cold-hardy perennials, native plant landscaping, and creative micro-climates (e.g. windbreak walls, south-facing rock walls).
- The event drew both locals and visitors, offering classes, plant swaps, and local food tastings.
- Organizers aim to build awareness of sustainable gardening in Arctic climates and cultivate a network of home gardeners across Western Alaska.
What to watch: Whether the success of this year’s tour leads to expansion (e.g. seed libraries, year-round gardening workshops), and how climate shifts affect gardening practices in Alaska’s far north.
