🌨️❄️ Alaska Morning Briefing: Measles, VA Cuts, Space Gum, and Holiday Kisses! 💋🛰️

Key headlines from today’s Alaska news digest, featuring measles outbreaks, VA staffing changes, Ukraine conflict updates, AI regulation, and scientific discoveries. 

By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | December 2025

Good morning, Alaska! Here’s your 5-minute roundup of what’s happening locally, nationally and globally.

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🦠 Measles Alert: Why Alaska Should Care

📈 Measles outbreaks are surging across the U.S. with nearly 1,912 confirmed cases so far this year, the highest annual total since measles was eliminated here in 2000, compared with just 285 cases in all of 2024. About 88 percent of those cases are part of ongoing outbreaks, and most are in unvaccinated people. Three deaths have been reported nationally. 🇺🇸 📊 CDC

✈️ Rural Alaska communities and air travelers remain at risk because measles is highly contagious and easily carried between regions through air travel, including to places with lower vaccination coverage. Health officials emphasize that the two‑dose MMR vaccine is about 97 percent effective at preventing measles infection and is the best defense against outbreaks. 

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👶 Infant Botulism Outbreak Linked to Formula

Health officials report 51 infants hospitalized across 19 states due to botulism linked to ByHeart powdered formula.

Alaska parents: Stop using immediately, discard, and monitor infants for botulism symptoms like poor feeding, constipation, drooping eyelids, or weak cry.  Visit the FDA’s website or ByHeart’s website for official updates.

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🌊 Washington Flooding Could Impact Alaska Travel

Historic floods in Washington have stranded residents, forced evacuations, and closed multiple highways, including sections of I‑5 and I‑90. The Skagit and Snohomish Rivers have reached record levels, prompting local emergency declarations.

While Alaska isn’t directly affected, shipping and flight routes to the Lower 48 could see delays this weekend, and Alaskan travelers are advised to monitor airline and ferry schedules closely. Emergency management officials warn that continued heavy rainfall could prolong disruptions through Sunday.

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🚨🏥 VA Job Cuts Hit Alaska Veterans: How to Prepare

The VA is cutting up to 35,000 healthcare jobs nationwide, mostly unfilled doctor and nurse roles. For Alaska, this could mean longer waits for primary care and specialty appointments, especially in Anchorage and rural clinics.

What you can do:

• 🗓️ Schedule appointments early
• 💻 Enroll in VA telehealth
• 📂 Keep your health records handy
• 🏥 Explore community and tribal clinics
• ✅ Check eligibility for the VA Community Care Program
• 🔔 Stay updated with local VA announcements

Even with telehealth, remote veterans could face weeks-long delays, so planning ahead is key.

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📸 Epstein Estate Photos Released

Photos from the Jeffrey Epstein estate were released by the House Oversight Committee as part of congressional oversight. The release includes images of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Woody Allen, Richard Branson, Steve Bannon, and former Prince Andrew, among others. The committee states that the photos are undated, lack context, and do not imply criminal activity. Redactions were applied to protect privacy, particularly of potential victims. The release is part of the committee’s efforts to comply with subpoenas and statutory transparency requirements, with further documents scheduled to be released by December 19, 2025.

President Trump issued a statement through his official channels calling the photos “no big deal”, noting he knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and asserting he has no knowledge of any criminal activity related to the photos.

No charges have been filed against any individuals depicted in the images.

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🤖 Trump Executive Order on AI

President Trump signed a federal executive order blocking states from enforcing their own AI regulations, citing the need for a consistent national standard to prevent a “patchwork” of rules that could slow innovation. The order establishes a federal AI Office tasked with coordinating research, ensuring safety standards, and fostering partnerships with private companies and universities to accelerate U.S. AI development.

For Alaska, tech leaders and startups may see federal rules override any state-level restrictions, which could simplify compliance for emerging AI companies but also limit the state’s ability to implement stricter privacy or safety measures tailored to local needs. Officials say the move is intended to bolster U.S. competitiveness globally, though some experts warn that without state input, certain ethical and safety concerns may be underrepresented.

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⚡ Massive Russian Assault on Ukraine

Ukraine reports that Russian forces launched over 450 drones and 30 missiles overnight, striking critical energy infrastructure across multiple regions. The attacks left more than one million households without power, forcing emergency shutdowns of some power plants and widespread disruptions to daily life.

In Alaska, Ukrainian families and communities are closely monitoring the situation, with some residents having already been forced to evacuate relatives or provide temporary housing for friends fleeing the affected areas. Local Ukrainian organizations and cultural centers in Anchorage and Fairbanks are coordinating fundraising and aid efforts, including donations of medical supplies, generators, and winter essentials. Those wishing to help can contribute through verified organizations such as Alaska2Ukraine, Ukraine Aid Group, Fund to Aid Ukraine, or United Help Ukraine.

Mental health counselors and community leaders are also offering support to families dealing with anxiety and stressdue to ongoing attacks and power outages back home. Experts emphasize that the scale of the attacks represents a significant escalation in Russia’s targeting of civilian infrastructure, increasing the likelihood of long-term disruptions to utilities and humanitarian aid. Alaska residents with family in Ukraine are encouraged to stay in contact, monitor embassy advisories, and follow verified updates from the Ukrainian government.

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❌ Trump Ceasefire Claims Disputed

Despite President Trump’s announcements of ceasefires, fighting continues along the Thailand‑Cambodia border. Thai officials say no formal agreement exists, and clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Meanwhile, in eastern DR Congo, the U.S.-brokered peace deal is faltering as M23 rebels capture strategic towns, displacing tens of thousands and leaving hundreds dead. These ongoing conflicts show that, despite diplomatic claims, hostilities and humanitarian crises persist.

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🇧🇾 Belarus Sanctions Deal

The U.S. lifts select trade sanctions on Belarus in a historic deal aimed at securing the release of 123 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, a prominent human rights advocate. The sanctions relief primarily affects certain industrial, agricultural, and export sectors, while financial and defense-related sanctions remain in place. U.S. officials described the agreement as a strategic step to encourage further political reform and improve human rights conditions, emphasizing that the release of prisoners was the central objective. Belarusian authorities have pledged to review and potentially reduce charges against remaining detainees, though the long-term impact on civil liberties in the country remains under observation.

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🏈 Michigan Football Scandal

• Charges: Felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking, and breaking & entering
• Incident: Allegedly entered ex-partner’s home in Pittsfield Township shortly after being fired for an inappropriate relationship
• Threats: Grabbed kitchen utensils and made statements of self-harm; no direct physical attack on the victim reported
• Status: Released on $25,000 bond with GPS monitoring, no-contact order, mental health treatment, and weapon restrictions
• Next Court Date: January 22, 2026
• Sources: Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office & Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety

💡 Reminder: All charges are allegations. Moore is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

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🛰️ NASA Finds “Space Gum” on Asteroid Bennu

NASA reports that samples from asteroid Bennu contain sticky, organic-rich material, including sugars and other carbon compounds, potentially shedding light on the origins of life on Earth. Dr. Daniel Glavin, a NASA astrobiologist involved in the study, says, “These findings give us a glimpse into the very building blocks of the universe and how the chemistry that led to life on Earth may have begun.” Scientists note that the discovery could reshape our understanding of how key molecules for life were delivered to our planet, offering new insights into the earliest chemical processes in the solar system.

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💋 National Kiss Under the Mistletoe

Hundreds of couples in D.C. aim to break the Guinness World Record for kissing under a 30‑foot mistletoe. Alaska can follow the festive fun online from home via video from the event’s organizers and participating broadcasters.You can watch clips and livestream‑style coverage from the DowntownDC BID’s official social channels, including their Instagram reel preview of the event setup and world‑record attempt.

For example, the DowntownDC BID posted video content on Instagram previewing the “Kiss Under the National Mistletoe” celebration and world‑record attempt, which viewers can watch from anywhere via their social media feeds. Facebook

Tip for viewers: Search for “National Kiss Under the National Mistletoe” or follow the DowntownDC Business Improvement District on Instagram Saturday afternoon to see real‑time clips and celebration footage.

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Stay safe, Alaska! 🌨️ Keep your vaccines up to date, check your travel routes, and enjoy a little holiday magic.