By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | January 2026
The best news comes last today, the kind Alaskans always hope for when alerts light up phones and communities lean in. But first, the roads, the schools, the trails, and the weather that is keeping everyone on their toes.
Move Over Alaska
Before anything else, a reminder that could save lives and spare wallets. Alaska State Troopers say they are actively enforcing Alaska Statute 28.35.185, better known as the Move Over law. When emergency vehicles are stopped along the roadway with lights flashing, drivers are required to slow down and move over when it is safe. Troopers say compliance is not optional. On winter roads, this law is about protecting first responders working just feet from fast moving traffic on ice and snow.
Wasilla High Parents Time to Plan Grad Blast
Community calendars are filling quickly, and Wasilla High School parents of seniors are being asked to mark theirs now. A Grad Blast planning meeting is set for Thursday, January 15 at 6 pm in the WHS commons. Grad Blast is the long running, parent led effort to give graduates a safe and supervised celebration after commencement. Organizers say the event only works when families step up early, and that time is now.
Anchorage Teens Get a Free Chance to Level Up
In Anchorage, teens have a free opportunity to invest in themselves this winter. Anchorage Parks and Recreation has partnered with Hardaway Learning to offer a four week Youth Master Class for ages 13 to 19 at the Fairview Community Recreation Center. The program focuses on purpose discovery, vision, goal setting, planning, and creative projects. Week one is already complete, but organizers say it is not too late to join the remaining sessions running through the end of January.
Mushing Monday Kicks Off Iditarod Countdown
Across public lands and straight into Alaska’s cultural heartbeat, the Bureau of Land Management is launching Mushing Monday. Every Monday for the next two months, BLM Alaska will spotlight mushing culture as the state counts down to the Iditarod Ceremonial Start on March 7, 2026. Teams will once again make the familiar 11 mile run from downtown Anchorage to Campbell Tract on BLM managed land. This year’s celebration also ties into America’s upcoming 250th birthday and Freedom 250 festivities. BLM says the Iditarod National Historic Trail remains a living connector between rural communities, local economies, and Alaska’s working landscapes.
Juneau Weather Turns Dangerous
And then there is Juneau, where winter is reminding everyone who is in charge. Storm chaser Aaron Rigsby is on the ground documenting conditions after heavy rain on January 10 brought flooding concerns and sharply increased avalanche danger. Juneau has received what amounts to a season’s worth of snow in just the past few weeks. Rain and warmer temperatures are now loading that snowpack with water, raising the risk on slide paths around town. Emergency officials continue urging residents to stay alert as conditions remain unstable.
Found Safe in Anchorage
Now to the news Alaskans most want to hear. Angel Chagluak, who was reported missing in Anchorage on January 8, has been found safe. Anchorage Police confirmed she was located on January 12, just days after the missing person alert was issued. Chagluak had last been seen the evening of January 7 near Dale Street. Her family and community can breathe again, and police thanked the public for staying alert and sharing information. In a winter that has delivered more than its share of worry, this one ends right.
From avalanche concerns in the capital to relief in Anchorage, this is Alaska in January. Hard weather, strong communities, and the kind of ending to make your day a better one.
