This week brought a mix of grief, urgency, generosity, and tangible progress across Alaska, with stories that pulled at the heart and demanded attention.
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | January 2026
In the Mat-Su Valley, organizers are calling on the community to show up for an “ICE Out For Good” vigil and protest in Wasilla as part of a nationwide weekend of action. The event centers on honoring Renee Nicole Good, a 37 year old mother of three who was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Organizers also point to other recent and past incidents involving ICE, saying the pattern reflects unchecked violence and impunity that communities cannot ignore.
Mat-Su United for Progress is joining a broad coalition calling for accountability, remembrance, and visibility around the human cost of federal immigration enforcement. The Wasilla gathering invites people to bring candles, songs, poems, photos, artwork, and signs, with a clear commitment to nonviolence, lawful conduct, and de-escalation. No weapons of any kind are permitted, and events are to be held in public spaces. Participants are encouraged to register through Mat-Su United for Progress, which is coordinating communications and updates related to the action.
In Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University is celebrating a transformational gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving foundation. APU is among roughly 225 organizations nationwide that received funding as part of the $7.17 billion Scott donated in 2025. True to her philanthropic approach, the gift is unrestricted, giving the university flexibility to direct funds where they are needed most. Scott’s giving focuses on organizations that expand opportunity in underserved communities, with attention to leadership, financial stability, and proven impact. APU Board of Trustees Chair Jim Roberts said the gift affirms trust in the university’s mission and strengthens its ability to serve students, advance Indigenous leadership, and create opportunity for generations to come. Scott, who signed The Giving Pledge in 2020, reflected that lasting change often begins with everyday acts of kindness and generosity, a theme echoed by APU leaders as they expressed gratitude for the investment.
Closer to home in the Mat-Su, the borough received a major federal boost aimed at protecting kids on their way to school. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the Matanuska-Susitna Borough $12.8 million through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The funding will support safety improvements in school zones across the borough, benefiting more than 5,000 students in Alaska’s fastest growing region. Between 2018 and 2022, the borough saw 209 severe injuries and 99 fatal crashes, with children and other vulnerable road users facing disproportionate risk. Borough officials say the grant will help reopen pedestrian underpasses, add sidewalks and crosswalks, install separated paths, and improve crossings near schools in Wasilla, Palmer, and surrounding areas. The grant covers 80 percent of project costs, with matching funds coming largely from voter approved bonds, and reflects years of planning and community input.
There is also continued urgency on the missing persons front. Alaska State Troopers are asking for help locating 24 year old Hari Karasani of Texas, who was reported missing on January 3. He was last seen leaving the Aurora Denali Lodge in Healy on December 31 and may have traveled to the Fairbanks area. Karasani is visiting Alaska alone without a vehicle and has not contacted family or friends since late December. Troopers urge anyone with information to call their Fairbanks office. Supporters have also launched a public petition urging officials in Alaska and Texas to take immediate action to help locate him, emphasizing that even a minute of attention could save a life.
In Anchorage, police continue an urgent search for 14 year old Ariana Smart, who was last seen in the 2100 block of C Street. Due to her age and small stature, officers say time is critical and are asking anyone with information to contact APD immediately. Investigators are also urging residents and businesses to check security and doorbell camera footage and report anything that might help bring her home safely.
Amid those ongoing searches, the Mat-Su community did get some welcome news. Wasilla Police confirmed that Zakk Schuerch has been located safe and is no longer considered missing. His disappearance during extreme winter weather sparked widespread concern and a fast community response, with residents sharing alerts and keeping watch. Authorities and family members expressed gratitude for the public’s help and asked that Zakk’s privacy now be respected as he reunites with loved ones.
There was also an update from Alaska State Troopers on a case involving stolen firearms. Troopers announced that Katrina Gallegos of North Pole, who was wanted on warrants related to the theft of seven firearms and failure to appear, has been arrested. Officials thanked the public for their assistance following a months long investigation that resulted in multiple charges and the recovery of numerous stolen guns.
Finally, a softer note from the Alaska Humane Society Cat Shelter, where a petite black cat named Salem is looking for a patient, loving home. Salem has overcome significant health challenges, including dental disease and a neurological gait issue that will need monitoring, but shelter staff say it has not slowed her down. She enjoys play, tolerates other cats, and previously did well with children. The shelter hopes the right family will see past her medical chart and recognize a resilient, affectionate companion ready to curl up and keep someone warm during Alaska’s long winter nights.
A week that reminds us how quickly events can turn from heartbreaking to hopeful, and how much community action, whether through vigilance, generosity, or simply showing up, always makes a difference.
