Hello again Anchorage! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Tribute to ABBA & More and 7 more events.
Today's riddle: What has 2 arms and a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Anchorage Assembly approves police crime center buildout without additional surveillance protections in place (adn.com) — Anchorage's Assembly has approved a $600,000 contract to expand the police department's Real Time Crime Center on Elmore Road, despite some members' concerns about privacy protections. Supporters cited a reported 15% rise in local crime and the need for better camera and data capacity. Debate over stricter rules for surveillance tools continues, with a separate privacy ordinance still under consideration later this month.
2. Anchorage proposes swapping Tozier Track for state-owned downtown lot to build more housing (adn.com) — Anchorage officials are considering swapping the mostly unused Tozier Track parcel in Midtown for a state-owned downtown parking lot known as Block 102 to spur new housing. If the Assembly approves the ordinance later this month, both sites would be developed primarily as residential units aimed at middle-income residents, potentially reshaping neighborhoods and downtown revitalization efforts.
3. CPR, fighting fire, and crawling through smoke: Reporter goes through Anchorage FireOps101 training (dailydispatch.com) — Anchorage residents got a close-up look at what local firefighters face daily through the FireOps 101 training, including CPR drills, rescues, and live-fire exercises. The Anchorage Fire Department handles about 50,000 calls a year in the Anchorage Bowl, most of them EMS-related. Instructors highlighted strong local cardiac arrest survival rates tied to rigorous training and early bystander CPR.
4. Annual Crime in Alaska report: 14.6% increase in crime reported to Anchorage police, 5.9% decrease in crime reported to Alaska State Troopers (mustreadalaska.com) — Anchorage residents are seeing a 14.6% jump in crimes reported to city police for 2025, even as overall Alaska crime has fallen sharply since 2018. State officials highlight rising violent and property crime within the Municipality of Anchorage and urge local policymakers to prioritize public safety, while Alaska State Troopers report declining crime in their areas.
5. Alumni Spotlight: John Laurance - from the lab to public health leadership in Alaska (alaska.edu) — An Anchorage-raised public health leader who helped run Alaska's COVID-19 testing program in Anchorage is now managing adolescent health initiatives statewide after earning an MPH from the University of Alaska Anchorage. His story highlights how UAA training, local lab experience, and community connections are shaping youth health programs, violence prevention, and professional leadership opportunities that ultimately affect families across Anchorage and Alaska.
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Ok Anchorage! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A shirt (Thank you Dianna H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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