🌱 Fake 'Made In Alaska' Products + Escaped Inmate

Happy Monday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started. Here's everything going on today in Anchorage.

First, today's weather:

Some sun, then turning cloudy. High: 24 Low: 21.

Here are the top 3 stories in Anchorage today:

1. The state of Alaska has charged the owners of a souvenir-making business with consumer fraud. Robert Merry, Josephine Merry, Mary Uy, and Mark Uy, owners of B. Merry Studio Inc., are now facing a civil lawsuit after being accused of selling Philippine-made products marked as "made in Alaska." The owners have allegedly been taking antlers from Alaska, shipping them to the Philippines to get turned into products, and then shipping them back to Alaska to be sold for a profit. (Anchorage Daily News)
2. Police are asking for the public's help in seeking information regarding a man that walked away from the Cordova Center this past Sunday. 39-year-old Levi Simmonds walked away from the reentry program according to a community alert. A misdemeanor escape warrant has been obtained for Simmonds. Authorities are asking anyone with information on his current location to please call 311. (Alaska's News Source)
3. After receiving four negative COVID tests in a row, Anchorage figure skater Keegan Messing is finally on the road to the Winter Olympics. Messing is headed to Beijing to participate in the men's singles short program. He has a short turnaround time to get adjusted to the stress of the Olympics; however, everyone has full belief that he can handle it. Messing stated to the press that the best he can do is "keep a positive mindset." (Anchorage Daily News)

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Today in Anchorage:

• AARP Tax Help at Z.J. Loussac Public Library (Feb. 8 at 12:00 PM)
• Puzzles & Games at Muldoon Library Branch (Feb. 8 at 4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Anchorage Police Department is wishing the happiest of birthdays to Odie! K9 Odie has been with the Anchorage Police Department since 2016. He is a valuable and cherished member of the crew. Check out this birthday cutie on their post! (Facebook)
• The Anchorage Museum wants to give a big thanks to its sponsor, the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce, for allowing people to visit for free yesterday! Make sure you stop by the Alaska Black Business Expo to see the "Black Lives in Alaska: Journey, Justice, Joy" exhibition. For more details, check out their site! (Instagram)
• The Anchorage School District wants to let everyone know that the Spring Lottery is now open! The deadline to participate is on Mar. 17. Make sure you apply soon. Check out the post for full details! (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update!

— Dominique-Noelle Rafael

About me: Dominique is a self taught UX/UI designer based in Princeton, NJ. She recently graduated from the University of Maryland last spring with a bachelor's degree in Information Science. She is excited to begin working on the Patch newsletter project this year!