🌱 Which UAF chancellor finalist will you question during next week’s forums?
Fairbanks, Alaska Patch AM: a 4 min readWhat's up Fairbanks! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Which UAF chancellor finalist will you question during next week’s forums?
- How you could snag a new “rural recreation” lot this June
- How rare are the old bank notes once issued in Fairbanks?
Also on today's calendar: First Friday with Weyekin Studio and 5 more events.
And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Lois B.!
Today's riddle: What gets wetter & wetter as it dries? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Turning cloudy, with a high of 53 and low of 33 degrees.
- Friday: Cloudy, temps: high: 55, low: 37.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 54 and low of 32 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. UAF chancellor finalists, campus visit dates announced (uaf.edu) — Four finalists to become the next UAF chancellor will be in Fairbanks May 4–8, each spending a day meeting campus groups and holding public forums on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus and online. Residents can listen in, ask questions, and help size up the candidates before a new leader is chosen later in May. 
2. Fairbanks creates new land use zone with sales to start in June (alaskasnewssource.com) — Fairbanks North Star Borough is opening 54 new “rural recreation” parcels north of town for private, non-commercial use, with sales starting in mid-to-late June. Accessed by trail near the Chatanika River, the lots will be sold via lottery, sealed bids, and online auction, and are open to all Alaska residents, not out-of-staters.
3. 1863-1935 Alaska National Bank Notes (numismaticnews.net) — If you’ve ever wondered about Fairbanks’ earliest money, this deep dive traces how the First National Bank of Fairbanks issued scarce, highly collectible notes before Alaska statehood. It explains the different note series, seal colors, and how Fairbanks, Juneau, and Ketchikan banks helped connect the territory to the national currency system.
4. Extreme Temperature Diary- Wednesday April 29, 2026/Main Topic: New Heavier Rainfall Data via Climate Central (guyonclimate.com) — Fairbanks is highlighted among U.S. cities seeing some of the biggest jumps in hourly rainfall intensity since 1970, with a 37% increase that raises local flash‑flood risk. The article explains how a warming climate is supercharging downpours nationwide, outlines projected future extremes for Alaska, and points residents to federal tools for checking neighborhood flood hazards and preparedness options.
📸 Around Fairbanks
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Fairbanks
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
NBG Coptic Meet Up →
Evergreen Tattoo Company, back parking, 4772, Fairbanks
1:00 pm
Friday May 1
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
Spring Juried Exhibition: Interdependence
Fairbanks Arts Association, 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks -
First Friday with Weyekin Studio →
The Roaming Root Cellar, 1651 College Rd, Fairbanks
4:00 pm -
Kids' Night In at the Fairbanks Children's Museum →
Fairbanks Children's Museum, 302 Cushman St Suite 101, Fairbanks
5:30 pm -
Building with Trees →
The Folk School Fairbanks, 2300 Airport Way Cabin 66, Fairbanks
9:00 am -
(B/G) Soccer vs. Colony ( 8 / 10 / 12 / 2pm) - Turf Fields
West Valley High Fairbanks, AK 99701
4:00 pm -
Yukon Quest Alaska $12,000 Raffle!! Benefit Sled Dog Race Saturday May 2nd at Elks Lodge, Fairbanks →
Elks Lodge, 1003 Pioneer Rd, Fairbanks
5:00 pm -
4th Annual Monte-Soiree and Fundraiser. →
Humble Roots Beer Project, 314 Wendell Ave, Fairbanks
5:30 pm
Friday May 1
Saturday May 2
🗓 Events Nearby
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Spring Juried Exhibition: Interdependence
Fairbanks Arts Association, 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks -
Alaska International Business Center
8 Star Events Center, 1485 30th Ave, South Van Horn
12:00 pm -
Girls Soccer vs Monroe
Turf Fields Complex, 1966 Davis Rd, Fairbanks
5:30 pm -
Boys Soccer vs Hutch
Turf Fields Complex, 1966 Davis Rd, Fairbanks
7:30 pm
Friday May 1
Tuesday May 5
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Missing cat.
Has been missing since April 9 in Island homes. If you’ve seen him please let me know. Long hair Russian blue with green eyes. He is chipped. (Nextdoor Island Homes)
Ok Fairbanks! 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 towel (Thank you Beth H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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