By Leroy Polk & Cameron Mackintosh: UPDATE: Father allowed to plan son’s funeral outside of jail while facing charges
A U.S. magistrate judge has agreed to release Anthony Johnson from jail for a few days while his family plans the funeral of Johnson’s 5-year-old son.

Johnson is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, after his son found and fatally shot himself with a gun in the family’s master bedroom.
 
 
 
 
By Caslon Hatch: ‘Bathroom Bill’ enforcement, vehicle thefts discussed at Assembly public safety meeting
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) – At an Anchorage Assembly public safety committee meeting Wednesday, Anchorage Police Chief Justin Doll said it would be extremely difficult to enforce Proposition 1 if passed during the April Municipal election.
 
 
 
 
APD investigating armed robbery on Debarr Rd.
 
 
 
 
By Kalinda Kindle: Opponents of Pebble Mine plan speak out at town hall meeting
 
 
 
 
By Jack Carney: Age of Alaska’s fishermen on the rise
According to a study by the University of Fairbanks, the average age of an Alaska commercial fisherman is now 50 years old.

Paula Cullenburg, Director of Alaska’s Sea Grant Program at UAF, says that’s bad news for sustaining the state’s economy, especially for those in coastal communities.

 
 
 
 
By Lauren Maxwell: Property owners near Brother Francis Shelter say they’re staying put in the neighborhood
 
 
 
 
Moms Everyday Alaska: Chocolate popcorn reindeer

By Leroy Polk: Richardson Highway closed following avalanche and extreme snow
 
 
 
 
By KTUU Staff: UPDATE: Man identified in Tuesday night shooting incident According to police, the suspect is Jeffery Cosgrove, 35.

 
 
 
 
Women In Safe Homes Receives $5,000 Basic Needs Grant
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press: Alaska edible pot maker suspended amid product testing probe
 
 
 
 
By Becky Bohrer: Alaska lawmaker takes fight over conflicts to the voters
Rep. Jason Grenn of Anchorage is helping lead a bipartisan effort to put a proposal on the 2018 ballot. It would provide greater scrutiny and limits on lawmakers’ conflicts of interest, travel and pay.
 
 
 
 
By KTVA Web Staff: Young named to key tax-bill role, takes prominent House title
 
 
 
 
By Kyle Hopkins: What this cash-filled fish box says about the Alaska drug trade
The shipper, who is not being named here because he has not been charged with a crime, can fight the complaint and argue that the money is not subject to forfeiture. If the U.S. Attorney’s office succeeds, the city of Kodiak would be eligible to apply for up to 80 percent of the seized money for local government use.
 
 
 
 
By Rebecca Palsha: Voters may decide if Whittier Police can write parking tickets in Girdwood
 
 
 
 
By Kyle Hopkins: In some stolen cars, Anchorage laboratory finds invisible meth residue

 
 
 
 
By Kalinda Kindle: Anchorage Assembly passes quicker clean-up time for homeless camps

 
 
 
 
Looking Back — Nov. 29, 2017
 
 
 
 
Moms Everyday Alaska: Holiday wreath popcorn treats

On 12/05/17 12:24 a.m., Dispatch received a report of child death in the 5700 block of Rocky Mountain Court.

The preliminary investigation found the child died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The child found the gun inside the drawer of a bedroom nightstand.

The victim has been identified as Christian Johnnson (5-years-old).

This is a death investigation. The case will be referred to the Anchorage District Attorney’s office for possible charges.

This is a tragic reminder about gun safety and children. Don’t leave guns unattended and easily accessible, use a gun lock or secure guns in a safe.

APD Case: 17-49834
 
 
 
 
By Leroy Polk: Earthquake wakes Anchorage, Mat-Su residents early Tuesday
 
 
 
 
By Daniella Rivera: New details released in ‘chilling’ Mat-Su murder
Palmer Superior Court Judge Vanessa White referenced a case she presided over that recently gained media attention.

“It so happens, I just finished a trial for a young man who was charged with some assaults and slipped his very well-intentioned third parties in the middle of the night and went out and kidnapped and assaulted the same victim again, so, I’m sort of hyper-vigilant at this point, perhaps more hyper-vigilant than I’ve been in the past,” said White, while considering the arguments of both parties.

Jordan King awaits sentencing after re-victimizing the woman he originally assaulted after running away from his parents, who were serving as his third-party custodians.
 
 
 
 

By KTVA Web Staff: Stolen delivery truck crashes into Church of Love
 
 
 
 
By Chris Klint: Troopers investigating Anchorage man’s Jim Creek death
An online dispatch identified the man found Saturday as 36-year-old Weston Gladney
 
 
 
 
By Kalinda Kindle: A neighbor says she is worried about the crime in her community
 
 
 
 
By Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media: University of Alaska’s first Rhodes Scholar: A voracious reader with deep King Cove roots
 
 
 
 
By Beth Verge: Lawmakers, AGDC discuss latest in AKLNG developments
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press: Premera to reimburse Alaska state insurance program $25M
 
 
 
 
Nurse-Family partnership program
 
 
 
 
By Melissa Frey: Icy start for Anchorage as rain turns to evening snow
 
 
 
 
By Heather Hintze: ACS to lay off 30 people
 
 
 
 
Congratulations Natalia Sears!
By Megan Mazurek: Teacher of the Week: Natalia Sears
Natalia Sears sees math as a universal language that’s applicable in real-world situations.

“There’s no reason to be scared of math,” said Sears, a high school math teacher at Dimond. “I just want them to build the confidence in math, rather than just memorize formulas.”

Christmas tree fundraiser brings awareness to human trafficking
 
 
 
 
By Blake Essig: UAF holds its first ever drone races
 
 
 
 
By Cameron Mackintosh: Iditarod developing new kennel management program
 
 
 
 
By Sean Maguire: Alaska Communications set to lay off 5 percent of its workforce
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press: Community meets to address broadband need in Fairbanks

 
 
 
 
In rare move, Alaska GOP jumps into Anchorage race for mayor
 
 
 
 
Moms Everyday Alaska: Festive popcorn trees

Man dead in late-night Muldoon shooting
 
 
 
By Victoria Taylor: Bethel Police investigating death of woman discovered lying in snow
 
 
 
 
Alaska GOP moves to block rogue lawmakers from party primary
 
 
 
 
By Cameron Mackintosh: Two moose calves likely die after eating poisonous ornamental plants

“Some plants have cyanide in them like Japanese Yew and Chokecherry and other things that we plant to make our houses look good but unfortunately it poisons moose pretty quickly,” Dyer said.

Chokecherry trees are a common culprit in moose poisonings. According to horticulturist Steph Daniels, Chokecherry is sold at some Anchorage nurseries, and is a common feature in many lawns across town.
 
 
 
 
By Sean Maguire: Snow tubing opens for the season at Arctic Valley
 
 
 
 
Congratulations Sadie Bjornsen, Rosie Brennan, Erik Bjornsen and Scott Patterson!
By Patrick Enslow: Another podium performance for Bjornsen at the World Cup
 
 
 
 
By Sean Maguire: Mumps outbreak spreads with 71 confirmed cases in Anchorage
 
 
 
 
Alyeska to open skiing season on December 9

Anchorage woman sentenced to one year for assaulting toddler
Kevin said Chase suffered multiple skull fractures and will have lasting affects from the trauma.
 
 
 
 
Dog recovering after fall from overpass onto Glenn Highway
 
 
 
 
Police, firefighters clear 5-car Tudor Road pile-up
 
 
 
 
Drug dog finds methamphetamine welded in heavy equipment
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press & Sean Maguire: UPDATE: Alaska Senators applaud the passage of the Senate tax bill 51-49
 
 
 
 
By Victoria Taylor: Marijuana Control Board develops working group to address testing
While not established yet, the group is expected to be made of members from multiple platforms including cultivators, scientists and even government employees.
 
 
 
 
By Peggy McCormack: Proposed Hatcher Pass ski area seeks name
Submissions will be taken until December 17, with a decision for the winning name to be made in late January.

You can send your ideas to skihatcherpass@gmail.com. You can also visit https://www.skihatcherpass.org/skiareaname or https://www.facebook.com/skihatcherpass or mail to P.O. Box 924, Palmer, AK 99645.
 
 
 
 
By Mike Ross: Making play things for wild things
 
 
 
 
By Sidney Sullivan: New high speed internet infrastructure launches services in Arctic Alaska
 
 
 
 
By 49 Writers: Literary Roundup | November 24-December 7, 2017
 
 
 
 
By Craig Medred: Own history
 
 
 
 
By Suzanne Downing: Scandal: Former Alaska Democratic Party staffer alleges sexual assault
 
 
 
 
By Suzanne Downing: Risky business: Anchorage channels its inner Detroit
 
 
 
 

By Naomi Klouda, AJC: Rogoff hires additional legal help to fight financial probe
 
 
 
 
The Alaska Philosophaster: Alaskan Spark
Some things have changed since 1992, when I worked in it with the BLM Alaska Fire Service. But not a lot. Aircraft and safety standards have improved, fire shelters and retardant chemicals have changed.
 
 
 
 

By Barbara Hunt Frontiersman.com: Pope’s astronomer comes to Palmer
 
 
 
 
Steller Watch December 1st: ~92
The Sea Lion of the Month for December was nominated by a dedicated Steller Watch Citizen Scientist: ~92! This sea lion is a male that was born on Gillon Point on Agattu Island (this island is assigned the ~ symbol). When we captured him June 24, 2013 to he weighed just over 60 Ibs (27.4 kg) and was over 3.5 ft long (111 cm) and almost 3 ft (83 cm) around his torso (measured just below the front flippers). not the heaviest pup we have seen but quite long!
 
 
 
 
Last Child in the Woods to First Child in the Garden

Congratulations Anita Laulainen!
Alaska’s newest license plate design includes northern lights
 
 
 
 
Restorative justice workers hope to head off juvenile crime
 
 
 
 
By Ariane Aramburo: 1 arrested after burglary at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Spenard
 
 
 
 
By Victoria Taylor: Muni completes first-phase in building new substance abuse treatment facility
 
 
 
 
By Kortnie Horazdovsky: Court Documents: Woman stabbed woman, drove her down highway
 
 
 
 
Congratulations!
By Sean Maguire: APD graduates 18 recruits and closes in on a long-held staffing target
 
 
 
 
By Rebecca Palsha: Sexual harassment affects more than just celebrities, consultant says
 
 
 
 
By Samantha Angaiak: UAA School of Nursing weighs in on nursing shortage
 
 
 
 
Alaskans to rally in support of Net Neutrality
In Alaska, supporters of Net Neutrality are organizing protests outside of Verizon stores, joining a national day of protest on Dec. 7, 2017.
 
 
 
 
Earthscope US Array Project-Alaska
 
 
 
 
Story Time with Aunt Phil: Russian Jack
 
 
 
 
From Alaska to Amazonia: first global maps of traits that drive vegetation growth

How a Wasilla man, out on bail, was able to attack his victim again
 
 
 
 
Wasilla man guilty of woman’s kidnapping, attempted murder
 
 
 
 
By Leroy Polk: Seward man arrested after shooting neighbor in the head with shotgun
 
 
 
 
By Kalinda Kindle: Alaska Senators say they plan to support individuals choosing to go without health care
“You can pay now or you can pay later, but if you are forced to go to the ER that could potentially bankrupt you,” Horton said.

He says medical care is expensive already.

“If you are uninsured and you break a leg you are going to have to the ER and that is where insurance is going up because ER’s have to over right the cost for people that are uninsured,” Horton said.
 
 
 
 
By Associated Press: Number of jobs in Prudhoe Bay region drops to decade low
Alaska’s Energy Desk reported Wednesday that the region had a record 13,485 jobs in March 2015, but that number has since dropped to 8,923.
 
 
 
 
By Cameron Mackintosh: School Board sends $50 million bond package proposal to assembly
 
 
 
 
By Samantha Angaiak: Performance event aims to inspire wellness through Native humor, art
 
 
 
 
Randi Zuckerberg calls out Alaska Airlines over ‘lewd’ passenger
 
 
 
 
Cow moose guarding dead calf near Spenard home
Marsh said that cow moose often remain with dead calves but will move on shortly, so no action was taken regarding the cow by Fish and Game. Under state law, homeowners must remove carcasses of dead wildlife on their property.

“Although the dwelling is unoccupied, it’s still got a landowner and that person will be responsible for removing the carcass,” Marsh said.
 
 
 
 
Wasilla first-grader wins $25,000 scholarship
 
 
 
 
Workforce Wednesday: Young Fishermen’s Summit
The Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit is December 6-8 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.

You can register for the summit, here.