Email not displaying correctly? View the web version

Today's sponsor:

Good afternoon. It’s Tuesday, Dec. 23.

In today's newsletter:

The Municipality of Anchorage’s development arm is soliciting proposals to convert an empty lot on Fireweed Lane into new affordable housing.
The Mat-Su Borough must repay nearly $6 million to the federal government after officials denied its appeal to further reduce the amount owed for transit grants tied to the defunct Knik Arm ferry project.
The Trump administration wants the public to weigh in as it prepares for a review of the federal subsistence program in Alaska, an action that AFN fears will weaken the program.

In his latest column, historian David Reamer delves into the story of a Harvard-trained lawyer's 1930 flight from Boston to Alaska. Laurence Lombard wasn’t exactly an experienced pilot, and didn’t even have a firm flight plan when he embarked on his quest, Reamer writes.

Anchorage weather

It's sunny today with a high of minus 1 and a low of minus 4. Looking ahead, we can expect cloudier conditions Wednesday and Thursday as daytime high temperatures approach 10 degrees, with a chance of snow returning to the forecast Friday.

Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today.

— Vicky Ho, vho@adn.com

P.S. In case you missed it, we've launched a year-end fundraising campaign to level up community support for our local news coverage. You can help us close out 2025 by laying the foundation for a more informed, connected Alaska in 2026 — visit ADN.com/donate to contribute or learn more.

Anchorage wants a vacant Midtown lot turned into affordable housing →

The Anchorage Community Development Authority is accepting letters of interest from building and housing firms that have an idea about how to “design, develop and construct a multifamily workforce housing project” on the 20,900-square-foot lot.

Trump administration opens vast majority of Alaska petroleum reserve to leasing →

The updated management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska will replace a Biden-era plan that sharply limited oil and gas leasing in the reserve.

Mat-Su Borough must repay millions in grants for failed Knik Arm ferry after feds reject appeal →

The grants paid for infrastructure to support the defunct ferry project originally intended to carry passengers between Port MacKenzie and Anchorage. (via Mat-Su Sentinel)