Anchorage Assembly paves the way for housing development on Midtown lot

And: State homeschool programs can continue with simple law change, Legislature’s attorneys suggest ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Good afternoon. It’s Thursday, April 25. In today's newsletter: - The Anchorage Assembly [approved the rezoning of a Midtown lot]( owned by the city that has been occupied by a large homeless encampment, paving the way for the land to be developed into housing. - The Alaska Legislature’s attorneys suggested that the state's public [homeschool programs can continue operating]( constitutionally with a relatively simple change in state law. - Mat-Su animal control officials have started enforcing a policy requiring anyone who finds an animal to [turn it over to the borough shelter]( instead of local rescue organizations. Alaska garden writer and podcaster Jeff Lowenfels figures there's one more week until the outdoor growing season, maybe two. Regardless, there are plenty of things Alaska gardeners need to take care of as the season arrives. From mulch to composting, [check out Jeff's tips]( for a successful growing season. Anchorage weather It's mostly sunny today with a high near 53 degrees. The forecast now calls for a slight chance of isolated rain showers on Friday, but sunny skies should return over the weekend. Daytime temperatures will continue to hover in the low 50s for the next several days. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage Assembly approves rezone of old National Archives lot in Midtown, paving way for housing development →]( The city wants[ to sell the land]( and the rezone will allow the land to be developed into high-density multifamily housing, such as apartments, along with some commercial uses. It comes as Anchorage is experiencing a dearth of available housing and as city officials look for ways to encourage new housing development. ADVERTISEMENT [Alaska homeschool programs can continue with simple law change, Legislature’s attorneys suggest →]( The Alaska House passed a non-binding resolution calling for a 14-month stay on a court decision that blocked public funds from being used for private school tuition. [Mat-Su Borough now requires all ‘found’ animals get turned over to shelter →]( Some local rescue organizations are expressing concern that the decision to enforce a pre-existing policy could put animals at risk. [In Donlin lawsuit, Murkowski, Sullivan and Peltola come to mining project’s defense →]( Alaska’s bipartisan congressional delegation is siding with boosters of the major proposed Donlin mine in an [ongoing lawsuit]( filed by tribal governments that seeks to invalidate the project’s federal environmental approvals. (via the Northern Journal) [This UAA freshman is tearing through the track and field record book →]( At just 17 years old, Joshua Caleb is already setting program and conference records for the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Palmer council rejects bid to downsize plans for new library →]( [Alaska House panel removes proposal to raise state’s age of sexual consent to 18 →]( [What fliers need to know about new refund rules for airlines →]( [Pilot can’t fly marijuana to retail stores in Alaska even if sales are legal, federal judges rule →]( [Buying and selling a home will change soon. Here’s what to know. →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States