A mess on Anchorage’s trails, and a vexing conversation about homelessness

And: From right-on-red to homelessness to zoning, Anchorage Assembly to vote on a bevy of proposals this week ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, May 20. In today's newsletter: - Officials, trail users and unhoused people themselves [say they’re seeing more camps]( more ecological damage and more destruction on Anchorage's trails this year, a trend that is likely to continue without stable shelter options. - The Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to [vote on numerous proposals this week]( including prohibiting right-on-red turns downtown, a new South Anchorage city park, additional rules for homeless camps and more. - As the dust settled after the last frantic 24 hours of the legislative session that concluded last week, some lawmakers [wondered if their final votes]( could lead to a constitutional challenge. Microplastics are fragments of the plastics we use many times each day. These particles — most that you need a microscope to see — are in the air we breathe as well as the water surrounding us. A study [sampling microplastics across the state of Alaska]( is discovering where they are the most concentrated, science writer Ned Rozell explains, along with some clues as to why. Anchorage weather It's mostly sunny today with a high near 57 degrees, but it could be the last day of sunshine Anchorage sees for a while. Starting Tuesday, we'll have several chances of rain this week and a mix of overcast and mostly cloudy skies. Daytime temperatures will hover in the low- to mid-50s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Spring reveals a mess on Anchorage’s trails, and a vexing conversation about homelessness →]( Some say they feel heartbroken by the state of Anchorage’s trails at the same time they feel compassion for homeless people trying to make it in the city. Ten people have died outdoors so far this year. But even if the city has more latitude to clear camps, a core issue remains: People who have nowhere indoors to live will live outside in the city's public spaces. ADVERTISEMENT [From right-on-red to homelessness to zoning, Anchorage Assembly to vote on a bevy of proposals Tuesday →]( Here’s a roundup of proposals to watch, including a summer homeless shelter expansion and a new conservation park in South Anchorage. [After the Alaska House worked past midnight, some wonder: does the legislative session deadline matter? →]( Five bills passed the House after midnight in the early hours of Thursday morning, despite a constitutional requirement that the Legislature conclude its work at the end of the 121st day of the session, which was Wednesday. [Dedicated to Diane: Sheryl Mohwinkel-Fleming and others continued to honor her late mother at 2024 Gold Nugget Triathlon →]( Sheryl Mohwinkel-Fleming won the 41st annual Gold Nugget Triathlon on Sunday and was joined by dozens of other competitors in honoring Diane Mohwinkel, who was a fixture at the Alaska race. [After several deadly drownings, Alaska Legislature votes to require harbor safety ladders →]( Harbors owned and operated by Alaska’s cities and boroughs will be required to install safety ladders usable by someone who falls into the water. (via Alaska Beacon) ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Man dies in Homer moose attack, troopers report →]( [Dive team finds bodies of 2 men dead inside plane found upside down in Alaska lake →]( [Airports will be packed this summer. That makes finding good direct flights even more valuable for Alaska travelers. →]( [Prosecution rests in Donald Trump’s hush money case, and defense now gets its turn to call witnesses →]( [Reigning state long jump champions break records at Region IV track and field championships →]( [Iran’s president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States