Developer: Major project on block that housed 4th Avenue Theatre is moving ahead

And: The Northwest Arctic Borough is the first Alaska region in years to arm a VPSO ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Good afternoon. It’s Tuesday, May 28. In today's newsletter: - A project to overhaul nearly an entire block in the heart of downtown Anchorage [is moving ahead steadily]( though not as fast as some city residents would like. - A Ketchikan fisherman has pleaded guilty to [killing an endangered sperm whale]( in a case that highlights a long, little known conflict between the whales and the fishermen whose sablefish catch they have learned to raid. - For the first time in nearly a decade, a Village Public Safety Officer has [started carrying a firearm]( on the job in rural Alaska. Some scientific questions require researchers to travel a long way — to the top of a mountain or the bottom of an ocean, perhaps. But some adventures can take place right in one's back yard, as science writer Ned Rozell recently found out when he [teamed up with a researcher to explore]( a peculiar hole in the forest floor in Fairbanks that seemed to be expelling air. Anchorage weather It's partly sunny today with a high near 59 degrees. Rain showers will be likely overnight and there's a good chance of rain on Wednesday. We should see mostly cloudy skies for the rest of the week, with daytime temperatures hovering in the high 50s and low 60s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Despite rising costs, developer says major downtown Anchorage project on block that once housed the 4th Avenue Theatre is moving ahead →]( Historical archival work for the theater has moved ahead, and ground work and site preparation will take place this summer. One building is yet to be demolished. ADVERTISEMENT [Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Bosco’s has evolved into a hub for comics, cards and games culture →]( Bosco’s has grown into a vital resource for Anchorage customers and a hub for activity in the world of comics, cards, collectibles and games. Although the store has called multiple locations home along Spenard Road, owner John Weddleton never left. [Decades ago, sperm whales learned how to raid fishermen’s lines of black cod. Now, an Alaska man is charged with killing one. →]( Sperm whales learned to pluck commercial fishermen’s catch from their gear. Scientists call the phenomenon depredation, and an innovative collaboration between the fishermen and scientists in Alaska has long looked for ways to avoid conflicts. [The Northwest Arctic Borough is the first Alaska region in years to arm a VPSO →]( The borough armed one of its VPSOs in April, [after making their vetting and training process more rigorous](. Ultimately, the main goal of arming the officers is to make their job safer and help them better protect communities. [Many Alaska lawmakers remain unopposed with election filing deadline looming →]( With just days remaining before the filing deadline for Alaska’s legislative candidates, more than a third of the state’s 40 House members are poised to run for reelection unopposed. [National Park Service disputes report that it tried to limit display of US flags in Denali →]( The National Park Service said it never ordered the removal of the American flag from vehicles involved with a construction project inside Denali National Park and Preserve despite reports circulated by right-wing media and amplified by Alaska U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Demonstrators call for Anchorage Police to release body camera video of shooting →]( [Fairbanks man killed in motorcycle crash near downtown Anchorage →]( [Dimond girls stun South in double overtime, while South boys complete unbeaten season at state soccer →]( [Trump makes sweeping, potentially illegal promises to donors on audacious fundraising tour →]( [Freshmen phenoms claim titles and several champions repeat on Day 2 of state track and field championships →]( [Travel: FAA reauthorization bill addresses aviation issues important to Alaska →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States