Anchorage government faces big staffing and financial issues, reports show

And: Alaska Democratic Party quickly endorses Harris as nominee for president ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, July 22. In today's newsletter: - As Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s administration takes over city operations, a transition report from former Mayor Dave Bronson describes [significant challenges across the municipality’s]( departments and agencies. - Several of Alaska’s Democratic elected officials have backed a decision by the Alaska Democratic Party [to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris]( as the nominee for president. - Alaska's education department [wants to hire an external evaluator]( to study how a landmark measure is being implemented to improve reading outcomes for students between kindergarten and third grade. Alaska's Nogahabara Dunes, 35 miles west of Huslia, has proven to be a site richer than many archaeologists will encounter during their entire careers. In [his latest column]( science writer Ned Rozell ruminates on the dunes and the discoveries they've provided, including a variety of oval tools that ancient peoples had chipped from glassy volcanic rock long ago. Anchorage weather It's mostly cloudy today with a high of 70 degrees, and there's a slight chance of rain this afternoon. The chance for precipitation will last through Tuesday, but we should see mostly sunny skies on Wednesday. Daytime temperatures will hover in the low 70s for the next few days. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Transition documents expose big staffing, financial problems across Anchorage city government, threatening core services →]( Across dozens of summaries in the report, core themes emerged: Keeping staff and filling vacancies is increasingly difficult, crippling the operations of some departments. Major fiscal problems, along with old and failing vehicles, equipment and software, will soon start jeopardizing basic services that residents depend on. ADVERTISEMENT [Alaska Democratic Party quickly endorses Harris as nominee for president →]( The Alaska Democratic Party joined many national Democratic leaders who voiced support for Harris as the Democratic nominee in the wake of Biden’s announcement that he would not seek reelection. [Alaska’s education department wants a $750,000 external evaluator to study law aimed at improving reading ability →]( Legislators appropriated $5.2 million this year to fund the Alaska Reads Act that Gov. Mike Dunleavy then vetoed. [Photos: Thousands turn out for the Arctic Thunder air show →]( Mostly clear skies added to the high-summer feel of the day as JBER hosted big crowds for their biennial open house event. [New blood reigns supreme at Crow Pass Crossing with first-time men’s and women’s race winners →]( Anchorage’s Wesley McQuillin and Fairbanks’ Jenna DiFolco were the first to cross the finish line after completing the grueling 23-mile trail race from Girdwood to Eagle River. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [1 dead, 2 injured in Seward Highway crash south of Anchorage →]( [Coast Guard IDs 3 people aboard plane missing in Southeast Alaska →]( [Alaska demographers predict population drop, a switch from prior forecasts →]( [Biden’s withdrawal injects uncertainty into wars, trade disputes and other foreign policy challenges →]( [Would Trump privatize weather forecasting? Here's what to know. →]( [Travel: With seat sizes and passenger priorities changing, the cheapest ticket isn’t always the best →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States