Anchorage’s large-vehicle fleet is at risk of "imminent collapse"

And: Pilot and 3 passengers killed in plane crash near St. Mary’s ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, September 16. In today's newsletter: - Deferred maintenance and years of budget reductions amount to what city leaders recently characterized as [a systematic underinvestment in Anchorage's fleet of vehicles]( that are essential for infrastructure and public safety. - In [our latest roundup]( of business openings and closings, Anchorage gets a Mexican ice cream shop, a restaurant, a healthy snack bar and a new coffee hut. - A plane carrying three passengers from Bethel [crashed last night in a remote area]( within a mile of the runway at St. Mary’s, killing all four men aboard, authorities say. Writer Merle Colby penned a guidebook to Alaska that was published in 1943 as part of the Federal Writers’ Project. Eight decades later, many of his observations still ring true today, says Alaska science writer Ned Rozell in [his latest column](. Anchorage weather It's partly sunny today with a high near 56 degrees. It's still pretty windy in Anchorage, with a south wind of about 15 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. The forecast calls for patchy fog overnight and into Tuesday morning, followed by a chance of rain. Daytime temperatures will hover in the mid-50s for much of this week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage’s large-vehicle fleet is at risk of ‘imminent collapse’ after years of underinvestment →]( Many of the machines in the city's vehicle fleet are so old and used up that they are breaking down, which is delaying, diminishing and degrading essential services. The worsening liability has the potential to affect core services such as snowplowing and police response times, according to a review of mayoral transition reports. ADVERTISEMENT [Open & Shut: Anchorage gets a Mexican ice cream shop, a restaurant, a healthy snack bar and a coffee hut →]( There’s also a new marijuana dispensary. And the Cafecito Bonito coffee shop in East Anchorage might close, or not. [Pilot and 3 passengers killed in plane crash near St. Mary’s →]( Yute Commuter Service Cessna 207 left Bethel on Sunday night before the pilot requested a special clearance to get into St. Mary’s, investigators say.]( [Report pitches Alaska gas line over imports as cheaper solution to looming energy challenges →]( A long-sought 800-mile gas line would provide cheaper natural gas for use in the state compared to imported gas, according to a preliminary analysis commissioned by the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. [Alaska got the lowest August federal transportation allocation among states at $19 million after error-filled submission →]( Alaska transportation officials had requested[$71.4 million]( from the August redistribution. But $52 million in projects was rejected due partly to errors made in the state’s submission. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Trailblazing star Molly Tuter of Soldotna left a lasting legacy on Alaska basketball →]( [Small plane crashes on Wasilla-area roadway, killing sole occupant →]( [Secret Service under scrutiny after apparent second attempt on Trump’s life →]( [A pipeline has exploded and is on fire in Texas, forcing evacuations →]( [Travel: With northern lights in the sky and fiery leaves on the trees, fall is a great time to explore Alaska →]( [‘All good here’ was among final texts sent from doomed Titan submersible, hearing reveals →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States