Starting Monday, COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings and businesses in Anchorage will be lifted

Also: Millions of federal dollars hang in the balance today in the Alaska Legislature. Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Anchorage Daily News]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, April 28. In today's newsletter: - Starting Monday, COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings and businesses in Anchorage will be lifted. - Millions of federal dollars hang in the balance today in the Alaska Legislature. - Scientists and volunteer whale watchers try to solve a beluga "puzzle." Earlier this spring, the Anchorage Daily News invited candidates for Anchorage mayor to detail their views on key issues and to discuss their priorities if elected. Some of the questions came from readers, and candidates were asked the same questions and given length limits. As we head toward the May 11 runoff election between Forrest Dunbar and Dave Bronson, we've compiled [both candidates' responses in this article](. By the way, [here's a handy guide]( for how to fill out and submit your ballot. Anchorage weather: It's sunny this afternoon a high near 53. Clouds and a 20% chance of rain are predicted tonight, with rain looking more likely by tomorrow night. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Ryan Cunningham, rcunningham@adn.com [Anchorage Assembly removes COVID-19 requirements for businesses and gatherings effective Monday]( [Anchorage Assembly removes COVID-19 requirements for businesses and gatherings effective Monday]( Assembly members voted unanimously to turn many of the municipality's emergency order requirements into recommendations — for example, physical distancing guidelines at businesses and gathering size limits are now advisory, not compulsory. However, the city's mask mandate will remain in effect. A municipal attorney says that businesses will still have the right to implement their own precautions. [Read More]( [Alaska Senate prepares for final vote on COVID-19 emergency bill, with millions in aid at stake]( [Alaska Senate prepares for final vote on COVID-19 emergency bill, with millions in aid at stake]( If the Alaska Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy don’t finalize a COVID-19 emergency bill by Friday, the state could lose out on millions of dollars in federal food assistance and FEMA reimbursements. With time running out, the Senate is expected to vote today on its version of a bill the House passed in March. The bill would retroactively extend Alaska’s disaster declaration through the end of the year. The House speaker has warned that if the measure is significantly amended by the Senate, it will not pass the House. [Read More]( [Congressman Don Young, 87, announces 2022 reelection campaign ]( [Congressman Don Young, 87, announces 2022 reelection campaign]( Young is the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House, having held onto his seat since 1973. In a statement today announcing his reelection plans, he said this is “not the time to take risks on someone untested and unproven,” given the challenges facing Alaska. He was reelected last November with 54.4% of the vote against Alyse Galvin, an independent. [Read More]( [As endangered beluga whales head up the Kenai River, committed volunteers help ‘unravel the puzzle’]( [As endangered beluga whales head up the Kenai River, committed volunteers help ‘unravel the puzzle’]( In the spring, Cook Inlet beluga whales swim into the Kenai River to feed, but the explanation for the timing of their arrival and departure each year — along with the reason for the population's continued decline — continues to elude experts. That's where citizen scientists can help. According to a wildlife biologist who studies belugas, volunteers fill an important gap in helping scientists understand when and how the whales use the river, producing valuable data about beluga habitat and behavior. [Read More]( [Senate challenger Tshibaka shadowed by anti-gay articles, posts attacking the ‘Twilight’ series and questioning election integrity]( [Senate challenger Kelly Tshibaka shadowed by anti-gay articles, posts attacking the ‘Twilight’ series and questioning election integrity]( A recent CNN story reports that U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka previously wrote articles in support of an organization that espoused gay conversion therapy, questioned the integrity of the 2020 election and commented that the “Twilight” books and movies are “evil and we should not read or watch it.” Many of her articles and posts have been deleted, but some are available through archived internet pages. In response, Tshibaka says the CNN article “is just proof that our campaign is gaining momentum, which has Lisa Murkowski and her allies scared to death.” [Read More]( More from the ADN [ Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 183 cases, no deaths reported Wednesday]( [Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 183 cases, no deaths reported Wednesday]( [Read More]( [ Freezer holding human remains found in woods near Tok]( [Freezer holding human remains found in woods near Tok]( [Read More]( [18-year-old dies in hunting accident in Southwest Alaska]( [18-year-old dies in hunting accident in Southwest Alaska]( [Read More]( [Preliminary Anchorage School Board seat E recount shows Higgins holding lead against Graham]( [Preliminary Anchorage School Board seat E recount shows Higgins holding lead against Graham]( [Read More]( [Alaska’s Kamaka Hepa heads to Hawaii to play basketball for Rainbows]( [Alaska’s Kamaka Hepa heads to Hawaii to play basketball for Rainbows]( [Read More]( The ADN relies on readers like you. 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