A contentious election for Anchorage mayor heads for the finish line

Plus: Alaskans are embracing home-schooling more than any other state during the pandemic. Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Anchorage Daily News]( [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, May 10. In today's newsletter: - A contentious election for Anchorage mayor heads for the finish line - Alaskans are embracing home-schooling more than any other state during the pandemic - A new survey sheds light on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Alaska Tomorrow is election day, Anchorage voters! The runoff election for mayor reaches its conclusion this week after a [testy campaign]( — more on that below. If you still need to turn in your ballot, you have until 8 p.m. tomorrow to bring it to one of the [18 secure drop boxes]( around the city. [Here's more about how to make sure your vote is counted](, and here's the ADN's [complete guide to the runoff election](, including candidate Q&As and other resources. Anchorage weather: It's mostly cloudy with a high near 57 this afternoon. There's a chance of rain for tonight and early tomorrow morning, with some scattered showers possible later in the day. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Ryan Cunningham, rcunningham@adn.com [ The runoff election for mayor is nearing a finish, revealing deep divisions on how Anchorage should move ahead]( [A contentious election for Anchorage mayor is nearing the finish line, revealing deep divisions on how the city should move ahead]( Candidates Dave Bronson and Forrest Dunbar each say the other is a political extremist — Bronson has called Dunbar a "radical leftist," while Dunbar has said Bronson is connected to far-right “fringe elements” in politics. Simmering beneath the surface of the election is an Anchorage community at odds over how the city should address the challenges it faces, particularly the [COVID-19 pandemic](, its [economic recovery]( and a [homelessness crisis](. [Read More]( [ Many US families have chosen home school during the pandemic. In Alaska, the rate is especially high.]( [Many US families have chosen home school during the pandemic. In Alaska, the rate is especially high.]( From April to September last year, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that nationwide, households that opted to home-school their children [doubled](. Over that period, Alaska saw the biggest difference in home-schooling rates compared to any other state, and the state also has the largest percentage of students home-schooling. School officials in Alaska believe homeschooling rates will remain high, even after the pandemic. The Anchorage School District's deputy superintendent says that, ultimately, online learning is “here to stay,” and the district “need(s) to work within it.” [Read More]( [ Statewide survey sheds light on why many Alaskans are reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine]( [Statewide survey sheds light on why many Alaskans are reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine]( A report compiled by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services showed about a 36% vaccine hesitancy rate, meaning that that percentage of respondents was unsure or undecided about whether to get vaccinated. Respondents gave a number of reasons for not getting vaccinated, such as concerns about side effects and safety, and perceptions that COVID-19 risks were low, according to the report. Also, one researcher says that only 83% of respondents knew they were eligible. [Read More]( [Kids 12 and up could be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine within days]( [Here are Alaska officials’ answers to commonly asked questions about children and the COVID-19 vaccine]( On Monday, the FDA [authorized]( the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 12 years old. The decision means that roughly 40,000 more Alaskans age 12 through 15 will soon be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine — and state health officials say the state has all the supplies needed to vaccinate them. So what studies informed the FDA's decision, and when and where can parents bring their kids to get vaccinated? [Read More]( [MAKing It: Staying afloat, even on rough seas]( [SPONSORED: MAKing It: Staying afloat, even on rough seas]( Presented by First National Bank Alaska: The Alaska family behind Whittier-based Babkin Charters has learned to adapt to whatever fate has in store - from stormy weather to an oil spill to a global pandemic. [Read More]( More from the ADN [An Alaska labor union official says its president sent the wrong message on Bronson flyer. The union president says he won’t retract his statement.]( [An Alaska labor union official says its president sent the wrong message on Bronson flyer. The union president says he won’t retract his statement.]( [Read More]( [Sightseeing helicopter crashes in Palmer with 2 passengers aboard]( [Sightseeing helicopter crashes in Palmer with 2 passengers aboard]( [Read More]( [ Man struck by SUV dies; hit-and-run suspect in custody, police say]( [Man struck by SUV dies; hit-and-run suspect in custody, police say]( [Read More]( [A rundown of pandemic-related developments affecting travel in Alaska, the U.S. and Europe]( [A rundown of pandemic-related developments affecting travel in Alaska, the U.S. and Europe]( [Read More]( [ Whatever happened to the ‘ton of gold’ ship that kickstarted the Klondike Gold Rush?]( [Whatever happened to the ‘ton of gold’ ship that kickstarted the Klondike Gold Rush?]( [Read More]( The ADN relies on readers like you. [Get digital access to the ADN for about $4 per week]( and help us cover the news that matters most here in Alaska. 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