Rejected by the Anchorage Assembly, Mayor Bronson names his city librarian nominee as his new chief of staff

Plus: An Alaska state trooper was shot several times while attempting an arrest in Anchor Point, court documents say. 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, August 25. In today's newsletter: - After the Anchorage Assembly rejects Mayor Bronson’s choice for city librarian, he immediately names her his new chief of staff. - An Alaska state trooper was shot several times while attempting an arrest in Anchor Point, court documents say. - A flightseeing crash that killed six people near Ketchikan occurred in a valley with low clouds reported, according to an NTSB preliminary report. Have you signed up for the ADN's opinions newsletter? 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Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Ryan Cunningham, rcunningham@adn.com [Anchorage Assembly rejects Bronson’s choice for city librarian; he immediately names her his new chief of staff]( [Anchorage Assembly rejects Bronson’s choice for city librarian; he immediately names her his new chief of staff]( Sami Graham, a former Anchorage principal and teacher who unsuccessfully ran for school board in April, will serve as Mayor Dave Bronson's chief of staff after the Assembly opposed her nomination for city librarian. Additionally, "in her capacity as chief of staff, Mayor Bronson has also delegated his authority to oversee the Anchorage Public Library to Mrs. Graham," a statement from the Bronson administration said. Bronson's prior chief of staff, Craig Campbell, will now be director of policy and programs, a new role. [Read More]( [Trooper shot several times while attempting an arrest in Anchor Point reported his own service weapon malfunctioned, court documents say]( [Trooper shot several times while attempting an arrest in Anchor Point reported his own service weapon malfunctioned, court documents say]( The Alaska state trooper had multiple surgeries for an arm wound and suffered at least one fractured rib when bullets struck his ballistics vest, an affidavit said. Bret Herrick, 60, was [charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault]( in connection with the shooting. He was arrested Tuesday morning after an extensive search. [Read More]( [Flightseeing crash that killed 6 near Ketchikan occurred in a valley with low clouds reported, says NTSB preliminary report]( [Flightseeing crash that killed 6 near Ketchikan occurred in a valley with low clouds reported, says NTSB preliminary report]( It was pilot Rolf Lanzendorfer’s second flightseeing trip of the day, according to the report. Pilots helping with search and rescue efforts described clouds as low as 600 to 800 feet above ground level in in the area. The floatplane crashed at about 1,750 feet altitude, according to the report. A final report is not expected until next year. Among the factors the NTSB will examine are weather, mechanical issues, and flight operations in general. [Read More]( [Denali National Park closes road near halfway point for rest of season due to ongoing landslide]( [Denali National Park closes road near halfway point for rest of season due to ongoing landslide]( The National Park Service says westbound traffic beyond Mile 43 will only be allowed for essential purposes. The closure will impact the Wonder Lake Campground near Mile 89 and the Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66, the park service says. The continuing landslide at Polychrome Pass has led to the road rapidly deteriorating in recent years, causing concern about how to maintain the road while safely accommodating visitors. [Read More]( [Curious Alaska: What’s the loneliest place in Alaska?]( [Curious Alaska: What’s the loneliest place in Alaska?]( It matters, of course, how you define "loneliest." If loneliness is a feeling, the loneliest place on earth could be a nursing home no one visits, or a barstool with a heartbroken person sitting on it. With the lowest population density in the nation, Alaska contains more lonely places than any other U.S. state. But if you’re talking about sheer geographic isolation, St. Matthew Island is probably the winner. [Read More]( More from the ADN [Alaska reports 13 COVID-19 deaths and 593 new cases Tuesday]( [Alaska reports 13 COVID-19 deaths and 593 new cases Tuesday]( [Read More]( [Anchorage performing arts center to require vaccination or negative COVID test for live events]( [Anchorage performing arts center to require vaccination or negative COVID test for live events]( [Read More]( [Alaska Federation of Natives postpones annual convention to December amid surge in COVID-19 ]( [Alaska Federation of Natives postpones annual convention to December amid surge in COVID-19]( [Read More]( [Dunleavy recall group ends campaign, still short of signatures needed to force a vote]( [Dunleavy recall group ends campaign, still short of signatures needed to force a vote]( [Read More]( [An estimated 1,500 U.S. citizens may still be awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan, Secretary of State Blinken says]( [An estimated 1,500 U.S. citizens may still be awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan, Secretary of State Blinken says]( [Read More]( The ADN relies on readers like you. 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