The Anchorage Assembly mask debate resumes tonight, and Alaska reports 5 COVID-19 deaths and a slight decrease in hospitalizations

Assembly members have yet to open debate on the proposed mask ordinance. Plus: Three sheep hunters are rescued after an avalanche in the Chugach Mountains. Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Anchorage Daily News]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Thursday, October 7. In today's newsletter: - Alaska reports 842 COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths and another slight decrease in hospitalizations. - The Anchorage mask debate, which resumes at tonight's Assembly meeting, has now lasted more than a week. - Three sheep hunters are rescued after an avalanche in the Chugach Mountains. [What's going on this weekend?]( Here in Anchorage, you can check out a celebration of Scandinavian culture at the Nordic Market; a new Anchorage Museum exhibit that puts the "art" in cartography; and the opening of a Dena’ina Athabaskan-inspired downtown park. If you're looking to get out of town, there's Hopetoberfest across Turnagain Arm in Hope. ⛅ Anchorage weather Partly sunny with a high near 50 this afternoon. There's a 60% chance of rain overnight and tomorrow. A chance of rain is expected to linger into Saturday. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Ryan Cunningham, rcunningham@adn.com [Alaska reports 842 COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths and another slight decrease in hospitalizations]( [Alaska reports 842 COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths and another slight decrease in hospitalizations]( The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide on Thursday shrank for the third day in a row to 180 total. Dr. Anne Zink, the state’s chief medical officer, says that while she’s "cautiously optimistic," there’s still a lot of community virus spread and "just because we’re on the way down, doesn’t mean that it’s over." [Read More]( [Long lines, calls for action and procedural fights: The Anchorage mask debate has now lasted more than a week ]( [Long lines, calls for action and procedural fights: The Anchorage mask debate has now lasted more than a week]( Public testimony over a proposed mask ordinance is still underway, scheduled to begin again at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Assembly chair has said she is not sure how many more meetings it will take to finish testimony, debate and vote. Assembly members have already proposed 14 amendments, and more are likely, though debate has not yet begun. [Read More]( [Three sheep hunters caught in Chugach Mountains avalanche, two injured]( [Three sheep hunters caught in Chugach Mountains avalanche, two injured]( One of the men was buried and was dug out by the others, according to the Alaska Army National Guard. The men used a satellite-linked device to contact someone in Anchorage, who then called for a rescue. [Read More]( [Pandemic leaves Chugach Electric Association facing a revenue shortfall ]( [Pandemic leaves Chugach Electric Association facing a revenue shortfall]( Chugach is asking state regulators for help after it saw a big drop in power sales. A Chugach spokeswoman says the pandemic "has taken a toll" on the utility’s revenue, noting that power demand from commercial customers is down about 8% for the Anchorage-area utility. [Read More]( [Young, pregnant and unvaccinated: Hospitals confront a wave of severe illness and death]( [Young, pregnant and unvaccinated: US hospitals confront a wave of severe illness and death]( In a tragic paradox, those who are pregnant are simultaneously more likely to experience severe illness and death from COVID-19 and less likely to get the shot capable of preventing such suffering. In the U.S., at least 161 have died, including 22 in August alone. [Read More]( More from the ADN [Two students arrested in separate gun incidents at Anchorage high school]( [Two students arrested in separate gun incidents at Anchorage high school]( [Read More]( [Anchorage schools see rise in physical altercations and behavioral issues, superintendent says]( [Anchorage schools see rise in physical altercations and behavioral issues, superintendent says]( [Read More]( [Beluga whale startles Puget Sound boaters in first Seattle-area sightings since 1940]( [Beluga whale startles Puget Sound boaters in first Seattle-area sightings since 1940]( [Read More]( [Alaska regulators reach deal with Petro Star on royalty oil sale]( [Alaska regulators reach deal with Petro Star on royalty oil sale]( [Read More]( [Storm-downed branches and limbs can be great for your yard]( [Storm-downed branches and limbs can be great for your yard]( [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. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News Anchorage Daily News 300 W 31st Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99503