A mask requirement in now in effect for Anchorage. Here's what you need to know.

Who the new ordinance applies to, how it’s enforced and when a face covering is required. Plus: Citing "misleading" statements on masks and COVID-19, an Alaska pediatrician group questions whether Anchorage’s chief medical officer is fit for the role. 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 Friday, October 15. In today's newsletter: - A new Anchorage mask ordinance takes effect after the Assembly overrides Mayor Bronson's veto. - The Alaska Federation of Natives convention will go virtual again this year due to COVID-19. - Citing "misleading" statements on masks and COVID-19, an Alaska pediatrician group questions whether Anchorage’s chief medical officer is fit for the role. A personal note to our newsletter readers: Today is my last day at the Daily News. It's been such a privilege working for the ADN and serving you loyal readers. I'll continue to be an enthusiastic cheerleader for the ADN's indispensable news coverage as I wander off into new professional pastures. Even though I won't be around to write it, this newsletter will still be delivered to your inbox every weekday without interruption. If you appreciate the new-and-improved ADN daily newsletter that I helped launch, do me a favor: Keep reading it! [And if you're not already a paid subscriber to the ADN, subscribe today in my honor](. Thank you so much for your support! ⛅ Anchorage weather Partly cloudy with a high near 35 this afternoon. Scattered and isolated snow showers are possible tonight into tomorrow morning, with little accumulation expected in most areas. The rest of Saturday looks to be partly sunny. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Ryan Cunningham, rcunningham@adn.com [New Anchorage mask ordinance takes effect after Assembly overrides Bronson veto]( [New Anchorage mask ordinance takes effect after Assembly overrides Bronson veto]( Assembly members overrode the veto in a 9-2 vote — eight votes were required. After the vote, Mayor Dave Bronson said that whether residents wear masks is a personal decision. He also said he would follow the ordinance, even though it specifies that the mayor and his executive team are exempt: "It’s the law. We’re going to follow the law." [Read More]( [On Anchorage’s new mask ordinance: Who it applies to, how it’s enforced and when a face covering is required]( [On Anchorage’s new mask ordinance: Who it applies to, how it’s enforced and when a face covering is required]( There’s been some confusion and a lot of controversy about the ordinance as a similar measure was debated over the past few weeks. Now that it’s in effect, here are some answers to basic questions about Anchorage’s new mask requirement. [Read More]( [Alaska Federation of Natives convention will go virtual again this year due to COVID-19]( [Alaska Federation of Natives convention will go virtual again this year due to COVID-19]( The convention, which is scheduled for Dec. 13 and 14, had already been postponed from October because of COVID-19 concerns. Organizers say the decision to go virtual was made because of safety and health concerns and after consulting with state, federal and tribal health officials. [Read More]( [Citing ‘misleading’ statements on masks and COVID-19, Alaska pediatrician group questions whether Anchorage’s chief medical officer is fit for the role]( [Citing ‘misleading’ statements on masks and COVID-19, Alaska pediatrician group questions whether Anchorage’s chief medical officer is fit for the role]( In a letter from members of the Alaska chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the physicians listed their concerns about Dr. Michael Savitt's comments at a recent Assembly meeting. "We no longer feel that you demonstrate the ability to accurately and objectively advocate for the public welfare of the residents of this community," the letter says. [Read More]( [Sitkans mark Alaska Day with music, memorials and more]( [SPONSORED: Sitkans mark Alaska Day with music, memorials and more]( Presented by Visit Sitka: In Sitka, Alaska Day isn’t just a day off from work — it’s a weeklong extravaganza packed with more events than can be crammed into a single day. [Read More]( More from the ADN [Credit unions based in Alaska and Washington intend to merge]( [Alaska USA and credit union based in Washington intend to merge]( [Read More]( [ Denali Park Road will be closed at Polychrome Pass in 2022 due to landslides]( [Denali Park Road will be closed at Polychrome Pass in 2022 due to landslides]( [Read More]( [FAA releases report aimed at improving Alaska aviation safety]( [FAA releases report aimed at improving Alaska aviation safety]( [Read More]( [Gary Paulsen, who wrote the beloved young-adult novel ‘Hatchet’ and ran the Iditarod, dies at 82]( [Gary Paulsen, who wrote the beloved young-adult novel ‘Hatchet’ and ran the Iditarod, dies at 82]( [Read More]( [48 hours to live: A small Oklahoma hospital’s rush to find an ICU bed for a COVID patient]( [48 hours to live: A small Oklahoma hospital’s rush to find an ICU bed for a COVID patient]( [Read More]( The ADN relies on readers like you. 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