How Anchorage’s Emma Broyles is challenging assu mptions about what it means to be Miss America.

Also, Hilcorp gets fined $180K after methane leaks, and a new ballot tracker is set to launch in Anchorage. 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 Tuesday, March 8. In today's newsletter: - Emma Broyles is the first Alaskan to ever win the crown of Miss America, but that's just the start of what makes her unique in the contest's history. - Hilcorp has landed a hefty fine for nearly three dozen Clean Air Act violations at its facilities across Alaska. - Anchorage voters will be able to track their mailed ballots by phone, text or email in the upcoming municipal election. Anchorage restaurant Waffles and Whatnot is opening a second location soon and was recently featured on the show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” Multimedia journalist Emily Mesner spoke with owner Derrick Green and [writes]( that, from the big earthquake of 2018 through the pandemic, the restaurant’s journey has been marked by tenacity through some big ups and downs. ☁️ Anchorage weather Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 36 degrees. There’s a 20% chance of snow after 3 p.m. and more snow likely overnight. On Wednesday, there’s snow in the forecast before noon, which will likely turn to rain and snow between 12-3 p.m., then rain after 3 p.m. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Victoria Barber, vbarber@adn.com [The crowning achievement for Anchorage’s Emma Broyles might be challenging assumptions about what it means to be Miss America]( [The crowning achievement for Anchorage’s Emma Broyles might be challenging assumptions about what it means to be Miss America]( In December, Emma Broyles became the first Alaskan and the first Korean American to win the iconic title of Miss America. She’s found that candid discussion of her personal struggles and mental health is a powerful way she can impact lives. [Read More]( [EPA fines Hilcorp $180K for methane leaks, reporting violations in Alaska]( [EPA fines Hilcorp $180K for methane leaks, reporting violations in Alaska]( EPA regulators determined Hilcorp did not promptly repair leaks of methane and volatile organic compounds when the issues were discovered; failed to inspect for leaks at a new facility; and did not accurately report leak inspections and repairs from 2018 through 2020, according to the agency’s statement. [Read More]( [Wasilla church volunteers travel to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees]( [Wasilla church volunteers travel to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees]( Five members of the Word of Life Church in Wasilla plan to stay in Krakow, Poland, for about 10 days, helping Ukrainian refugees access food and shelter in addition to offering translation services. [Read More]( [US will ban Russian oil imports, Biden says while warning of further hikes in gas prices]( [US will ban Russian oil imports, Biden says while warning of further hikes in gas prices]( The action follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission in the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion. [Read More]( [Anchorage voters can now get tracking updates for their ballot in the upcoming city election]( [Anchorage voters can now get tracking updates for their ballot in the upcoming city election]( Anchorage is using the vendor BallotTrax for the first time this year in the April 5 municipal election. It will allow voters to more easily keep tabs on the status of their mailed ballot by email, text or phone call. [Read More]( More from the ADN [Aaron Burmeister is the first Iditarod musher to reach Nikolai checkpoint]( [Aaron Burmeister is the first Iditarod musher to reach Nikolai checkpoint]( [Read More]( [Alaska on Monday reports 463 COVID-19 cases over three days]( [Alaska on Monday reports 463 COVID-19 cases over three days]( [Read More]( [GOP candidate for governor Charlie Pierce picks parole board chair Edie Grunwald as running mate]( [GOP candidate for governor Charlie Pierce picks parole board chair Edie Grunwald as running mate]( [Read More]( [First trial in Capitol riot ends with jury conviction all counts]( [First trial in Capitol riot ends with jury conviction all counts]( [Read More]( [Remote work has led to a boom in modern-day moonlighting. How should employers address the situation?]( [Remote work has led to a boom in modern-day moonlighting. How should employers address the situation?]( [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