Saying farewell to a downtown Anchorage icon

Also: Chief Kerle says APD will reconsider its policy on officers not carrying Narcan. Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Anchorage Daily News]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Alaska Navigator]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Friday, August 5. In today's newsletter: - Demolition of the historic 4th Avenue Theatre in downtown Anchorage started this week after years of efforts to save it were unsuccessful. - Anchorage's police chief says the department will revisit its longstanding policy of officers not carrying Narcan, the opioid overdose drug. - The person who Mayor Bronson chose to lead Anchorage's library system has chosen not to take the job, leaving deputy director Judy Norton Eledge in charge. [Salmonfest]( is taking over Ninilchik this weekend, but if you can't make it, there's still plenty to do around Anchorage, including First Friday events this evening, a silver salmon derby and hip-hop and funk shows. Check out [our events roundup]( for more weekend ideas. 🌧️ Anchorage weather We're seeing scattered showers today with a high of 66 degrees. Looking ahead, we can expect more cloudy, rainy weather over the next few days along with breezy conditions through the weekend. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Vicky Ho, vho@adn.com [Anchorage residents mourn as demolition begins on historic 4th Avenue Theatre ]( [Anchorage residents mourn as demolition begins on historic 4th Avenue Theatre]( Spectators reminisced while watching the iconic sign start to come down after decades of efforts to save the Art Deco-style theater failed. The owners of the property have deemed the 4th Avenue Theatre too costly to restore, and the first steps in the theater's demolition come as part of a larger $200 million redevelopment project. [Read More]( [Anchorage police chief says department will reevaluate its policy on officers carrying Narcan]( [Anchorage police chief says department will reevaluate its policy on officers carrying Narcan]( Facing growing pressure from advocates, Chief Michael Kerle said that the police department will reconsider its longstanding policy of officers not carrying naloxone, or Narcan, a drug that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Kerle's remarks came after APD's medical adviser [told the Daily News]( that he'd support police officers carrying Narcan as long as administering CPR remained a priority, “if it was the wish of the police department leadership to do that.” [Read More]( [New head librarian declines to take job at embattled Anchorage library]( [New head librarian declines to take job at embattled Anchorage library]( Mayor Bronson's chosen candidate to lead Anchorage's public library system has decided not to take the job, months after his selection was announced. That leaves the library under the management of deputy director Judy Norton Eledge, who was accused by current and former employees [of fostering a hostile work environment](, among other allegations. [Read More]( [Whittier receives land transfer enabling cruise ship dock proposal to move ahead]( [Whittier receives land transfer enabling cruise ship dock proposal to move ahead]( Huna Totem Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have partnered to propose building a new cruise ship dock in Whittier. The land transfer from the Army Corps of Engineers is a step forward for the project, which would significantly grow cruise-based tourism in the 272-person community. [Read More]( [Driver shortage could lead to bus route suspensions for Anchorage students, superintendent says]( [Driver shortage could lead to bus route suspensions for Anchorage students, superintendent says]( The Anchorage School District is short 75 bus drivers with only two weeks left before classes begin this fall. The shortage could lead to some bus routes being suspended, the superintendent said, though it's not clear which might be affected. [Read More]( More from the ADN [Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: State reports more cases but fewer hospitalizations than previous week]( [Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: State reports more cases but fewer hospitalizations than previous week]( [Read More]( [East Coast storms ground thousands of US air travelers as airlines cancel flights]( [East Coast storms ground thousands of US air travelers as airlines cancel flights]( [Read More]( [US employers add 528,000 jobs; unemployment falls to 3.5%]( [US employers add 528,000 jobs; unemployment falls to 3.5%]( [Read More]( [Sullivan-led ‘test’ on environmental permitting passes Senate with Manchin’s vote, but has little hope of becoming law]( [Sullivan-led ‘test’ on environmental permitting passes Senate with Manchin’s vote, but has little hope of becoming law]( [Read More]( [Poultry exhibits canceled at Alaska State Fair in Palmer over bird flu concerns]( [Poultry exhibits canceled at Alaska State Fair in Palmer over bird flu concerns]( [Read More]( [Get digital access to the ADN for as low as $1.99 for the first month]( and help us cover the news that matters most here in Alaska. 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