Focus is on November election in Alaska's U.S. Senate race

ASD will suspend school bus routes for weeks at a time, affecting most students 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 Thursday, August 11. In today's newsletter: - With the top three candidates in Alaska's U.S. Senate primary all but locked in, the fourth and final person to advance to November's general election remains a mystery. - The Anchorage School District will suspend bus routes for most students for several weeks at a time in response to a severe driver shortage. - Alaska's first ranked choice election is coming up next week, and organizers have gotten creative in trying to help voters understand how to cast their ballot — including a mock election featuring drag performers. “When the fireweed turns to cotton, summer will soon be forgotten." Even if you don't know that phrase, you've probably noticed the fireweed topping off and coming to the end of its brilliant reign in Southcentral Alaska. While that signals the end of summer to a lot of people, gardener [Jeff Lowenfels reminds us]( there's still plenty of work to be done and plenty of rewards still to be reaped in the form of flowers and veggies. 🌧️ Anchorage weather Another stretch of gloomy weather has settled in around Anchorage. Today it's cloudy and rain is likely, with a high of 67 degrees. Rain continues to be likely for the rest of the week and into next week, with temperatures hovering in the mid 60s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [In Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, Murkowski and Tshibaka look ahead to November]( [In Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, Murkowski and Tshibaka look ahead to November]( Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Kelly Tshibaka and Democrat Pat Chesbro are expected to finish in the top three in Alaska's pick-one primary for U.S. Senate on Aug. 16. But the fourth candidate to advance remains a mystery, and both Tshibaka and Murkowski say who that last candidate turns out to be will impact their campaign strategy ahead of the November general election. [Read More]( [ASD will suspend school bus routes for weeks at a time, affecting most students]( [ASD will suspend school bus routes for weeks at a time, affecting most students]( The Anchorage School District is dealing with such a severe bus driver shortage that nearly all eligible students will be without bus service for weeks at a time, officials announced this week. There are only enough drivers to serve 7,000 of the district’s 20,000 eligible bus riders at a time, according to deputy superintendent Mark Stock. [Read More]( [Alaskans get creative in effort to help residents understand new ranked voting system]( [Alaskans get creative in effort to help residents understand new ranked voting system]( A mock election in Anchorage featuring drag show performers highlights how Alaskans are thinking out of the box to help voters understand how to cast their ballots in the state's first ranked choice election. Leaders of outreach efforts see their work as critical to preventing large numbers of ballots from being thrown out because they are incorrectly cast. [Read More]( [Judge faults federal plan to protect orcas from Southeast Alaska salmon harvests]( [Judge faults federal plan to protect orcas from Southeast Alaska salmon harvests]( A U.S. District Court judge in Seattle has found the National Marine Fisheries Service has failed to ensure that Southeast Alaska salmon harvests not harm protected Pacific Northwest chinook and endangered southern killer whales that prey upon them. [Read More]( [Instagram-ready ‘immersive’ Van Gogh shows have swept the US. Now, one has arrived in Anchorage.]( [Instagram-ready ‘immersive’ Van Gogh shows have swept the US. Now, one has arrived in Anchorage.]( Now showing at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” features more than 300 Van Gogh pieces.The exhibit focuses on the artist’s work and his craving for beauty as an antidote to the depression he faced. [Read More]( More from the ADN [Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: State reports declining cases and hospitalizations compared to previous week]( [Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: State reports declining cases and hospitalizations; 21 more deaths over past few months]( [Read More]( [Justice Department asks court to make public search warrant for Trump home]( [Justice Department asks court to make public search warrant for Trump home]( [Read More]( [ Arctic warming is happening faster than expected, study finds as U.S. climate bill nears passage]( [Arctic warming is happening faster than expected, study finds as U.S. climate bill nears passage]( [Read More]( [High fuel prices lead to tough decisions in Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages]( [High fuel prices lead to tough decisions in Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages]( [Read More]( [John Lewis aims to revive ‘spirit of South’ in his return as football coach]( [John Lewis aims to revive ‘spirit of South’ in his return as football coach]( [Read More]( [Average US gas price dips below $4 for the first time in 5 months]( [Average US gas price dips below $4 for the first time in 5 months]( [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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