Falling child vaccination rates have Alaska health officials concerned about outbreaks

Friends remember Anchorage crash victims as kind and giving student athletes 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 26. In today's newsletter: - Alaska’s top health officials say they're worried the state's falling rate of routine child vaccinations could lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases like measles and polio. - An armed man involved in an early morning domestic dispute was shot by an Anchorage officer at a busy intersection after he pointed a handgun and did not follow commands, police said. - A young couple killed in a vehicle crash near downtown Anchorage over the weekend are remembered by their friends, teammates and coaches as kind, generous student athletes with bright futures ahead of them. Even though summer is quickly winding down, there are still plenty of events and activities to [check out over the weekend](. Much of the action will take place in Palmer at the [Alaska State Fair](. But for Anchorage residents, there are also options that are closer to home, from a craft beer festival to local music. 🌧️ Anchorage weather It's overcast and rainy today with a high near 59 degrees. Scattered showers are forecast through the weekend, but Monday will be mostly cloudy in a small break from the rain. Temperatures will range from the high 50s to low 60s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Alaska sees sharp drop in child vaccinations, prompting concern about future outbreaks of preventable diseases]( [Alaska sees sharp drop in child vaccinations, prompting concern about future outbreaks of preventable diseases]( The percentage of Alaska children who are up to date on their routine vaccinations has fallen considerably since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alaska’s top health officials say they're concerned low vaccine coverage rates could lead to a resurgence of diseases such as polio, measles and mumps. [Read More]( [Armed man shot by officer at Midtown Anchorage intersection after he ignored commands, police say]( [Armed man shot by officer at busy Anchorage intersection after he ignored commands, police say]( An armed man involved in an early morning domestic dispute was shot by an Anchorage officer after he pointed a handgun, police said. The man had an elementary-school-age child with him at the time, Anchorage's police chief said. [Read More]( [Friends remember Anchorage crash victims as kind and giving student athletes]( [Friends remember Anchorage crash victims as kind and giving student athletes]( Friends say Amelia Nowak was an uplifting force and the “one-person welcoming committee” for newcomers on Anchorage’s South High basketball team. Derek Duerr was described as dedicated, selfless and kind. Days after they were killed in a fiery vehicle crash south of downtown Anchorage, Duerr and Nowak were remembered by friends, coaches and teammates as remarkable young student athletes. [Read More]( [During Anchorage School District’s bus driver shortage, 4 trainees can’t wait to take the wheel ]( [During Anchorage School District’s bus driver shortage, 4 trainees can’t wait to take the wheel]( Meet four people who have signed up to become bus drivers amid a severe driver shortage in the Anchorage School District, which resulted in bus service being suspended for weeks at a time for more than 10,000 students. “We used to be kids too,” said Javier Tatham, one of the drivers in training. “Now it’s our turn to help out the community.” [Read More]( [Anchorage Assembly overrides Mayor Bronson’s vetoes on formation of homelessness task force and federal relief funds]( [Anchorage Assembly overrides Mayor Bronson’s vetoes on formation of homelessness task force and federal relief funds]( In overriding several vetoes from Mayor Dave Bronson, the Anchorage Assembly restored federal relief funds for community projects and reinstated a task force to create a plan to shelter people experiencing homelessness this winter. [Read More]( More from the ADN [ADN Politics podcast: The past, present and future of Anchorage homelessness]( [ADN Politics podcast: The past, present and future of Anchorage homelessness]( [Read More]( [Environmental groups sue to stop federal approval of exploration at Alaska oil project]( [Environmental groups sue to stop federal approval of exploration at Alaska oil project]( [Read More]( [Trump mixed top-secret documents with magazines and other items, FBI says in search affidavit ]( [Trump mixed top-secret documents with magazines and other items, FBI says in search affidavit]( [Read More]( [Women’s Great Alaska Shootout is making its return after 4 years off]( [Women’s Great Alaska Shootout is making its return after 4 years off]( [Read More]( [Controlling inflation will continue to cause pain for households and businesses, Federal Reserve chief says]( [Controlling inflation will continue to cause pain for households and businesses, Federal Reserve chief says]( [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. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News 300 W 31st Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99503