With freeze-up on the way, state rushes to assess Western Alaska storm damage

Judge rules Wasilla lawmaker likely ineligible for office due to Oath Keepers membership, delaying election certification until trial concludes 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, September 23. In today's newsletter: - The administrator for FEMA is scheduled to tour Western Alaska this weekend as communities hurry to assess damage left in the wake of a historic storm before winter freeze-up arrives. - A judge said a Wasilla Republican lawmaker is likely ineligible to hold public office, but will need to see more evidence during a trial set for December to make a final determination. - Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson has appointed a new city library director for the fourth time since he took office, after a string of other appointments didn't work out. 🍁 It’s still September, but this is the weekend Anchorage will celebrate Oktoberfest with Bavarian food, culture and music. Plus, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra kicks off its season with a new musical director. Check out [everything this weekend has in store](. 🌧️ Anchorage weather It's cloudy with a chance of rain today and a high of 51 degrees. The likelihood of rain will grow throughout the day Saturday, and the chance for showers will last through the weekend and into next week. Temperatures will stay in the low 50s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [FEMA administrator to travel to Alaska as state rushes to address storm damages]( [FEMA administrator to travel to Alaska as state rushes to address storm damages]( State officials have so far tallied 89 residential buildings severely impacted by a storm that hit Western Alaska over the weekend, but a full estimate of the damages won't be available for days. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said state agencies are operating under a tight deadline to address immediate needs with winter freeze-up looming, including flying in thousands of pounds of food and water to replace lost or damaged supplies. [Read More]( [Judge rules Wasilla lawmaker likely ineligible for office due to Oath Keepers membership, delaying election certification until trial concludes]( [Judge rules Wasilla lawmaker likely ineligible for office due to Oath Keepers membership, delaying election certification until trial concludes]( An Anchorage judge has said that based on the limited evidence presented, Wasilla Republican Rep. David Eastman is likely ineligible to hold public office, but his name will stay on the general election ballot and the vote certification will be delayed until a trial can be held. His eligibility is in question due to his membership in the far-right malitia group the Oath Keepers. [Read More]( [For the fourth time, Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson appoints a library director]( [For the fourth time, Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson appoints a library director]( After a series of other appointments to the position that didn’t work out, Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson announced he has named Virginia McClure to be the city’s library director. McClure, who previously worked for the city’s public libraries, would need to be confirmed by the Anchorage Assembly. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT [Communication failures and poor weather led to deadly 2020 plane crash in Southwest Alaska, NTSB says]( [Communication failures and poor weather led to deadly 2020 plane crash in Southwest Alaska, NTSB says]( A recent report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that a series of operational oversights led a newly hired Yute Commuter Service pilot to depart in poor weather that gave way to flat light and whiteout conditions, resulting in a plane crash near Tuntutuliak in 2020 that killed all five people onboard. [Read More]( [U.S. House candidates suggest smaller role for federal funding in Alaska]( [U.S. House candidates suggest smaller role for federal funding in Alaska]( Three of the four candidates running to represent Alaska in the U.S. House said this week that they are concerned about the amount of federal spending in the state. The statements from Libertarian Chris Bye and Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III are a significant shift from the norm in Alaska, where federal dollars accounted for roughly half of the state budget in the most recent fiscal year. (Via Alaska Beacon) [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Anchorage Assembly committee sets meeting Sunday for public comment on emergency winter shelter plans]( [Anchorage Assembly committee sets meeting Sunday for public comment on emergency winter shelter plans]( [Read More]( [ADN Politics podcast: Why federal climate action could mean more mines in Alaska]( [ADN Politics podcast: Why federal climate action could mean more mines in Alaska]( [Read More]( [Oil falls below $80 a barrel en route to biggest run of weekly losses this year]( [Oil falls below $80 a barrel en route to biggest run of weekly losses this year]( [Read More]( [The good, the bad and the ugly of PFD airfare deals]( [The good, the bad and the ugly of PFD airfare deals]( [Read More]( [Federal government plans Alaska Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sale by year’s end]( [Federal government plans Alaska Cook Inlet oil and gas lease sale by year’s end]( [Read More]( [UAA hockey team thrilled to be back after 30-month pause]( [UAA hockey team thrilled to be back after 30-month pause]( [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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