Families report abuse at North Star. Plus: Why are gas prices so high?

Anchorage Assembly pushes Bronson administration to open longer-term housing for homeless in former Golden Lion Hotel Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Anchorage Daily News]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, October 12. In today's newsletter: - Why are gas prices in Alaska so high right now? Observers say Alaska prices are tied to those in the West Coast region, which has experienced refinery issues recently. - After a court invalidated Alaska’s campaign contribution limits and both lawmakers and state officials failed to put a new ceiling in place, money is pouring into state elections including the governor's race. - The Anchorage Assembly has doubled down on using a city-owned former hotel for longer-term housing for vulnerable people after scrapping a plan to open it as an emergency winter shelter. Nearly 50 Alaskans have been honored over the years with Carnegie Medals for acts of valor. Some of these heroic acts happened even before Alaska was a state. From a teenager who helped save her siblings from a raging fire to daring rescues at sea, [here are the stories of some heroes]( of untamed Alaska before statehood. 🌨️ Anchorage weather A bout of weather whiplash continues this week in Anchorage — after mostly sunny skies yesterday, we'll see snow flurries this afternoon with a high of 39 degrees. Thursday and Friday will be marked by mostly sunny skies, before rain and snow return again at the end of the week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Curious Alaska: Why are gas prices in Alaska so high right now compared to other states?]( [Curious Alaska: Why are gas prices in Alaska so high right now compared to other states?]( Gas prices in Alaska have surged to near-record highs in recent weeks, jumping by close to $1 a gallon in the last month alone. Experts blame factors outside the state, though most of the gasoline consumed on the state’s road system is made in Alaska. [Read More]( [Alaska families say their children were sexually abused at North Star psychiatric hospital]( [Alaska families say their children were sexually abused at North Star psychiatric hospital]( The families have spoken out, in interviews with the Daily News and in a lawsuit, because they say the experiences of the two boys raise questions about the hospital’s ability to keep its most vulnerable patients safe from predatory behavior. [Read More]( [Large campaign contributions shape Alaska’s governor race]( [Large campaign contributions shape Alaska’s governor race]( Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has a cash advantage going into the final month of the campaign before November's election, while independent challenger and former Gov. Bill Walker attracted support from Outside election reform advocates. The four candidates for governor came together in [an Anchorage debate]( this week, where they sparred over issues including a long-desired gas pipeline and a meaningful fiscal plan for the state. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT [Anchorage Assembly pushes Bronson administration to open longer-term housing for homeless in former Golden Lion Hotel]( [Anchorage Assembly pushes Bronson administration to open longer-term housing for homeless in former Golden Lion Hotel]( The Anchorage Assembly has withdrawn a contested proposal to open the city-owned former Golden Lion Hotel as an emergency homeless shelter this winter, which Mayor Dave Bronson's administration pushed back on. Instead, the Assembly is urging the administration to use the building as longer-term housing for homeless and vulnerable residents as soon as possible. [Read More]( [A Fat Bear Week champion is crowned as Katmai’s bears bask in global spotlight]( [A Fat Bear Week champion is crowned as Katmai’s bears bask in global spotlight]( Bear 747 blasted past the competition to reclaim his title as the bulkiest bruin in this year's Fat Bear Week. The tournament has taken off since its launch in 2014, with a record number of votes cast this year. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Gov. Dunleavy says he will vote ‘yes’ for a constitutional convention in November]( [Gov. Dunleavy says he will vote ‘yes’ for a constitutional convention in November]( [Read More]( [New evidence from House committee to show that Trump was warned of violence on Jan. 6]( [New evidence from House committee to show that Trump was warned of violence on Jan. 6]( [Read More]( [Setter Ellen Floyd has helped push the UAA volleyball team to a sensational first half of 2022 season]( [Setter Ellen Floyd has helped push the UAA volleyball team to a sensational first half of 2022 season]( [Read More]( [US set to announce huge jump in Social Security payments]( [US set to announce huge jump in Social Security payments]( [Read More]( [Fall finally arrived — and with it, prime fishing and bird hunting conditions]( [Fall finally arrived — and with it, prime fishing and bird hunting conditions]( [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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