ASD proposes closing 6 schools. Plus: Calls for change after racist Assembly testimony.

Alaska Federation of Natives convention opens Thursday in Anchorage 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 19. In today's newsletter: - The Anchorage School District has recommended closing six elementary schools after the end of this school year in an effort to resolve a looming $68 million budget shortfall. - Racist statements at a recent Anchorage Assembly meeting prompted calls for the governing body to change how it handles false or derogatory public testimony. - The first two stories in a three-part series on the candidates for Alaska's U.S. Senate race dive into the backgrounds and motivations of Democrat Pat Chesbro and Republican Kelly Tshibaka. Mosquito season is over in Alaska, but we all have that one friend (or maybe you are that friend) who is just a "magnet" for the annoying little insects. No amount of bug spray or layered clothing can keep them away. Turns out, [a new study found]( that some people really are “mosquito magnets” and it probably has to do with the way they smell. 🌥️ Anchorage weather Today it's mostly cloudy with a high near 46 degrees. There's a chance of rain overnight, followed by a rainy Thursday. Temperatures will drop into the high 30s later this week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage School District recommends closing 6 elementary schools amid budget crisis]( [Anchorage School District recommends closing 6 elementary schools amid budget crisis]( Though expected, the announcement drew frustration and sadness from members of the community, as well as political finger pointing. Of the schools recommended for closure, all but one are Title I schools, meaning they have a large portion of students who qualify for free and reduced lunches. [Read More]( [Man’s racist testimony to Anchorage Assembly sparks calls for changes at meetings ]( [Man’s racist testimony to Anchorage Assembly sparks calls for changes at meetings]( A man’s racist testimony about Alaska Natives during an Assembly meeting last week ignited a larger conversation about how city officials and residents should respond when people make false or derogatory statements, especially during public meetings. [Read More]( [The making of a U.S. Senate candidate: Pat Chesbro]( [The making of a U.S. Senate candidate: Pat Chesbro]( As a Democrat in a red state, longtime educator and administrator Pat Chesbro knows she’s an underdog in Alaska's U.S. Senate race. “But I’m fighting for the right things,” she said. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT [The making of a U.S. Senate candidate: Kelly Tshibaka]( [The making of a U.S. Senate candidate: Kelly Tshibaka]( Tshibaka, the conservative Republican challenging U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski in this year's election, says that she’s been pushing back against attacks for much of her life, and that her experiences fostered resilience. “This is why I can run for U.S. Senate.” (Coming up later today: The last of three stories about Alaska's U.S. Senate candidates will focus on Murkowski.) [Read More]( [Alaska Federation of Natives convention opens Thursday in Anchorage]( [Alaska Federation of Natives convention opens Thursday in Anchorage]( After being held virtually for the last two years, AFN’s annual conference returns in person starting tomorrow at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. Here’s a roundup of what attendees can look forward to. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Former employee photographed girls and women in Kenai Peninsula school locker rooms and bathrooms, charges say]( [Former employee photographed girls and women in Kenai Peninsula school locker rooms and bathrooms, charges say]( [Read More]( [Putin declares martial law in annexed regions of Ukraine as he faces more threats]( [Putin declares martial law in annexed regions of Ukraine as he faces more threats]( [Read More]( [Jack of trades: Colony’s Nash is a two-way star for the Knights]( [Jack of trades: Colony’s Nash is a two-way star for the Knights]( [Read More]( [How to handle the dreaded ‘You’re fired’ interview]( [How to handle the dreaded ‘You’re fired’ interview]( [Read More]( [Carbon emissions rise more slowly in 2022 due to renewable energy and electric vehicles, agency says]( [Carbon emissions rise more slowly in 2022 due to renewable energy and electric vehicles, agency 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