Object posing ‘reasonable threat’ shot down of f Alaska coast

Also: Murkowski, other senators press Defense Department on military response to Chinese spy balloon in Alaska 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 Friday, February 10. In today's newsletter: - A U.S. military fighter jet shot down a "high altitude object" flying off the coast of Alaska on Friday on orders from President Joe Biden, White House officials said. - Tourism in Anchorage rebounded strongly last year as pandemic impacts continue to fade, with high hotel demand helping to sharply boost municipal income from lodging and car rental taxes. - The Alaska Senate hastily withdrew a bill that would have rewritten how oil and gas property taxes are assessed, after it was revealed a single Cook Inlet gas producer was behind the effort. Indoor germination season is nearing, and gardening columnist Jeff Lowenfels has details on the best soils, compost and methods for the ambitious gardeners among us who want to grow something from seed. Whether buying from the store or making your own, he stresses that what all gardeners will need is a solid seed-starting soil. [Here's a guide]( to get you started. 🌨️ Anchorage weather It's cloudy with snow flurries and a high near 21 degrees today. A chance of snow will continue through the weekend and into next week, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the low teens. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [U.S. shoots down object posing ‘reasonable threat’ off Alaska coastline, White House says]( [U.S. shoots down object posing ‘reasonable threat’ off Alaska coastline, White House says]( White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the object was downed because it was flying at about 40,000 feet and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance. [Read More]( [Coming off a year of record hotel demand, Anchorage’s 2023 tourism outlook is promising]( [Coming off a year of record hotel demand, Anchorage’s 2023 tourism outlook is promising]( Year-round tourism is growing and independent travelers are on track to return in droves, according to a report by Visit Anchorage. Bookings for the summer are also signaling that this year could be even better. [Read More]( [Murkowski, other senators press Defense Department on military response to Chinese spy balloon in Alaska ]( [Murkowski, other senators press Defense Department on military response to Chinese spy balloon in Alaska]( Sen. Lisa Murkowski and her colleagues asked why the Chinese surveillance balloon was able to fly over Alaska without the military shooting it down. Defense officials said its flight path didn’t bring it near sensitive infrastructure in the state. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT [Alaska Senate hastily withdraws bill pushed by single producer to cut oil and gas taxes]( [Alaska Senate hastily withdraws bill pushed by single producer to cut oil and gas taxes]( After the bill was introduced last week, oil-producing municipalities including the North Slope Borough and Kenai Peninsula Borough leapt into action behind the scenes to kill it, arguing that it could significantly hit their revenue. [Read More]( [Man arrested after Selawik resident’s body found in dump, troopers say]( [Husband of Selawik school principal arrested after resident’s body found in dump, troopers say]( Alaska State Troopers say they arrested a 47-year-old man in Selawik this week on a murder charge in the death of a village resident whose body was found in a tote in the village dump. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [This weekend in Anchorage: An ice fishing jamboree, a fundraising walk and plenty of music]( [This weekend in Anchorage: An ice fishing jamboree, a fundraising walk and plenty of music]( [Read More]( [Brent Sass wins Yukon Quest 550]( [Brent Sass wins Yukon Quest 550]( [Read More]( [Iñupiaq dancers from Alaska and Canada unite at Kivġiq in Utqiaġvik]( [Iñupiaq dancers from Alaska and Canada unite at Kivġiq in Utqiaġvik]( [Read More]( [The best way to enjoy this kimchi cauliflower ‘hot wing’ dip? With a soft pretzel made from pizza dough.]( [The best way to enjoy this kimchi cauliflower ‘hot wing’ dip? With a soft pretzel made from pizza dough.]( [Read More]( [Man dead in apparent carbon monoxide poisoning at Wasilla residence, troopers say]( [Man dead in apparent carbon monoxide poisoning at Wasilla residence, troopers say]( [Read More]( [Rescues in Turkey offer moments of relief in earthquake aftermath]( [Rescues in Turkey offer moments of relief in earthquake aftermath]( [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