Anchorage closes homeless shelter to most, sending many outdoors

Plus: State agency serving vulnerable Alaskans declines to take new cases amid staffing crisis ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's Sponsor: Americans For Prosperity Alaska]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Tuesday, May 2. In today's newsletter: - Anchorage closed the Sullivan Arena mass homeless shelter on Monday to all but 90 of the most vulnerable and disabled clients, dropping from its previous capacity of 360. - The Alaska Senate advanced legislation that would set a new PFD formula in state statute — but it faces slim odds in the House, where a Republican-led majority supports a dividend twice the size. - A staffing crisis in a state agency that provides guardianship services for some of the most vulnerable Alaskans means it can no longer accept new cases, agency heads say. One way to look at the evolution of Anchorage over time is through the passage of its many restaurants. As historian David Reamer notes in his latest column, only chains and legends were likely to survive for more than a decade. From Clinkerdaggers and the Garden of Eatin’ to a short-lived sushi restaurant featuring a chef who would later become a celebrity, here are the histories of [some of Anchorage's most unique eateries](. Anchorage weather It's partly cloudy today with a high near 48 degrees, and a chance of rain showers later this afternoon. Rain showers are likely this evening, and we'll see an overnight low of 32 degrees. The forecast calls for another chance of rain on Wednesday, and mostly cloudy conditions for the rest of this week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena shelter closes to most, sending many homeless people outdoors with nowhere else to go]( The closure represents the first time in recent memory that the city has turned homeless residents to the street with no sanctioned shelter or legal camping to receive them. Some who left had spots lined up in other places, but many dozens have left to camp outdoors, with nowhere else to go. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT [Alaska Senate advances a 75-25 Permanent Fund dividend formula bill to a hostile House]( The Senate's bill follows a model where three-quarters of an annual draw from Permanent Fund earnings would be directed to state services and the rest would go to the dividend. Proponents say it could be one piece of a broader fiscal plan. [Read More]( [State agency serving vulnerable Alaskans declines to take new cases amid staffing crisis]( Leaders at the Office of Public Advocacy, which provides guardianship services for Alaskans with severe mental illness, dementia and brain injuries, among others, say they can no longer accept new cases without exposing the agency to possible negligence lawsuits. [Read More]( [Alaska Department of Public Safety launches first round of body cameras]( The department announced that 30 law enforcement officers are now using body cameras — the first step in the agency’s larger plan to outfit roughly 400 employees with the cameras by the end of the year. [Read More]( [‘Deadliest Catch’ boat owner sues production company over former deckhand’s medical care]( The owners of a fishing vessel featured in “Deadliest Catch” are suing the reality TV show’s production company and a contractor after a former crew member blamed a lack of prompt care during the pandemic for leaving him with serious medical problems. [Read More]( ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [➡ Fairbanks woman charged with arson in fire that destroyed apartment building]( [➡ The Rewind: South girls soccer upsets Dimond, Alaska ties to NFL Draft and Anchorage Wolverines coach resigns for Michigan job]( [➡ Pioneer of AI leaves Google to warn of tech’s dangers]( [➡ Loneliness poses risks as deadly as smoking, surgeon general warns]( [➡ Book review: Heacox’s story of environment and spiritual conflict finds a way to the good]( [➡ Gordon Lightfoot, prolific Canadian singer-songwriter and hitmaker, dies at 84]( The ADN relies on readers like you. [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 Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States