Anchorage mayor rehires adviser at center of previous City Hall controversies

Plus: Man accused of Anchorage trail assaults released from jail — then arrested again after threatening more hikers ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Thursday, August 3. In today's newsletter: - A man who was arrested Friday after police said he threatened or assaulted more than a dozen people on Anchorage trails last week [was released from jail the next day]( then was arrested again for threatening more hikers. - Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson’s office confirmed this week that the mayor [has again hired consultant Larry Baker]( who was at the center of multiple allegations against the mayor's office earlier this year. - The Anchorage School District expects to have [enough drivers to cover its bus routes]( when school begins, and is not anticipating a repeat of last year’s severe driver shortage. Many homeowners have been told that “fall is for planting trees." But can you plant trees in the summer in Alaska? That's a question that gardening columnist Jeff Lowenfels hears every season. The short answer, he says, is yes. And while heat generally isn’t an issue when it comes to summer planting in the north, there are still [some best practices to follow](. Anchorage weather It's partly sunny today with a high near 72 degrees, and continuing widespread haze in the Anchorage area. Hazy conditions are forecast to last through Friday night, while Saturday will bring mostly sunny skies. Daytime temperatures will hover in the low 70s for the next few days. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Man accused of Anchorage trail assaults released from jail — then arrested again after threatening more hikers →]( The man was released Saturday when state prosecutors declined to pursue charges against him and referred the case to the municipality. He was arrested again a day later after returning to an East Anchorage trailhead and threatening more hikers. ADVERTISEMENT [Larry Baker, at center of multiple allegations against Mayor Dave Bronson’s office, is back as adviser →]( Baker’s influence as one of the mayor’s most trusted advisers came under scrutiny earlier this year as a series of controversies shook City Hall, in which numerous top officials were fired or resigned. [Anchorage School District officials anticipate having enough drivers for normal bus service when school starts →]( As of this week, the district was seven drivers short of being fully staffed. Last year's driver shortage left more than 12,000 students without service for months as the district implemented a rotating bus service. [Spruce beetles’ expansion into Denali National Park poses questions about forest changes →]( While more summer warmth has been linked to beetle infestations in Southcentral Alaska, less winter cold may be at play in and around Denali. [Alaska woman sues over alleged sexual abuse at all-female federal prison she says is known as ‘rape club’ →]( An Alaska woman was sent to serve a sentence at an all-female federal prison in California, where its warden allowed, and took part in, sexually abusing inmates, according to a new federal lawsuit. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Trump pleads not guilty in DC courthouse to charges he tried to overturn the 2020 election →]( [Man shot and killed his roommate, then himself in Midtown Anchorage apartment, police say →]( [Alaska environmental commissioner steps down →]( [Gas prices hit highest level of the year as heat hampers refineries →]( [Alaska natural resources agency OKs bigger off-road vehicles on most state land →]( 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