Anchorage police consider using automated license plate readers

And: Where to get a free flu shot in Anchorage this season ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Sylvan Learning]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, October 11. In today's newsletter: - As Anchorage pushes to open emergency winter shelters by next week, the Assembly approved contracts for [sheltering up to 374 homeless residents]( in two hotels. - The Anchorage Police Department is considering the [use of automated license plate readers]( motion-activated cameras that officials say could help reduce crime amid ongoing staffing issues. - A new queen of corpulence ascended the throne in the annual [Fat Bear Week]( contest Tuesday, toppling her tubby opponent in a landslide vote. For more than a decade, travelers on Alaska Airlines have been served cups of coffee from Starbucks. For those on Horizon, an Alaska subsidiary, it’s been over 30 years. But there's a new bean in town for those needing a mid-flight pick-me-up: the company will begin serving a [custom blend from Portland-based Stumptown]( coffee in December. Anchorage weather It's overcast again today with a high of 41 degrees and a 40% chance of snow that will turn into a chance of rain mixed with snow this evening. Thursday's forecast will bring much of the same, and the weekend forecast calls for rain. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage Assembly OKs use of hotels to shelter homeless residents this winter →]( Assembly members approved contracts for local nonprofit Henning Inc. and the Alaska Hotel Group to shelter people at the Alex Hotel in Spenard and the downtown Aviator Hotel. Anchorage Health Department officials have estimated 500 to 600 people need shelter this winter. ADVERTISEMENT [Anchorage police consider using automated license plate readers →]( The police department says the new technology could help track down stolen vehicles or suspects in criminal activity, but several Assembly members expressed concerns about privacy. [North Slope Borough election result leaves empty seat in Alaska Legislature →]( Independent Alaska House member Josiah Patkotak was sworn in as mayor of the North Slope Borough on Tuesday, creating a vacancy in the Legislature that will be filled by Gov. Mike Dunleavy next month. [Anchorage Assembly reforms drug-testing policy to permit legal marijuana use by many city workers →]( The city will soon handle marijuana consumption in a manner similar to alcohol — most employees will be able to use marijuana off the clock. The measure stipulates that an employee can’t do work for the city within eight hours of using marijuana. [Fat Bear Week gets a new champ as votes pour in for Grazer →]( Bear 128, known as Grazer, became a first-time champion of the contest hosted by the National Park Service that features the brown bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve as they gorge themselves on salmon in preparation for winter. [Where to get a free flu shot in Anchorage this season →]( Health officials are recommending that Alaskans receive their annual flu shot as we enter a new flu season, and there are several upcoming opportunities to receive a free immunization. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [9 Alaska-connected athletes named to 2023-24 US Cross Country Ski Team →]( [Seward High’s run to Alaska’s first 9-man football championship was the culmination of a long building process →]( [U.S. death toll in Israel-Hamas war rises to 22 →]( [Humpback whales increasingly sighted in Arctic Alaska waters better known as bowhead territory →]( [Republicans nominate Steve Scalise to be House speaker but struggle to unite behind him →]( [ACT test scores for U.S. high school students drop to 30-year low →]( 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