Alaska Air to acquire Hawaiian Airlines in merger

And: Over 12,000 Alaskans waiting on food aid as state’s new food stamp backlog swells ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, December 4. In today's newsletter: - Alaska Airlines [will acquire Hawaiian Airlines]( in a $1.9 billion deal that will combine two West Coast-based rivals. - The prospect of [a new 300-acre park near Potter Marsh]( in South Anchorage is likely to soon become reality, thanks to a local nonprofit with support from the city. - At least one in 10 Alaskans who depend on federally funded food stamps are now waiting on that critical aid as[a new backlog continues to swell]( at the state office responsible for processing those benefits. In this week's science column, writer Ned Rozell takes [a long-term view of a changed Alaska](. A group of long-haul Alaskans shared with him what changes they’ve observed in decades of living in the state — from dwindling sea ice to noticeably warmer winters. Anchorage weather It's partly sunny today with a high near 25 degrees. We should see partly sunny skies on Tuesday as well, while Wednesday will bring a chance of snow. Daytime temperatures will gradually drop from the mid-20s down into the high teens this week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Alaska Air to acquire Hawaiian Airlines in $1.9B deal →]( Under the deal, which is not expected to close for 12 to 18 months, Alaska Air will expand to a fleet with 365 narrow and wide-body planes. The merger will still need regulatory approval, and the Biden administration has stepped up scrutiny of mergers and their potential impact on competition within a variety of industries. ADVERTISEMENT [Nonprofit, with Anchorage city support, aims to create 300-acre conservation park near Potter Marsh →]( For years, South Anchorage residents have used informal trails that run through the undeveloped area — land also critical to Potter Marsh’s thriving wildlife habitat. [Over 12,000 Alaskans are waiting on critical food aid as state’s new food stamp backlog swells →]( The director for Alaska's Division of Public Assistance said a “perfect storm” of challenges in recent weeks exacerbated the current backlog, which is affecting thousands of people who applied or attempted to recertify benefits as far back as July. [NOAA Fisheries releases more information about ‘high level’ of killer whales caught this year by Alaska trawl fleet →]( Six killer whales caught in trawl net gear this year in waters off Alaska died as a result of their entanglement, while a seventh whale was seriously injured by this gear, according to NOAA. [There’s a crisis in the Yukon River →]( Alaska communities have seen a vital food source disappear as fewer salmon make it up the Yukon River. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Alaska skiers spur successful World Cup weekend for Americans →]( [Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go →]( [UAF sweeps UAA to win Governor’s Cup series →]( [The Supreme Court wrestles with OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy deal, with billions of dollars at stake →]( [White House warns congress nearly ‘out of time’ on Ukraine funds →]( [Travel: A Spanish region with a diverse and fascinating history, Andalusia is worth a trip for a curious traveler →]( 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