Anchorage School Board hears pleas to save gifted program from cuts

And: Enstar tells lawmakers it was ‘extremely close’ to being unable to deliver gas during Anchorage cold snap ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Matson]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, Feb. 7. In today's newsletter: - The Anchorage School Board heard from frustrated parents and teachers who [asked the board to reconsider proposed cuts]( to a popular program for gifted students, among other changes. - For the first time this campaign season, all four major Anchorage mayoral candidates appeared together in a forum that gave them [the chance to propose policy solutions]( to the city's housing shortage. - Executives from Southcentral Alaska’s natural gas utility told lawmakers that a critical gas storage facility was [“extremely close” to being depleted]( during last week’s cold snap. After a brief hibernation, a Fourth Avenue bear is back in downtown Anchorage. The recognizable 300-pound, 9-foot-8 fiberglass grizzly has kept a southeasterly view of downtown from above a gift shop entryway for 25 years. After being taken down to be restored,[the giant bear was hoisted]( back into position this week. Anchorage weather It's mostly cloudy today with a high near 28 degrees, and clouds will increase throughout the day. We'll see a mix of clouds and sun over the next two days, but snow is likely this weekend. Daytime temperatures will rise from the mid-20s to the mid-30s by the end of the week. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage School Board hears community pleas to save IGNITE gifted program →]( It was the first opportunity board members and the public had to weigh in on the school district's proposed budget for the upcoming school year that includes millions in cuts meant to offset a nearly $100 million deficit. ADVERTISEMENT [At first major forum, Anchorage mayoral candidates find little consensus on housing shortage →]( The four most prominent candidates to become Anchorage's mayor were asked about their solutions to the state’s labor shortage, barriers to new development and their vision for housing a decade from now. [Enstar tells lawmakers it was ‘extremely close’ to being unable to deliver gas during Anchorage cold snap →]( The cold weather and Cook Inlet’s looming gas shortage have sparked renewed interest in the state Capitol about how to secure Southcentral’s energy production. [Roof collapses on unoccupied Anchorage commercial building with heavy snow load →]( There have been nine collapses so far this season in Anchorage, including two last weekend. Snow has fallen at a record pace so far this winter, with the city receiving more than 9 feet of snow. [Smith ‘targeted the most vulnerable’ in Anchorage killings, prosecutor says. The defense says the evidence is flawed. →]( In opening arguments, prosecutors contended Brian Steven Smith sought women who existed on the margins of Anchorage life before wreaking brutal violence on them. The defense says the evidence against him is far from clear-cut. [Anchorage man charged with sexually abusing child may have other victims, police say →]( Police say they are investigating additional reports of potential abuse involving a former Anchorage child care worker after publicizing his December arrest on child sex abuse charges. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Alaska governor bans big new contracts with companies that boycott Israel →]( [Pregnant woman wounded in Northeast Anchorage shooting has died →]( [Senate Republicans block bipartisan border package, setting up push for smaller bill with money for Ukraine and Israel →]( [Houston again reigns supreme in Division II hockey →]( [Netanyahu rejects Hamas cease-fire demands, vows to fight until ‘absolute victory’ →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States