Alaska construction season at risk after feds reject plan

And: LaFrance far outpaces competitors in first round of campaign fundraising reports for Anchorage mayor’s race ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Good afternoon. It’s Friday, February 16. In today's newsletter: - The state's four-year, $5.6 billion transportation plan [has been rejected by the federal government]( which could delay or jeopardize planned road construction projects across the state. - In the first major release of campaign fundraising reports, Anchorage mayoral candidate Suzanne LaFrance [far outraised her opponents](. - Jurors in the murder trial of Anchorage resident Brian Smith heard from more than a half-dozen law enforcement witnesses who [described the complex investigation]( into the deaths of two Alaska Native women. Today is Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, the day Alaskans commemorate the Tlingit civil rights leader and celebrate her legacy of championing the state's Anti-Discrimination Act. There are events to commemorate her [happening today]( across the state. Looking ahead to the weekend, there are plenty of [things to do in the Anchorage area]( from a Tony award-winning musical to a fashion show. Anchorage weather It's sunny today with a high near 30 degrees. Skies will be mostly clear tonight, but clouds will start increasing Saturday. There's a chance of snow in the forecast early next week, and daytime temperatures will range from the low to high 30s over the next several days. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Alaska's $5.6 billion transportation plan rejected by feds, putting road construction projects in jeopardy →]( The state's current plan expires March 31. Without a new plan or an approved alternative, the state could not spend federal funds on new construction projects starting in April, officials said. Federal highway administrators noted significant missing information in the plan on how projects would be operated, maintained and funded. ADVERTISEMENT [LaFrance far outpaces competitors in first round of campaign fundraising reports for Anchorage mayor’s race →]( The fundraising figures are an indication of where candidates are receiving support, and whether it’s coming from a broad base of individual donors or a smaller group floating a campaign. [In Smith trial, jury hears how railroad workers discovered body; detectives tracked movements on night of killing →]( Law enforcement witnesses gave testimony on topics ranging from FBI cellphone tracking data to physical searches of Smith’s home and truck to forensic techniques used to process multiple crime scenes. [With deadline looming, more than half of Alaska’s relief funds for homeless students are unspent →]( Alaska could miss out on more than half of a $2.3 million boost to its existing programs for those students if it doesn’t spend the money by this September. (via Alaska Beacon) [Father-daughter duo aim to rev up Service High girls basketball and build a lasting legacy →]( Freshman phenom Aryanna Watson and her dad, Harvey, are trying to establish a new culture with the Cougars and ensure she goes down as one of the greatest female hoopsters to hail from Alaska. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Trump fined $364 million in New York civil fraud case over financial statements →]( [‘Home is where the Army sends us’: Military families share challenges of living and thriving in Alaska →]( [2 juveniles charged in deadly Kansas City shooting, mayor says →]( [Before Russia’s satellite threat, there were Starfish Prime, nesting dolls and robotic arms →]( [Alaska gardening: Assess the snowpack in your yard while planning for spring gardening →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States