As a Cessna 185 on floats sits shore side at Lake Hood Float Plane Base the Alaska and US flags fly in the breeze at sunset in Anchorage, AK on Monday, August 19, 2024. (Bob Hallinen Photo)
People at Point Woronzof watch an Atlas Air Boeing 777 en route from JFK New York land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Labor Day, Sept. 2, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Sandhill cranes are gathering at a farm near Palmer as they prepare to migrate. Photographed on Sunday, August 11, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
A cottonwood tree was blown over at Spenard Beach Park adjacent to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage during the windstorm and rainfall on Sunday, August 18, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Tonya Fowler photographs a fallen cottonwood tree that was blown over into the parking lot at Spenard Beach Park, adjacent to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, during the windstorm and rain in Anchorage on Sunday, August 18, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Tasha Hazen, teacher of a fourth and fifth-grade combination class at Willow Crest Elementary School, reads a book called “First Day Jitters” to her students on August 15, 2024. Hazen, who is beginning her second year teaching at Willow Crest and her 14th in the Anchorage School District, said she has several students this year who are new to Anchorage and Alaska. After reading the book, Hazen shared with the students that she has moved 29 times in her life. “I know how you feel if you’re new to the school,” she said. “So if you guys are feeling anxious, feeling nervous, come see me. There’s really great kids in here who will help you get to know the school.” Thursday was the first day of school in the Anchorage School District for most grades, something that Hazen said she gets nervous about also. “It’s been a great day so far,” she said. (Marc Lester / ADN)
From left, Jetzy Kennah, 8, Dominie Stanley, 8, and August Stanley, 7, prepare rhubarb lemonade for sale at their stand on Tudor Road in Anchorage on August 14, 2024. April Stanley said the kids operated their stand a few days this summer and in recent summers, serving walk-up and drive-up customers in front of the family’s Happy Dog Day Camp business. Dominie said the business, which also sold rhubarb lemon loaf, is for “college money.” (Marc Lester / ADN)
A recent dusting of snow on Matanuska Peak, left, in the Chugach Mountains near Palmer was still visible on Sunday, August 11, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
The Zipper and Century Wheel at the Carnival Midway are reflected in a rain puddle at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer on Sunday, August 11, 2024. The Alaska State Fair begins Friday, August 16, and runs through Labor Day, Monday. Sept. 2. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Chloe Kim touches up the paint at a vendor booth on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer on Sunday, August 11, 2024. The Alaska State Fair begins Friday, August 16, and runs through Labor Day, Monday. Sept. 2. (Bill Roth / ADN) (Bill Roth / ADN)
A Nicrophorus investigator, a species of burying beetle, climbs tall grass on the Anchorage hillside on August 5, 2024. Burying beetles are scavengers and feed on carcasses of birds and rodents, which they bury. (Marc Lester / ADN)
Altocumulus standing lenticular clouds create a wavy pattern over Anchorage near the Chucach Mountains on August 5, 2024. (Marc Lester / ADN)
Jenny Okpeaha and her two-year-old niece Mia Hernandez dash through rainfall in Midtown Anchorage on their way to go shopping on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Sterling Farnham, 4, and his brother Parker, 2, hang out in a 1955 MG TF 1500 during the 46th annual Jay Ofsthun Memorial Show & Shine at the Delaney Park Strip on Sunday, August 4, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
With medals dangling from their necks Service huddled around the championship trophy as they celebrated a 8-5 victory over Eagle River in the Alaska American Legion State Baseball Tournament title game at Mulcahy Stadium on Thursday, August 1, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
Cottongrass grows at Storck Homestead Park on the Anchorage hillside on August 5, 2024. (Marc Lester / ADN)
Eagle River batter Kamden Kurtz carries his helmet as runs back to the dugout during a 8-5 loss to Service in the Alaska American Legion State Baseball Tournament title game at Mulcahy Stadium on Thursday, August 1, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)
A UPS cargo jet departs to the south from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on August 5, 2024. (Marc Lester / ADN)
Brian Malta of Anchorage kite surfs on Turnagain Arm near McHugh Creek Trailhead on August 1, 2024. Malta said the area is one of several popular spots with kite surfers in the Anchorage area because the beach is exposed in the hours before low tide. Wind blowing around 20 miles per hour to the south or southeast generally makes for good conditions, he said. Malta said he has been a kite surfer on Turnagain Arm for about 20 years. “When you get out on the water and you look back and you’re able to see all this from a different perspective, it’s just awe-inspiring,” he said of the mountainous surroundings. (Marc Lester / ADN)
Brian Malta of Anchorage returns to the beach after a session of kite surfing on Turnagain Arm near McHugh Creek Trailhead on August 1, 2024. Malta said the area is one of several popular spots with kite surfers in the Anchorage area because the beach is exposed in the hours before low tide. Wind blowing around 20 miles per hour to the south or southeast generally makes for good conditions, he said. Malta said he has been a kite surfer on Turnagain Arm for about 20 years. “When you get out on the water and you look back and you’re able to see all this from a different perspective, it’s just awe-inspiring,” he said of the mountainous surroundings. (Marc Lester / ADN)
Construction work continues on a replacement for Inlet View Elementary School on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. The roughly $50 million project received the final funding it needed with the passage of a $19 million bond package in April, and broke ground in June. The current school, which was built in 1957 and is overcrowded, will remain open while the new building, which can accommodate nearly 300 students, is completed. (Loren Holmes / ADN)