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Good afternoon. It’s Friday, Dec. 5.

In today's newsletter:

Some Anchorage School Board members say an $83 million budget deficit facing the district next year cannot be solved without massive cuts to educational programs and increased class sizes.
The Alaska Division of Public Assistance continues to lag in processing food assistance requests on time, amid a federal shutdown and other factors that complicated the application review process in recent weeks.
An Alaska-raised filmmaker is returning to the Anchorage International Film Festival to debut his feature-length movie shot in Ketchikan, where he grew up in the theater community.

Don't let the first major cold snap of the winter season keep you inside all weekend. There are plenty of things to entertain in Anchorage, from holiday bazaars and live music to a bevy of First Friday art openings. You can also check out the Anchorage International Film Festival, which begins today and runs for more than a week.

Anchorage weather

It's partly sunny today with a high near 12 degrees. The forecast calls for partly to mostly sunny skies over the weekend and into next week, though there is a high wind advisory in effect for the Anchorage area through Sunday. Daytime highs will drop into the single digits over the next few days.

Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today.

— Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com

More proposals for program cuts coming as Anchorage School District again faces massive deficit →

Anchorage school leaders say declining enrollment, increasing expenses, and the fact that the district has exhausted its savings account are all contributing to the budget deficit.

Alaska-raised filmmaker makes triumphant return to Anchorage International Film Festival →

In 2021, Emilio Miguel Torres premiered a short film at the Anchorage International Film Festival. Four years later, the 25-year-old will return to the festival with a full-length version of "The Ladder," which has already earned more than 10 major awards at other festivals across the country.

SNAP backlog stubbornly persists for thousands of Alaskans, and the federal shutdown added to challenges →

Fewer than half of the applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program filed in October were processed on time, according to court reports.

Anchorage water rates likely to increase around 5% in 2026 →

The Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility says inflation, supply prices and energy expenses are driving up costs.

Congress eliminates Biden-era plan in Arctic refuge, opening door to expanded drilling opportunities →

The U.S. Senate voted to eliminate the 2024 leasing program for the refuge that put much of the refuge’s 1.6-million-acre coastal plain off-limits to potential drilling.

More from the ADN

Alaska Airlines CFO says IT system OK, even after repeated failures →

UAF ousts UAA in first round of West Regional DII volleyball tournament →

Twisted Sister to perform at 2026 Alaska State Fair →

Supreme Court agrees to decide whether Trump order barring birthright citizenship violates Constitution →

Navy deployment marred by friendly fire, lost jets, collision at sea →

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