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Good afternoon. It’s Thursday, July 9.

In today's newsletter:

Twelve schools across the state closed their doors in May. Superintendents point to insufficient and unpredictable state funding, demographic changes and, to varying degrees, the proliferation of school choice.
In the Anchorage School District, about 60 teaching positions and funding for some student activities has been restored with additional state money for the upcoming school year.
The Anchorage Assembly approved funding for a proposed behavioral health center in Fairview, despite disagreement and opposition from some members.

The best part of summer reading is that you can read anything. The most challenging part? You can read anything, so what will you choose? Here are 16 new books to keep an eye out for this month.

Anchorage weather

It's cloudy and rainy today with a high around 67 degrees. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies on Friday before the return of rain over the weekend. Daytime highs will range from the high 60s to mid-70s over the next few days.

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

— Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com

Outmigration, inflation, choice schools: Alaska school closures likely to continue without changes →

School district officials have framed closures as a means to bridge multimillion-dollar deficits, but some research suggests districts don’t realize meaningful savings. Closures can also have negative impacts on students and families.

Anchorage School Board adds teachers, nurses with additional state funding →

The board appropriated more than $11 million in state funding this week. Since April, the district has recalled all 259 teachers who had been laid off or displaced.

Anchorage behavioral health center funding approved despite Fairview representatives’ opposition →

The $750,000 federal funding award follows two months of public discourse about where social services should be located in Anchorage.

Still split on what to do next, Anchorage Assembly postpones further talks about George Martinez →

Members will take up the proposed removal and censure again at the Assembly’s July 21 meeting after seeking additional legal counsel.

Police report at least one fatality in collision on southbound Glenn Highway near Anchorage weigh station →

Numerous units from the Anchorage Fire Department also responded to what fire officials called a “horrific wreck” in a Facebook post offering assistance to bystanders.

Kenai woman seriously injured in bear mauling, troopers say →

The woman fired several rounds from a shotgun at the sow with cubs before it attacked her, according to Alaska State Troopers.