In Midtown, a homeless camp spirals into despair and dysfunction

Plus: Anchorage Assembly approves change allowing duplexes in single-family areas ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Matson]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, June 26. In today's newsletter: - A homeless camp crowding a city street in Midtown Anchorage [spiraled into dangerous despair]( even before a shooting last weekend killed one man and wounded another there, neighbors say. - The Anchorage Assembly has narrowly [approved a hotly debated change]( to city zoning rules that broadly expands where duplexes can be built. - An Iñupiaq language teacher from Utqiaġvik [made her screen debut]( this month in the popular, Emmy-winning Netflix show “Sweet Tooth.” It feels like June went by in a flash, but there are still a few days left in the month and still a handful of ways to celebrate Pride Month, including the Anchorage Pride Parade and festival. Check out our list of Pride events [here](. In the rare event that your summer calendar hasn't quite filled up yet, our [summer guide]( to Alaska's fairs and festivals has plenty to choose from. Anchorage weather It's mostly sunny today with a high near 68 degrees. We should see at least partly sunny skies for the rest of the week, before a chance of rain enters the forecast on Sunday. Daytime temperatures will continue to hover in the high 60s and low 70s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Midtown Anchorage camp where a man was killed is a site of despair and dysfunction, neighbors say →]( The dense sidewalk camp on Fairbanks Street exposes an ill-defined policy on homeless vehicle camps. Community leaders and business owners say they don’t understand why the city hasn’t taken action. ADVERTISEMENT [Anchorage Assembly narrowly approves zoning initiative allowing duplexes in single-family areas →]( The vote comes as the city faces an acute housing shortage, with rents and home prices skyrocketing in recent years. The measure’s sponsors say the change will help add housing. [‘When the opportunity comes, you strike’: Iñupiaq language teacher featured in popular Netflix show →]( With her “Sweet Tooth” role, Jamie Sikkattuaq Harcharek said she hopes to encourage children in her family and Indigenous youths overall to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. [Popular weekly Palmer street fair paused due to ‘safety issues’ →]( A popular street fair held in downtown Palmer on Fridays during the summer will be canceled for the next two weeks because of safety problems caused by vehicles driving through the event’s staging area, local officials said. (via Mat-Su Sentinel) [Federal authorizations for Western Alaska’s Donlin mine face legal scrutiny →]( Tribal and environmental opponents say federal agencies understated the impacts of what would be one of the world’s biggest gold mines. (via Alaska Beacon) ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [North Pole council removes mayor after botched contract for repainting candy-cane streetlights →]( [Biden pardons potentially thousands of ex-service members convicted under now-repealed gay sex ban →](Biden%20pardons%20potentially%20thousands%20of%20ex-service%20members%20convicted%20under%20now-repealed%20gay%20sex%20ban) [Avocado hand: How to avoid an injury so common that surgeons have a name for it →]( [Supreme Court, in mistakenly posted opinion, seems poised to allow emergency abortions in Idaho for now →]( [Lagging U.S. crime data fuels misperceptions and thwarts prevention, study finds →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States