Powerful winds cause outages and destruction in Matanuska Valley

Also: Youth mental health providers say the pandemic shed light on an existing problem, but more support is needed in Alaska. Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Anchorage Daily News]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, January 3. In today's newsletter: - Powerful winds that whipped through Southcentral Alaska bring outages and destruction in the Matanuska Valley. - Youth mental health providers say the pandemic shed light on an existing problem, but more support is needed in Alaska. - The story of a 500-year-old spruce tree in the Tongass National Forest invites the question: Are old-growth trees worth more to us dead or alive? 2021 was a rough year for many Alaskans, but there were also moments of beauty and peace. We've collected [100 of our favorite photos]( from the past year, including scenes of joy and humor, celebrations of Alaskans' achievements as well as the more difficult moments that shaped our community. Here's hoping for a brighter 2022. ☀️ Anchorage weather The winds have largely died down in Anchorage, where today's sunshine and high of 4 degrees are expected to give way to clear nighttime skies and an overnight low of minus 7. Looking ahead, clear conditions and single-digit highs are forecast to stick around for the rest of the workweek. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Vicky Ho, vho@adn.com [Powerful winds cause outages and destruction in Matanuska Valley]( [Powerful winds cause outages and destruction in Matanuska Valley]( Powerful winds that ripped through Southcentral Alaska over the weekend caused chaos in Mat-Su — damaging buildings, flipping airplanes and truck trailers, sending debris flying and leaving thousands without power overnight with temperatures near zero. The Red Cross opened emergency 24-hour shelters in Palmer and Wasilla for people in need of refuge while the borough school district canceled classes on both Monday and Tuesday. [Read More]( [Youth mental health providers say the pandemic shed light on an existing problem, but more support is needed in Alaska]( [Youth mental health providers say the pandemic shed light on an existing problem, but more support is needed in Alaska]( Providers in Alaska who work with teens say resources in Alaska are limited — that mental health education in schools is lacking, that there aren’t enough in-state inpatient beds for those needing high-level care, and that teens still don’t always know where to turn when they need help. Youth mental health has been a longstanding issue in Alaska, and we're hoping to learn more about the challenges facing teens seeking mental health resources relevant to them. [Help us report on this story](. [Read More]( [Alaska reports 3,700 new COVID infections in 7-day period]( [Alaska reports 3,700 new COVID infections in 7-day period]( In the week after Christmas, Alaska saw a 262% increase in the number of COVID-19 cases compared to the seven-day average in the previous reporting period. According to state data, 3,689 cases were logged by Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services from Dec. 27 to Sunday, compared to 1,018 during the previous period. [Read More]( [Standing tall]( [SPONSORED: Standing tall]( Presented by Alaska Regional Hospital: Reconstructing the spine through robotic surgery. [Read More]( [This Southeast Alaska tree has stood for 500 years. Will it be sold for $17,500?]( [This Southeast Alaska tree has stood for 500 years. Will it be sold for $17,500?]( Old-growth trees in Tongass National Forest, which holds nearly twice as much carbon dioxide as the U.S. releases each year by burning fossil fuels, are embroiled in the politics of timber and climate change. [Read More]( More from the ADN [Impacts of vacant state jobs ripple through Alaska, from a plow driver shortage to a tied-up ferry]( [Impacts of vacant state jobs ripple through Alaska, from a plow driver shortage to a tied-up ferry]( [Read More]( [Q&A with Alaska’s top epidemiologist: What we know about omicron, and what we might expect]( [Q&A with Alaska’s top epidemiologist: What we know about omicron, and what we might expect]( [Read More]( [Abandoned infant found in cardboard box in Fairbanks on New Year’s Eve]( [Abandoned infant found in cardboard box in Fairbanks on New Year’s Eve]( [Read More]( [FDA expands Pfizer boosters to younger teens as omicron surges]( [FDA expands Pfizer boosters to younger teens as omicron surges]( [Read More]( [Seawolf wins cross-country skiing national title in strong showing by Alaska contingent]( [Seawolf wins cross-country skiing national title in strong showing by Alaska contingent]( [Read More]( [Seattle Kraken fan lauded for pointing out Canucks equipment manager’s cancerous mole during game]( [Seattle Kraken fan lauded for pointing out Canucks equipment manager’s cancerous mole during game]( [Read More]( The ADN relies on readers like you. 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