Sullivan Arena will return to hosting events in fall, Anchorage mayor says

Also: Alaska Regional's plan to open a free-standing ER in South Anchorage is drawing pushback from ER doctors at Providence who are raising concerns over the cost of care and patient risk. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Northrim Bank]( Support independent reporting on what Alaskans care about most. [Subscribe today.]( Good afternoon. It’s Monday, July 31. In today's newsletter: - Mayor Bronson says Sullivan Arena, which served as Anchorage's main mass shelter during the pandemic, [will finally return]( to hosting events later this year. Plus: Read what the mayor [is saying]( about his reelection campaign, his administration's early missteps and more. - Some ER doctors at a rival hospital [expressed concerns]( that Alaska Regional's proposed free-standing emergency department could increase the cost of care and put some patients at risk. - The idea of buying one-way tickets out of Anchorage for people who are homeless isn't new — but the realities [are complicated](. Close viewers of the popular [Katmai bear cam]( had wondered about the whereabouts of one of the national park's most well-known brown bears, 480 Otis, after he hadn't appeared at his favorite fishing spot by mid-July. It turns out, Otis was [getting a late start to the season]( and some say the late salmon runs and climate change are to blame. Anchorage weather Today's mostly cloudy skies are expected to give way to more sunshine this afternoon and tomorrow. Daytime highs are forecast to hover in the low to mid-70s over the next few days, with a haze settling in Tuesday night and Wednesday. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Vicky Ho, vho@adn.com [Sullivan Arena will reopen for events this year, Anchorage Mayor Bronson says →]( After Sullivan Arena served as a mass homeless shelter during much of the pandemic, it's now on track to return to its intended use this fall, Mayor Dave Bronson said. The general manager of O’Malley Ice and Sports, which will pay the city to operate the arena, said it'll be ready to host events starting in November. ADVERTISEMENT [Alaska Regional wants to build a free-standing emergency department in South Anchorage. Some local ER doctors are adamantly opposed. →]( The new facility won’t be equipped to treat all life-threatening emergencies. That could put some patients at risk, opponents said, adding it was likely the facility would charge more for the same type of care available at urgent care clinics or doctors' offices. [In interview, Mayor Bronson acknowledges some missteps, conveys confidence in reelection →]( Story with video: Though he’s criticized Anchorage’s election system, the mayor said during a wide-ranging interview with the Daily News that he has “no proof whatsoever” that the last few elections “haven’t been done freely and fairly." [Buying one-way plane tickets for homeless people in Anchorage isn’t a new idea. But the realities are complicated. →]( A plan backed by the mayor to buy homeless people in Anchorage one-way plane tickets out of town could be effective for some people — but it’s far from a universal fix and wouldn't eliminate the need for winter shelter, providers say. [City walks back decision to abruptly end contract for Anchorage Safety Patrol after pushback →]( Public safety and hospital officials said that abruptly pausing the Anchorage Safety Patrol program — which provides critical van services for incapacitated people on city streets and brings them to the sleep-off center — would place a significant strain on the rest of the emergency services system. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Pedestrian struck by SUV in Midtown Anchorage dies →]( [Police shoot black bear that raided trash and charged people in East Anchorage →]( [Man arrested after several people report being assaulted, threatened on East Anchorage trails →]( [In Disability Pride Month, Alaska advocates celebrate progress and look to a more accessible future →]( [Theft of specialty bikes worth $90K places some Challenge Alaska programs in limbo →]( [Customers want instant gratification. Workers from Hollywood to UPS say it’s pushing them to the brink. →]( [Why falling off a cruise ship is so deadly →]( The ADN relies on readers like you. [Get digital access to the ADN for as low as $1.99 for the first month]( and help us cover the news that matters most here in Alaska. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States