ASD backs off plan upending elementary art, health instruction

And: PFD constitutional amendment advances to House floor vote ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Matson]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, Feb. 21. In today's newsletter: - The Anchorage School District has [withdrawn a proposal]( to cut dedicated elementary art classes and health instructors that drew significant outcry from parents and educators. - A proposed amendment to the Alaska Constitution that would guarantee an annual Permanent Fund dividend has [advanced to a vote]( on the House floor. - Anchorage residents have less than two weeks to register or update voter registrations in order to cast a ballot the April city election. [Here's a guide]( to registration and other key election details. An [ancient, renewable resource]( is experiencing a revival as more industries look for alternatives to plastic and other materials derived from fossil fuels. It makes homes warmer, cars lighter and clothes biodegradable — while still absorbing carbon. The material displacing plastic and creating a billion-dollar industry? Cork. Anchorage weather It's partly sunny today with a high near 37 degrees, but clouds will increase through the day and there's a chance of snow starting later this afternoon. A chance of precipitation will hang around through the rest of the week, with daytime temperatures gradually dropping from the mid-30s to the low 20s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Anchorage School District walks back plan to cut dedicated elementary art classes and health instructors →]( The proposal, which drew opposition from teachers and parents, would have replaced elementary school art with a new hybrid class that merged five subjects into a single hour: science, technology, engineering, art and math, or STEAM. Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt said it was introduced without enough time for public input. ADVERTISEMENT [PFD constitutional amendment advances to House floor vote →]( If approved by voters, the dividend would be paid out annually at the amount in state statute. Supporters say it would force legislators to pass a fiscal plan. [Voter registration deadline, mayoral forums and more coming up in Anchorage’s city election →]( Here’s where to register to vote, what’s on the ballot, information on upcoming candidate forums and other key dates in the municipal election. [Homemade silencers, Clorox and latex gloves: What police found in Brian Smith’s home and truck →]( Brian Smith bought beer and a phone from Walmart in the hours immediately before Kathleen Henry was filmed being strangled to death in an Anchorage hotel room, and Clorox cleaning products the day after, jurors heard. [Iditarod’s 2023 top rookie, facing assault charge, disqualified from this year’s race →]( The race’s governing body disqualified musher Eddie Burke Jr. under a broad personal-conduct rule in the Iditarod handbook, but offered few other details. [Domino’s asked U.S. cities if they wanted money for snowplowing. Anchorage residents said ‘yes, please.’ →]( After getting a blizzard of requests from Anchorage residents, behemoth pizza company Domino’s is giving the city a $25,000 grant for snowplowing. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Boeing ousts head of 737 jetliner program, appoints new vice president of quality →]( [2024 Iron Dog midpoint: Team of Cody Barber and Brett Lapham is first to Nome →]( [Washington state man sentenced to 20 years for enticing Bethel girl →]( [How the housing industry is working to stall requirements for more energy efficient homes →]( [Biden administration cancels $1.2B in student loans with new repayment plan →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States