🌱 Patch AM: What changes are coming with Anchorage’s new municipal seal?

Hello again Anchorage! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What changes are coming with Anchorage’s new municipal seal?
• Why did the Anchorage Assembly kill a new vacation rental tax?
• What Mat-Su’s surprise move means for Anchorage’s Eaglexit fight now.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Very cold with plenty of sun, with a high of 12 and low of 0 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Very cold with clouds and sun, temps: high: 6, low: 0.
• Saturday: Partly sunny and very cold, with a high of 8 and low of -2 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Anchorage has a new municipal seal (alaskapublic.org) — Anchorage’s Assembly has narrowly approved a new municipal seal, keeping the familiar anchor and sun but adding a Dena’ina quillwork-inspired braided circle and removing the plane and James Cook’s ship. The 7–5 vote followed debate over whether the process included enough public input, and residents will gradually see the new design on city letterhead, websites, vehicles, and other municipal materials.
   

2. Anchorage Assembly votes down 5% tax on vacation rental stays, approves registration tracking (adn.com) — Anchorage Assembly members have rejected a proposed 5% tax on vacation rental stays but approved a new registration requirement so the city can better track short-term rentals. The debate highlighted concerns about housing affordability, data gaps, and fairness between hotels and local hosts, with Girdwood’s heavy reliance on vacation rentals emerging as a key pressure point for future policy.
   

3. Mat-Su Assembly indefinitely delays talks on annexing Eagle River, Chugiak (matsusentinel.com) — Anchorage readers should know the Mat-Su Assembly has shelved talks about annexing Chugiak-Eagle River, opting to wait on a state ruling about the Eaglexit breakaway plan from the Municipality of Anchorage. The decision leaves residents in limbo over whether the area might someday form its own borough or pursue annexation into Mat-Su instead.
   

4. Anchorage jury convicts man in 2022 killing involving body discovered in plastic tote box (adn.com) — An Anchorage jury has convicted 43-year-old Adam Darius Pringle of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the 2022 killing of Keenan Wegener, whose body was found in a plastic tote in an East Anchorage garage. The case, overseen by an Anchorage Superior Court judge, highlights how pretrial ankle monitoring and a Kalgin Street home became central to uncovering the crime.
   

5. Out-of-control Alaska Airlines passenger tries to opens plane door mid-flight (nypost.com) — Passengers and crew on an Alaska Airlines flight into Anchorage restrained a man who allegedly tried to open an emergency cabin door mid-flight before the plane landed safely and law enforcement met it in Anchorage. The FBI later arrested the passenger, who now faces a federal charge of interfering with flight crew members and a possible lengthy prison sentence.
   

📸 Around Anchorage

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Preschool Storytime
  Sutton Public Library , 11301 Chickaloon Way , Sutton
  11:00 am
• ABC123 Storytime
  Valdez Consortium Library , 212 Fairbanks PO Box 609 , Valdez
  11:15 am
• Game Night at Gerrish
  Anchorage Public Library (Scott & Wesley Gerrish Library) , 250 Egloff Dr , Girdwood
  4:00 pm
• Songwriters In The Round
  Four Corners Lounge LLC , 8000 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy , Palmer
  7:00 pm
• Colony High School Boys Basketball vs Wasilla High School
  Colony High School , 9550 E Bogard Rd , Palmer
  7:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Preschool Storytime
  Valdez Consortium Library , 212 Fairbanks PO Box 609 , Valdez
  11:15 am
• Santa Visits Alyeska
  Alyeska Resort , 1000 Arlberg Ave , Girdwood
  3:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Coffee with a Veteran at Black Birch Books
  Black Birch Books , 2901 E. Bogard Rd #104 , Wasilla
  10:00 am
• Community Hikes in Palmer — Revel Treks & Tours
  2955 Mountain Trail Cir , Palmer
  6:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Recycle Sutton
  Sutton Transfer Site , 15625 North Glenn Highway , Sutton-Alpine
  2:00 pm

Monday December 22

• AKtive Soles Happy Run
  AKtive Soles Performance Footwear , 642 S. Alaska St. Ste. 100 , Palmer
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
  Nini was LOST on December 14, 2025 in Anchorage, AK 99501 near Between Depot and the fire department Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest… (Nextdoor Upper Northeast)
• Dog looks lost.
  Seen about 415 pm 12/16 wandering through Stanton Ave culdesac near bog. Would not come near me, might be headed toward McKinnis. (Nextdoor Tudor Area)

• Kroger posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Wasilla. Apply here.
• McDonald's Restaurants posted a job opening for McDonald's STARTS AT $16/hr openers, closers, dayside, overnights Anchorage, Kodiak, ER, Airport, Palmer, Wasilla in Wasilla. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Anchorage here.

Ok Anchorage! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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