Alaska
Southwest Airlines Begins First-Ever Alaska Service at Anchorage
ANCHORAGE — Southwest Airlines (WN) has launched its first-ever service to Alaska, beginning seasonal flights to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) from Denver International Airport (DEN) and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).
The carrier scheduled Anchorage service to begin on May 15, 2026, with once-daily flights through the summer from both Denver and Las Vegas. Southwest’s booking site now markets Anchorage flights, with fares and connecting itineraries visible from multiple U.S. cities.
Southwest adds its 43rd state
Anchorage becomes Southwest’s 122nd airport and brings Alaska into the carrier’s domestic network as its 43rd U.S. state. The airline had announced the move in October 2025, describing Anchorage as one of several new 2026 destinations added as part of a broader network expansion.
The launch follows Southwest’s recent additions of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Knoxville, Tennessee; Sint Maarten; and Santa Rosa/Sonoma County, California. Anchorage is the most geographically distinct of those additions, extending Southwest’s map into a market where air travel is unusually central to state connectivity.
Why anchorage matters
For Alaska, Southwest’s arrival adds another large U.S. carrier at ANC and increases competition on two important Lower 48 corridors. Alaska transportation officials framed the service as a boost for passenger choice, tourism, business travel, and broader state connectivity.
The Denver and Las Vegas launch points are also strategic. Denver gives Southwest a strong inland connecting point to much of its domestic network, while Las Vegas adds another high-volume leisure gateway. Together, the routes allow Southwest to test Alaska demand without immediately entering more crowded West Coast-to-Anchorage markets.
Part of a larger southwest reset
The Anchorage launch comes as Southwest continues to reshape both its network and onboard product. The airline has been rolling out assigned and premium seating, free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members, and in-seat power on Boeing 737-8 aircraft as part of its redesigned cabin strategy.
That context matters. Anchorage is not just a novelty dot on the map; it is part of Southwest’s wider attempt to broaden vacation demand, strengthen connecting relevance, and enter markets that historically sat outside its traditional network profile.
Impacts
For travelers, the immediate impact is simple: Anchorage now has new seasonal nonstop options from Denver and Las Vegas, backed by Southwest’s large connecting network. For ANC, the service adds another national carrier during the peak summer travel window.
For Southwest, Alaska is a symbolic and strategic expansion. The carrier is moving beyond its old domestic playbook, adding more geographically ambitious destinations while modernizing the product around assigned seating, premium options, and loyalty benefits. The real test will be whether Anchorage performs strongly enough to return beyond the initial summer season.
High school
Baseball
Thursday
Juneau-Douglas 8, Colony 3
West Valley 4, South 2
Dimond 5, Palmer 2
Service 9, Soldotna 4
Friday
South 8, Colony 0
Soldotna 7, Palmer 3
Petersburg 2, Kodiak 1
Juneau-Douglas 11, West Valley 1
Homer 8, Monroe Catholic 5
Service 6, Dimond 3
Saturday
Soldotna 6, South 1
Kodiak 12, Monroe Catholic 2
Dimond 8, West Valley 1
Homer 6, Petersburg 5
Juneau-Douglas 5, Service 4
• • •
Softball
Thursday
Colony 14, Bartlett 3
Delta 13, Soldotna 4
Wasilla 8, Wasilla 7
South 9, Colony 4
Delta 12, Homer 3
Chugiak 17, Bartlett 0
South 13, Juneau-Douglas 5
Sitka 3, Wasilla 2
Colony 17, Service 9
Bartlett 0, Chugiak 0
Friday
Service 6, Bartlett 3
Wasilla 8, Juneau-Douglas 4
North Pole 15, Soldotna 13
Homer 14, Kodiak 7
Chugiak 13, Colony 4
Sitka 10, South 9
Delta 15, Homer 9
North Pole 21, Palmer 20
Palmer 16, Kodiak 11
Homer 8, Soldotna 3
Colony 4, Wasilla 0
South 15, Service 14
Chugiak 8, Sitka 7
Delta 11, North Pole 3
Saturday
Palmer 14, Homer 6
Colony 21, South 11
Palmer 19, North Pole 18
Sitka 12, Colony 0
Palmer 12, Delta 2
Sitka 15, Chugiak 13
• • •
Alaska Baseball League
Monday
Anchorage Glacier Pilots 7, Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks 1
Tuesday
Anchorage Glacier Pilots 2, Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks 1
Friday
Mat-Su Miners 14, Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks 5
Saturday
Mat-Su Miners vs. Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks (Late)
• • •
Alaska Run for Women
Overall Results Top 100
1. Taylor Deal, Anchorage, AK 27:29; 2. Yvonne Jeschke, Anchorage, AK 28:08; 3. Heather Arneson, Anchorage, AK 29:09; 4. Mariah Graham, Anchorage, AK 30:27; 5. Rosie Conway, Anchorage, AK 30:36; 6. Michelle Hill, Anchorage, AK 31:03; 7. Kianna Wika, Anchorage, AK 31:13; 8. Mandy Vincent-Lang, Anchorgae, AK 31:16; 9. Karina Packer, Anchorage, AK 31:32; 10. Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, AK 31:48; 11. Hannah Souders, Anchorage, AK 32:02; 12. Janessa Hirniak, Eagle River, AK 32:06; 13. Megan Murphy, Anchorage, AK 32:13; 14. Emily Olson, Palmer, AK 32:18; 15. Hallidie Phillips, Anchorage, AK 33:02; 16. Sarah Freistone, Anchorage, AK 33:11; 17. Barbara Piromalli, Anchorage, AK 33:12; 18. Morgan Ekemo, Eagle River, AK 33:20; 19. Kaelan Dickinson, Anchorage, AK 33:31; 20. Sofija Spaic, Palmer, AK 33:37; 21. Lia Slemons, Anchorage, AK 33:39; 22. Brynna Gerlach, Anchorage, AK 33:40; 23. Stephanie Arnold, Anchorage, AK 33:40; 24. Rene Sobrino, Anchorage, AK 34:09; 25. Maggie Hamel, Anchorage, AK 34:23; 26. Cora Neroda, Anchorage, AK 34:30; 27. Livia Bond, Anchorage, AK 35:02; 28. Iris Samuels, Anchorage, AK 35:16; 29. Delia Neroda, Anchorage, AK 35:23; 30. Alison Matthews, Anchorage, AK 35:29; 31. Heather Poe, Anchorage, AK 35:49; 32. Siera Chadwick, Anchorage, AK 35:57; 33. Karen Kirk, Eagle River, AK 36:01; 34. Emily Urlacher, Anchorage, AK, AK 36:04; 35. Victoria Bear, Eagle River, AK 36:14; 36. Elizabeth Aarons, Anchorage, AK 36:32; 37. Grace Heglund-Lohman, Anchorage, AK 36:33; 38. Jennifer McGrath, Anchorage, AK 36:34; 39. Samantha Bassler, Anchorage, AK 36:38; 40. Valerie Bixler, Anchorage, AK 36:51; 41. Jennifer Page, Anchorage, AK 36:59; 42. Ashley Shaw, Eagle River, AK 37:02; 43. Annie Hamel, Anchorage, AK 37:12; 44. Samantha Sorensen, Anchorage, AK 37:22; 45. Sylvia Okuley, Chugiak, AK 37:25; 46. Jeni Moon, Chugiak, AK 37:28; 47. Kristen Ford, Seattle, WA 38:03; 48. Kari Skinner, Anchorage, AK 38:12; 49. Elizabet Hermanson, Anchorage, AK 38:19; 50. Jennifer Schmidt, Anchorage, AK 38:38; 51. Sharon Ong, Anchorage, AK 38:41; 52. Tatjana Spaic, Anchorage, AK 38:46; 53. Nikki Wray, Anchorage, AK 38:46; 54. Toril Peterson, Anchorage, AK 39:02; 55. Loren Gurkowski, Anchorage, AK 39:02; 56. Katie Russell, Eagle River, AK 39:03; 57. Valerie Watkins, Anchorage, AK 39:07; 58. Cynthia Decker, Anchorage, AK 39:17; 59. Francesca Singleton, Anchorage, AK 39:20; 60. Almut Tropp, Anchorage, AK 39:28; 61. Andrea Castelbanco Pardo, Anchorage, AK 39:34; 62. Jessica Brawn, Anchorage, AK 39:38; 63. KC Kent, Anchorage, AK 39:38; 64. Courtney Bond, Anchorage, AK 39:46; 65. Sarah Bagron, Anchorage, AK 39:49; 66. Kailey Sayer, Eagle River, AK 39:54; 67. Cindy Freistone, Anchorage, AK 39:55; 68. Celeste Earley, Anchorage, AK 39:57; 69. Ambriel Sandone, Anchorage, AK 39:58; 70. Linda Domjan, Anchorage, AK 40:05; 71. Claudia Rechtor, Anchorage, AK 40:34; 72. Jessica Shaffer, Anchorage, AK 40:40; 73. Kate Seibert, Anchorage, AK 40:55; 74. Eden Johnsen, Anchorage, AK 40:55; 75. Megan Gobeille, Chugiak, AK 40:56; 76. Tirza Cannon, Anchorage, AK 41:08; 77. Rosemary Reynolds, Anchorage, AK 41:13; 78. Lori Guyer, Anchorage, AK 41:14; 79. Lillian Konrath-Bera, Chugiak, AK 41:14; 80. Rosalyn Singleton, Eagle River, AK 41:16; 81. Emily Gulanczyk, Anchorage, AK 41:24; 82. Kayla Scherf, Eagle River, AK 41:25; 83. Haley Young, Wasilla, AK 41:27; 84. Elsa Sternicki, Anchorage, AK 41:34; 85. Mary Kaye Dolan-Hall, Eagle River, AK 41:35; 86. Julie Booher, Eagle River, AK 41:43; 87. Kira Fagerstrom, Wasilla, AK 41:46; 88. Jodi McLaughlin, Anchorage, AK 41:57; 89. Lauren Smayda, Anchorage, AK 41:58; 90. Nina Schwinghammer, Anchorage, AK 41:59; 91. Estrella Molle, Anchorage, AK 41:59; 92. Mari Rueter, Anchorage, AK 42:06; 93. Tereza Neveceralova, Wasilla, AK 42:08; 94. Lindsey Hiltner, Anchorage, AK 42:11; 95. Janet Warner, Eagle River, AK 42:15; 96. Rachel Stein, Palmer, AK 42:27; 97. Marilyn Sandford, Anchorage, AK 42:30; 98. Kayla Snyder, Eagle River, AK 42:30; 99. Kaitlyn DePlasco, Anchorage, AK 42:36; 100. Chrissy Barber, Anchorage, AK 42:51
Survivor
1. Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, AK 31:48; 2. Valerie Watkins, Anchorage, AK 39:07; 3. Cynthia Decker, Anchorage, AK 39:17; 4. Mary Kaye Dolan-Hall, Eagle River, AK 41:35; 5. Tina Powers, Eagle River, AK 43:24; 6. Lesley Yamauchi, Anchorage, AK 45:33; 7. Diane Trammell, Yakima, WA 47:32; 8. Annette Funk, Anchorage, AK 48:13; 9. Tricia Perkins, Anchorage, AK 50:58; 10. Vera Hershey, Wasilla, AK 52:28; 11. Sheri Boggs, Soldotna, AK 53:25; 12. Sharyl Toscano, Anchorage, AK 55:11; 13. Roxanne Caletena, Anchorage, AK 55:23; 14. Ecaterina Alexandru, Willow, AK 56:23; 15. Lori Stender, Eagle River, AK 56:23; 16. Meg Kurtagh, Anchorage, AK 56:33; 17. Patty Christian, Eagle River, AK 57:50; 18. Elaine Tibbetts, Anchorage, AK 58:39; 19. Kevyn Jalone, Anchorage, AK 1:03:10; 20. Dorys Higgins, Willow, AK 1:03:16; 21. Sarah Burrows, Anchorage, AK 1:03:16; 22. Unknown Runner, 1:05:59; 23. Qian Chen, Anchorage, AK 1:07:26; 24. Laurie Schmidt, Anchorage, AK 1:07:27; 25. Denise Hanson, Anchorage, AK 1:07:48; 26. Lauren McQuillan, Eagle River, AK 1:07:48; 27. Diane Frank, Anchorage, AK 1:08:17; 28. Tracy Anna Bader, Anchorage, AK 1:08:27; 29. Patricia Montague, Girdwood, AK 1:11:42; 30. Carol McNeese, Anchorage, AK 1:15:21; 31. Brittan Olsen, Anchorage, AK 1:16:32; 32. Leah Davies, eagle river ak, AK 1:16:34; 33. Julie Baumann, Anchorage, AK 1:16:35; 34. Patricia Anderson, Anchorage, AK 1:17:29; 35. Barbara Lane, Anchorage, AK 1:21:15; 36. Mary Ann Renkert, Anchorage, AK 1:21:19; 37. Jean Funatake, Anchorage, AK 1:21:24; 38. Jacquelyn Wellman, Wasilla, AK 1:22:21; 39. Jan Johnston, Anchorage, AK 1:23:52; 40. Megan Norgaard, Anchorage, AK 1:24:13; 41. Olivia Jenkins, Anchorage, AK 1:24:32; 42. Nancy Correll, Wasilla, AK 1:25:03; 43. Marcia Wakeland, Eagle River, AK 1:25:31; 44. Ljiljana Rezic, Anchorage, AK 1:25:40; 45. Anna Maria Knutson, Wasilla, AK 1:26:04; 46. Lora Lynch, Anchorage, AK 1:26:07; 47. Marla Greenstein, Anchorage, AK 1:26:25; 48. Carol Russell, Anchorage, AK 1:27:34; 49. Kelly Harrington, Anchorage, AK 1:28:48; 50. Cassandra Raun, Anchorage, AK 1:29:04
Winds and fire activity decreased Friday as U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel and aircraft made progress toward containing the Kopshesut Fire (#137), burning about a mile west of Ambler.
Water dropping aircraft and smokejumpers made solid progress on the eastern side of the fire and are reporting about 20% containment. Satellite images show the fire’s perimeter now covers nearly 1,500 acres. Especially because this is an early‑season fire, it is not burning all the vegetation within that area. Hardwoods, willows, and alders usually don’t carry fire well this time of year. Instead, the fire has mainly spread through black spruce — the dominant tree across much of the area — and is not burning into deeper ground layers, making the flames easier to extinguish. The fire has reached the edge of the Kobuk River about a mile southwest of Ambler.
On Thursday, wind gusts up to 30 mph pushed the flames from their starting point at the nearby landfill, carrying the fire through black spruce to the southeast toward the Kobuk River rather than directly toward Ambler. Those winds decreased to 15 mph on Friday. The fast‑moving fire did burn a nearby Native allotment.
Water, whether coming from hoses used by smokejumpers on the ground or dropped from helicopters and airplanes, is having a noticeable impact on calming the flames. Two single‑engine water scoopers delivered more than 100,000 gallons on Thursday and Friday, with 70,200 gallons dropped on Friday alone. Each AT‑802F aircraft can scoop up to 800 gallons in about 15 seconds by skimming across a waterbody at roughly 75 mph. With favorable conditions — such as a clear, debris‑free stretch of the Kobuk River at least 2,200 feet long — the aircraft have been able to increase the number of drops per fuel cycle to 27, resulting in a higher volume of water delivered before needing to refuel.
The USWFS Midnight Sun Hotshots arrived in Ambler on Friday and will take over work on the eastern edge while smokejumpers shift to the western side. The North Star Fire Crew — the USWFS Alaska training crew — is shuttling to Ambler today and will join smokejumpers on the west edge of the fire Sunday. Each federal firefighting hand crew has just over 20 firefighters.
PREDICTED WEATHER — Cooler temperatures are expected Saturday, with a small chance of afternoon showers. Minimum humidity should stay around 45% through the start of the week. Winds will come from the south to southwest at about 10 mph. Another weather system is expected Sunday afternoon and evening, bringing more widespread showers and a better chance of meaningful rainfall, with totals between 0.05 and 0.15 inches through Sunday night.
AIR QUALITY — There is considerable concern about the noxious smoke produced by the burning material in the landfill where the fire began. Both wildfire smoke and smoke from burning trash contain fine particles and other pollutants that can be very harmful to people’s health. These particles can irritate the eyes and lungs and are especially dangerous for Elders, young children, and people with heart or respiratory conditions. Even short‑term exposure can worsen breathing problems. At this time, smoke from the Kopshesut Fire has not significantly drifted into Ambler, but residents should stay alert to changing conditions and take steps to protect their health if smoke moves into the community.
Contact Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at Elizabeth_ipsen@ios.doi.gov or (907)356-5510 for more information.
Read all Kopshesut Fire updates.
 100vw, 700px”/><figcaption class=)
Map showing the Kopshesut Fire’s perimeter near Ambler on June 6, 2026. Click on map for PDF version to download or click here for an interactive map of the area.-USWFS-
U.S. Wildland Fire Service, P.O. Box 35005 1541 Gaffney Road, Fort Wainwright, Ak 99703
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Categories: AK Fire Info, US Wildland Fire Service
Alaska
The prisoner & his mom: How are candidates who’ve never visited Alaska able to run for the state’s federal seats?
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A federal prisoner serving 20 years in a New York prison and his South Dakota mother are both on Alaska’s August primary ballot — and neither have ever set foot in the state.
They are two of several candidates running for Alaska’s federal seats from Lower 48 addresses, raising questions about whether non-residents should appear on the ballot.
“I’ve flown over it,” said Carol Hafner, the South Dakota resident and Alaska Senate candidate. “As far as boots on the ground, that’s in my future.”
Her son Eric Hafner, a federal inmate who has also not visited Alaska, is again on the ballot as a Democrat. He last ran for Alaska’s U.S. House seat in 2024 and is now seeking the same seat in 2026.
Eric Hafner was convicted in 2022 of threatening to kill judges, police officers and others, as well as making false bomb threats. He was sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison and is currently serving out his sentence in a New York federal prison.
His 2024 run prompted Alaska Democrats to sue the state elections division in an attempt to remove him from the ballot.
MORE: Full 2026 election coverage in Alaska
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in a 4-1 decision that Hafner could remain on Alaska’s U.S. House ballot. He was able to make it past the primary contest to the final ballot but received less than 1% of the vote in the general election.
“The state cannot put in higher requirements than what the federal constitution and federal laws have to say on this issue,” Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, told Alaska’s News Source Thursday.
The Alaska State Constitution does have a residency requirement for state positions, like positions in the legislature or governor, but congressional seats are contingent on the U.S. Constitution, which requires candidates to “inhabit” the state they run for. The Alaska Supreme Court determined Hafner could run for office but could not take office.
It isn’t the first run for either Hafner. Carol said she has previously run for federal office in Alaska — she ran in the 2018 Democratic primary for Alaska’s U.S. House seat — and her campaign website shows a run in Wyoming as well.
The Hafners are not the only non-residents on the ballot. Five other out-of-state candidates are running for Alaska’s two federal seats.
In the U.S. House race: Yaquelin Reynoso, a Democrat with a Lawrence, Massachusetts address; John Foddrill Sr., a Libertarian with a San Antonio, Texas address; and Melanie Salazar, a nonpartisan with a San Francisco, California address.
In the U.S. Senate race: Richard Grayson, a Green Party member with an Arizona address, and Richard Mayers, a Republican with a Chicago address.
MORE: Alaska’s 2026 primary ballot is set – here’s who is on it
The Hafners will appear on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. The top four candidates will advance to the November election.
The race for U.S. Senate has garnered headlines as former congresswoman Mary Peltola challenges two-term incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan for his seat.
Sullivan has accused Peltola of recruiting a Petersburg man who shares his name to appear on the primary ballot and confuse voters — an allegation the Peltola campaign denies. National Republicans have filed a formal complaint with the Lt. Governor seeking the Petersburg candidate’s removal from the ballot.
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