Fat Bear Week Finale: Katmai’s Fat Bear Week title match is down to Bear 910 and Backpack, with voting Tuesday spotlighting the park’s brown bears and their salmon-fueled push for winter. Permafrost & Infrastructure: New reporting highlights how Arctic permafrost thaw is turning Alaska rivers and ground into mine-grade acid zones and raising major risks for roads, homes, and drinking water. Donlin Dam Failure Risks: A draft supplemental environmental review says a Donlin Gold tailings dam breach could make Crooked Creek uninhabitable and harm fish habitat, with regulators modeling larger spill scenarios than before. Ambler Mine Public Input: The U.S. Army Corps opened a 45-day comment period for the first Ambler Mining District mine, including impacts to wetlands and streams and a proposed industrial road. Air Pollution in Alaska: A federal court ruling says Clean Air Act rules can block certain state pollution lawsuits tied to aircraft emissions, a reminder of how hard it can be to pursue air-quality claims. Local Governance: Nome’s pull-tab tax overhaul was tabled after conflict-of-interest questions, while the council also pressed for overdue utility financial reporting. Water & Waste Funding: USDA Rural Development announced $40 million for technical help and training to strengthen rural water and wastewater systems.