King Cove Road Breakthrough: After decades of fights, Alaska got final federal approval for a roughly 12-mile gravel road linking King Cove to Cold Bay, aiming to guarantee year-round emergency access; the Army Corps also issued the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit, while environmental groups and some tribes continue to challenge impacts to Izembek National Wildlife Refuge habitat. Bear-Human Conflict in Towns: Juneau police and Alaska Department of Fish and Game responded after a yearling black bear was shot out of a tree downtown; in Kenai, a brown bear mauling sent a woman to Anchorage after bird feeders were found disturbed. Wildlife-Friendly Camp Upgrades: A Haines-area campground near Chilkoot Lake is adding two bear-resistant food lockers after past bear problems, part of a push to prevent bears from learning to seek human food. Marine Heat and Salmon Declines: New research ties Bering Sea marine heat-wave conditions to a collapse in Yukon River Chinook, with higher deaths of older juveniles and adults during the extreme warm period. Pollinator Pressure: A new look at Alaska bees warns that habitat loss, invasives, pesticides, and rapid climate shifts are reshaping the microhabitats bees need. Connectivity in the Far North: Starlink says it reached top symmetric speeds up to 10 Gbps in Utqiagvik, a major upgrade for Arctic internet reliability. Disaster Prep Funding: FEMA set aside nearly $7 million for Alaska communities including Juneau, St. Paul, the Mat-Su Borough, and Klukwan to prepare for flooding, erosion, and landslides. Health Care Capacity: Anchorage hospitals are strained by lack of short-term care; ANTHC’s new skilled nursing facility for up to 80 patients is set to open in March, with community art submissions underway.