Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up:

Land use: Department of the Interior makes over 1 million acres available for selection by the state and Doyon, an Alaska Native corporation.

Bear fans: The live Katmai bear cam is back online. So fun!

Public safety: Justice Department frees up millions for village public safety after the attorney general’s recent visit.

Thumbs down:

Wildfires: Smoke, haze, heat make for a lousy combination. Hold your breath.

Nordstrom shoppers: After 44 years, the Anchorage landmark is set to close. Generations of shoppers mourn.

College hockey: UAA, UAF hockey programs in question after their conference requests restructuring without Alaska teams.

– Sarah Erkmann Ward, Blueprint Alaska