Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up:

Vietnam vets: Overdue, but still good news. Alaska Native Vietnam veterans are finally receiving land allotments.

Hunter rescue: Too often these tales end tragically. Let’s cheer this one ending happily.

Arctic research: Feds choose Anchorage as the site for the new Arctic Security Center. Hard to believe this was debatable (Colorado, really?). But nonetheless, a good decision.

Thumbs down:

Inflation: It’s already expensive to live in Alaska. Record-breaking inflation doesn’t help.

Turkey shortage: Buy local when possible. Turkeys may be scarce this holiday season.

Bycatch: Concerns over excess seafood bycatch trigger a new task force and Facebook group.

– Sarah Erkmann Ward, Blueprint Alaska