Alaska

A New York Times profile examines Mary Peltola's path to political power in Alaska, tracing her rise under the framing 'She's One of Us' and the setbacks along the way. The piece highlights how her local roots and personal background shaped her appeal to Alaska voters, even as her career faced turbulence and criticism during her ascent.

The phrase 'Lower 48' has become a contested term in Alaska's US Senate contest, with candidates and commentators sparring over what it signals about ties to the contiguous United States. Alaskans have long used the term for the states below Canada, but in the campaign it is being debated as a marker of identity and loyalty. The dispute is now a recurring fixture of the race.

Scientists in Alaska say avian keratin disorder is the cause of the fishhook-shaped beaks seen in the state's chickadee population, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The disorder causes abnormal keratin growth, leaving birds with overgrown, curved beaks that can make feeding difficult. Researchers studying the condition continue to investigate what triggers it and why it affects chickadees so heavily in the region.