AGP Executive Report

Alaska Arts & Culture: Alaska World Arts is spotlighting locally composed and choreographed “SingerElla,” a Homer-set musical built by Sally Oberstein and Michael McKinney, with performances tied to open-mic stops across the Spit. Local Music: Warm River Studio in Ashton hosts singer-songwriter Kray Van Kirk for a Sept. 12 music-and-storytelling night. Museums: The UA Museum of the North landed a federal grant to create new “Into the Wild” Bus 142 exhibits, including a year-round outdoor display in Fairbanks. Community Events (Anchorage): This weekend’s Anchorage lineup includes Clay Fest, Climbathon, plus “pirates, pops and pucks” activities around town. Sports (Anchorage): South Anchorage and Dimond meet in a top-ranked flag football showdown Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Sports (Statewide): Fog delays the Nome-Beltz Musk Ox Classic XC meet, but races continue after schedule shifts. Weather/Outdoors: NOAA upgraded its geomagnetic storm watch to G2, with aurora potentially visible farther south than usual. Public Safety: A 15-year-old survived a capsized Savoonga fishing boat; two crewmembers were recovered.

Alaska Flag Football: South Anchorage stays perfect atop the USA TODAY Sports Super 10 after Week 2, with Colony, Dimond, and North Pole rounding out the top four. Community & Schools: Stebbins’ burned-down campus is still forcing classes into temporary spaces, and local officials say the missing “hub” is showing up in youth delinquency referrals. Arts Tour: Anacortes’ free 98221 Artist’s Studio Tour opens artists’ doors this weekend for self-guided stops and direct sales. Music Spotlight: Grammy-winning guitarist Tommy Emmanuel releases a 20th Anniversary remastered vinyl edition of The Mystery—and there’s a chance to catch him live in Anchorage. Indigenous Media: ICT and Native Voice One team up to launch a weekly national Indigenous radio news program for tribal and public stations. Politics (Alaska): A new FEC complaint alleges Dan Sullivan’s campaign got undue help tied to the 907 Initiative. Travel/Entertainment: Contour Airlines adds a winter nonstop from Orlando Sanford to Cape Girardeau, giving more easy access to Florida attractions. Sports/TV: AEW Dynamite has a listed start time for tonight (09-09-2026).

Alaska Arts & Entertainment: Anchorage gets a major music moment as Tommy Emmanuel brings his fingerstyle show to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 8, with a limited meet-and-greet package tied to Alaska Public Media support. TV & Pop Culture: CBS is pulling Mark Harmon’s Gibbs back into the spotlight for “NCIS: Origins” Season 3, with the trailer teasing his return to action. Local Culture: A KTUU profile spotlights Annie Ciszak, aka “AnniePants,” whose quirky Anchorage art world blends tattoos, canning, knitting, gardening, and her love of quails. Wildlife & Community: Fat Bear Week returns Sept. 22–29 at Katmai, kicking off another round of fan voting for the fattest brown bear of 2026. Politics & Governance: Alaska’s Department of Law flagged possible issues in 91 candidates’ financial disclosure forms, a finding tied to the reinstatement of GOP gubernatorial candidate Treg Taylor. Weather: Southcentral shifts toward sunnier, drier conditions midweek, while wind advisories and high-wind warnings hit parts of Southeast and Western Alaska.

TV & Film: Mark Harmon is back as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the “NCIS: Origins” Season 3 trailer, with the prequel set to kick off Oct. 6 and pull the retired Alaska-based Gibbs back into a case tied to his Camp Pendleton days. Broadway Buzz: “Oh, Mary” — billed as the gayest Broadway hit — is headed to California after a sold-out run that started off-Broadway in 2024, with Drag Race’s Alaska Thunderfuck among the tour leads. Arts & Culture (Alaska): Alaska Public Media, KYUK and KNBA won a 2026 National Edward R. Murrow Award for continuing coverage of Typhoon Halong’s devastation and long recovery in Western Alaska. Local Food & Travel: “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” highlighted 21 Alaska restaurants, including Anchorage spots like Originale, Ray’s Place and Seoul Casa. Sports/Outdoor: Alpacka Raft’s origin story traces the packraft boom back to Alaska Range trips and a family-designed reinvention of the gear. Community: Alaska Native Medical Center is now officially tribally owned, a major milestone covered in KNBA’s top stories.

Arctic Adventure on Screen: Minot ER doctor Jon Solberg’s 2018 Greenland trek—captured in “Expedition: Greenland”—heads to Minot State University Sept. 13, with the film spotlighting survival, teamwork, and wilderness medicine. Labor Day in Fairbanks: Hundreds marched in the 42nd annual Fairbanks Labor Day Parade, led by the Lathrop High School Malemute Battalion JROTC and the Red Hackle Pipe Band, celebrating union solidarity and collective bargaining. Alaska Elections Shake-Up: Alaska’s Department of Law flagged possible errors in 91 candidates’ financial disclosure forms, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom reversed course to put Treg Taylor back on the governor’s ballot. TV & Music Buzz: The 2026 Creative Arts Emmys kicked off with big wins for Bad Bunny, Rob Reiner, Mariska Hargitay, and “The Traitors,” plus CBS’s fall premiere schedule including “Tracker” and “Marshals.” Sports Spotlight: Kodiak’s home opener delivered record-fast 5K racing, while West Anchorage’s Eagles topped South Anchorage 21-14 in a key high school football matchup. Community Arts & Outdoors: Cordova’s Fungus Festival returns Sept. 18-20 with classes, live bluegrass, and a Wild Harvest Fungus Soirée.

FCC Watch: FCC chair Brendan Carr says the agency could issue guidance to TV networks over “fake polls,” arguing broadcast stations operate under public-interest FCC licenses. Midterm Theater: A rare GOP midterm convention in Dallas is being framed as a “Trump show,” with critics warning the made-for-TV spectacle could backfire. Alaska Cruise Update: Silversea wrapped its 2026 Alaska season and is already lining up 2027 voyages, including calls tied to Seward’s new Alaska Railroad terminal. Travel Costs: AAA reports Labor Day demand is strong but prices are up—airfares and hotels especially—while cruise fares from U.S. ports run slightly cheaper. Emmys Buzz: Creative Arts Emmys crowned winners including Apple’s “Widow’s Bay,” plus first-time Emmy wins for Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter. Local Arts & Culture: A Tlingit opera in Juneau is set to bring 1800s Tlingit-Russian battles to the stage. Ski Film Night: Teton Gravity Research’s “Actually, It Is Rocket Science” screens Sept. 23 in Park City, with Alaska among filming locations.

Alaska Arts & Culture: Juneau’s Perseverance Theatre and Sealaska Heritage Institute are staging what’s billed as the first Tlingit opera in recorded history, “Kutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles,” opening Sept. 11 and performed entirely in Tlingit. Local Libraries: Soldotna Public Library kicked off National Library Card Sign-Up Month with limited-edition, student-designed cards—moose-and-northern-lights art won the youth contest, and a teen design features Alaska, mountains, and the Big Dipper. Film & Storytelling: Cree filmmaker/actress Georgina (Georgie) Lightning, 63, died after being hit by a horse while filming at the Enoch Nation’s Indian Relay. Emmys (Pop Culture): Mariska Hargitay won two Creative Arts Emmys, and Octavia Spencer won Outstanding Narrator for “Lost Women of Alaska.” Sports (Alaska): UAF’s Tabitha Williams won the Blue & Gold Race in Fairbanks, while UAA’s Ben Browning led the Seawolves to team-title sweep. Community: Fairbanks Labor Day Parade returns Monday with union chapters marching to Alaskaland.

Emmy Spotlight: Octavia Spencer won Outstanding Narrator for Lost Women of Alaska at the Creative Arts Emmys, adding to a first-time Emmy run for Alaska-set true-crime storytelling. Music & TV Buzz: Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter also grabbed first Emmys at the same Creative Arts ceremony, with The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny leading the night. Community & Recovery: Haines-area residents are rallying supplies to help rebuild in Tok after the Mukluk Fire devastated homes and outbuildings. Local Sports: Colony outlasted East Anchorage in double overtime with a hook-and-ladder trick play, while Fairbanks is gearing up for its 42nd annual Labor Day Parade. Arts/Events Calendar: Alaska State Fair entertainment included a Twisted Sister performance with Sebastian Bach, and Fairbanks hosts its Labor Day parade Monday. Cruise Dining Trend: Cruise lines are leaning hard into destination-style food experiences, from celebrity-chef concepts to immersive onboard dining.

Emmys Buzz: Bad Bunny won his first Emmy for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, while The Traitors racked up major technical wins and Mariska Hargitay took home two Primetime Emmys for “My Mom Jayne,” adding to the night’s big TV energy. Local Sports: Colony swept team titles at the George Plumley Invitational in Palmer, with Josiah Herrick and Miriam Armstrong leading the way in the 5K races. Alaska Arts Spotlight: Fairbanks hosted the Alaska State Disc Golf Championships, drawing nearly 100 players to Birch Hill and Tanana Lakes. Alaska Culture & Community: The National Guard Association of the U.S. held its Indiana conference, where Alaska’s “Frontier Grit, Indy Speed” pin won Best State Pin—another fun win for Alaska pride. Travel/Entertainment Legal Note: Alaska Airlines is named in a lawsuit over 11 Japanese paintings allegedly damaged by Honolulu rain during a transfer. Global Context: US and Iran traded strikes involving ships and tankers near the Strait of Hormuz as tensions keep escalating.

Alaska Arts & Entertainment: A24’s new horror hit “Onslaught” is teasing a sequel—its end-credit images point to Alaska, where Celeste and the surviving characters may be headed next. Local Governance: Ketchikan’s Borough Assembly is set to consider moving ahead with a Herring Cove neighborhood plan, aiming to add focused guidance for a tourist-heavy area. Sports (Anchorage/Kenai): Two former Kenai Central athletes—Emma Beck and Sophie Tapley—are on Alaska Anchorage women’s volleyball rosters for the week ending Sept. 6. Sports (UAA): UAA volleyball keeps rolling, sweeping Minnesota State and Tiffin in Fairbanks to extend a seven-match winning streak. Culture/Film: Cape Breton actor-director Glen Gould’s coming-of-age film “Jeffrey’s Turn” premieres Sept. 19 at the Atlantic International Film Festival.

Anchorage Arts & Community: A new mural by Ted Kim is adding color to Tikishla Park, funded through Anchorage Park Foundation’s Mayor “Beyond the Beige” Arts Award. Film & Local Culture: The Alaska-set indie romcom The Sun Never Sets is rolling out in theaters, spotlighting Anchorage through an improvised love-triangle story starring Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson. Sports on the Ground: Kodiak’s Labor Day rodeo runs Sep. 4-6, and the island’s new horse drill team is debuting with choreographed routines set to music. Music & Events: “Tunes and Tanlines 2026” is on the calendar, with details emerging from 423 Productions. Outdoor/Family Fun: Kenai’s annual Silver Salmon Derby is canceled for 2026 due to limited, inconsistent coho return data. Local Governance: Juneau is moving public notices and meeting info to a centralized Public Notices & Announcements webpage launched Aug. 3. Weather Watch: Southcentral is getting a Labor Day weekend storm, with rain tapering off by Saturday afternoon.

Alaska Arts & Entertainment: Fairbanks’ Ice Dogs named captains for 2026-27, with Gage Leonard earning the “C” and Dub Eunice III the “A,” spotlighting homegrown leadership in the junior hockey scene. Music & Community: Alaska Sea Grant launched the Alaska Oyster Voyage and interactive “Alaska Oyster Trail,” inviting residents to taste oysters statewide and log their favorites for a fun, food-focused learning experience. Film & Pop Culture: “Heart of the Beast” director David Ayer says Brad Pitt had to train his canine co-star on set—keeping Odin (the dog) front and center while Pitt stayed in character. Local Government (Juneau): The City and Borough of Juneau rolled out a centralized Public Notices & Announcements webpage, aiming to cut costs and update meeting info faster than the old newspaper schedule. Sports (High School): Soldotna is listed as Alaska’s top high school football team entering Labor Day weekend, while the Palmer–Colony rivalry keeps its every-other-year intensity. What to do (Kodiak): Kodiak’s Labor Day weekend lineup includes the Kodiak Rodeo & State Fair plus First Friday art walk stops.

Alaska Arts & Community: Ketchikan Indian Community opened a 28-unit permanent supportive housing complex for elders, with furnished apartments and Native-designed spaces aimed at making chronic homelessness feel more like home. Local Sports: Unalaska City School District’s cross country team is gearing up for the Tustumena Invitational at Kelty Field on Sept. 5, with junior races starting at noon and community “Bubble Fun Run” events after. Film & TV Buzz: Alaska-set romcom drama The Sun Never Sets is getting fresh reviews and debate, with Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson drawing attention for its messy love triangle. Entertainment on the Move: Holland America is bringing back its “Until We Sail Again” Farewell Dinner tradition across its fleet in 2026. Big Alaska Spotlight: Anchorage’s nature access is being highlighted as a standout for visitors, with right-in-town trails and wildlife close to everyday life. Weather Watch: Wet weather returns to Southcentral with rain and high surf, while Southeast stays summer-like through Saturday.

Local Arts & Community: Homer’s Taste of Homer is teaming up with First Friday for a combined Sept. 4 art-and-food crawl, with five participating art stops (Bunnell Street Arts, Art Shop Gallery, Homer Council on the Arts, Pratt Museum, Grace Ridge Brewing) plus themed bites from local restaurants. Music Festival: Lowell Point’s Miller’s Landing and Blackwater Railroad are reviving the “Burning Moose” spirit with a bigger Burning Moose music-and-arts festival on Sept. 6, including a symbolic effigy build and fire. Arts in Anchorage: The Anchorage Weekender highlights First Friday gallery openings plus the Anchorage Press Party, marking the return of the alternative newspaper with live music, food, and a silent auction. Film & TV (Alaska connection): Joe Swanberg’s Alaska-set romcom “The Sun Never Sets” is getting attention for its messy love triangle and Anchorage backdrop, while CBS also drops first photos for Mark Harmon’s Gibbs return in “NCIS: Origins” Season 3. Wildlife Education: Alaska Public Media spotlights Bird TLC’s snowy owl “Frost” and the center’s shift toward positive reinforcement training for ambassador birds. Sports (Anchorage-area): Dimond’s flag football team rolls past Wasilla 46-6, and Kodiak’s home opener weekend kicks off with cross country and football.

UAMN & UAF Planetarium: The University of Alaska Museum of the North is rotating exhibits fast—Marian “Jo” Going’s plein-air works are wrapping up, a new rockfish-aging science display is coming, and “Sounding Rockets” is live in the Babula Planetarium lobby. Anchorage Arts Calendar: This week’s First Friday-style lineup includes an Anchorage Press launch party, an “Occupied” art show with live performance, a Palmer flower-farm field-to-vase dinner tour, and a Fleetwood Mac candlelight tribute. Palmer State Fair Finale: The last weekend of the Alaska State Fair runs Thursday–Monday with cosplay, a drone show, a giant cabbage weigh-off, and major Borealis Theatre acts. IGCA Photo Exhibit: Anchorage artist Ted Kincaid debuts a trauma-and-healing photo series using macro shots and G.I. Joe figures, running through September. Sports Spotlight: Dimond’s state-champion Lynx are off to a strong start after returning from Utah, led by Anayah Sila. Movie Watch: “The Sun Never Sets” keeps the romcom love-triangle energy going, with Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson. Cruise Disruption: Royal Caribbean canceled an Alaska sailing after passengers boarded due to repairs taking longer than expected.

Alaska Arts & Culture: Juneau’s 32nd annual Harvest Fair returns this weekend at the Juneau Community Garden, with a farmers market, self-guided tours, kids activities, live music, and a juried flower/produce show. Local Entertainment & Community: Kodiak Rodeo and State Fair kicks off Friday with concerts, 4-H events, and rodeo action across Labor Day weekend. Museums & Wildlife Storytelling: Illustrator Annie Chen won the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s 2026 Bull-Bransom Award for “Salmon Run: An Epic Journey to the Ocean and Back,” blending nature accuracy with dreamy visuals. Public Media & Tech for Alaska: UAF drone program directors say autonomous drones could help with fire protection and reconnaissance during wildfire season. Sports (Alaska): West Anchorage takes over the No. 1 spot in Alaska high school football Massey Ratings, edging out Soldotna as Week 4 matchups loom. Transportation & Travel: AMHS funding was announced, including major support for operations and a vessel replacement design—plus terminal upgrades and reservation system modernization.