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Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, Nov. 26.

In today's newsletter:

Anchorage resident Victoria Lytle survived a July bear mauling along a Hillside hiking trail. Months later, she finally got to thank the people who kept her alive.
A series of violent crimes in Fairbanks over the past month has prompted the Alaska State Troopers to deploy a team of investigators to focus on several unsolved cases and ongoing searches for suspects.
The Alaska Club for Women will shutter Dec. 1, an announcement that caused frustration for many women who say they will be left without what they found to be a safe workout space.

Thanksgiving is a big deal for many families. With the bulk of the celebration centered on the shared meal, preparing the feast can bring anxiety and stress for home cooks, whether it’s their first or 50th time. Here are a handful of cooking shortcuts to help make Thanksgiving more manageable.

Anchorage weather

It was mostly cloudy today with a high around 25 degrees. The forecast calls for a chance of snow on Thanksgiving Day, as well as on Friday and heading into the weekend. Daytime highs will climb into the low 30s starting tomorrow.

Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today.

— Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com

Months after near-fatal bear attack, Anchorage woman shares her story and meets rescuers →

Victoria Lytle spoke at a small event this week in the Anchorage Fire Department station that dispatched personnel to find and save her this past summer. She had not previously reconnected with any of the emergency responders involved in her rescue, nor shared her story publicly.

Spate of violent crime in Fairbanks, including 2 homicides, prompts special investigative detail from Alaska State Troopers →

The decision to send investigators as well as support staff from Southcentral to the Interior city comes in response to “the level of violent criminal activity in Fairbanks in such a short period of time,” a Department of Public Safety spokesman said.

Alaska Club for Women abruptly announces closure plans, frustrating Anchorage patrons →

The women-only space in the Alaska Club West will close to allow the facility to undergo renovations. The Alaska Club cited decreased attendance at the women’s club and a change in priorities

Dunleavy chooses longtime House members to fill Senate vacancies →

Gov. Mike Dunleavy selected Sutton Rep. George Rauscher to replace Wasilla Sen. Mike Shower; and Wasilla Rep. Cathy Tilton to replace Palmer Sen. Shelley Hughes. The governor’s choices are subject to confirmation by Senate Republicans.

UAA volleyball coach Stacie Meisner named conference Coach of the Year →

Coming off the most successful regular season of her tenure as head coach of the UAA volleyball team, Stacie Meisner was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.