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Good afternoon. It’s Tuesday, July 8.

In today's newsletter:

Fires near Fairbanks and Healy are destroying homes and fouling the air, and cut into some visitor-dependent businesses along the Parks Highway over the normally busy Fourth of July weekend.
A trio from the Alaska Boxing Academy earned medals at the National Junior Olympics last month, and helped put the 49th state on the map.
The body of a kayak fisherman missing since mid-June in Cook Inlet off the Kenai Peninsula was found late last week, according to his family.

Decades ago, a peculiar monk living in an Alaska monastery became known for making "milk wine." He would tout the product as a virtual panacea, telling a reporter that “babies love it. Old folks who haven’t been eating love it. Animals kick up their heels after they’ve drunk some.” Historian David Reamer delves into the story of Father Emmet Engel and the outlaw Alaska winery in his latest column.

Anchorage weather

It's partly sunny today with a high of 66 degrees and a slight chance of scattered rain showers. The forecast calls for continued precipitation through Friday, but there's a chance of partly sunny skies on Saturday. Daytime temperatures will hover in the mid- to high 60s this week.

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

— Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com

Damage toll rises from Interior Alaska fires as Parks Highway delays slow tourist traffic →

Alaska’s fire season shifted suddenly into high gear in mid-June following thousands of lightning strikes.

Legacies live on: Young Alaskans from fighting families earn boxing medals at Junior Olympics →

All three of the young boxers who medaled at the 2025 National Junior Olympics last month come from families with strong ties to boxing or mixed martial arts.

Family confirms body found in Cook Inlet near Anchor Point was missing kayak fisherman →

The 62-year-old was last seen in mid-June paddling his jet-powered kayak about 3 miles off the Ninilchik area of the Kenai Peninsula.

USGS report says federal lands in Alaska hold large share of ‘undiscovered’ US oil and gas →

About half of what’s known as “the estimated undiscovered technically recoverable” oil lying below federal lands is in Alaska, as is more than a quarter of estimated natural gas, according to a new report. (via Alaska Beacon)

Tundra fire on Alaska’s North Slope is among the biggest in recent years →

A lightning-sparked fire that has burned about 2,000 acres of Arctic Alaska tundra is the biggest wildfire on the North Slope in eight years. (via Alaska Beacon)

More from the ADN

American kids have become increasingly unhealthy over nearly two decades, new study finds →

Texas officials deflect mounting questions over actions before deadly flood →

RFK Jr. promotes company that sends ultraprocessed meals to Medicaid and Medicare users →

Alaska sports notebook: Anchorage breakdancer will go to world finals; Clair DeGeorge finds new home in PWHL →

TSA tests security lines allowing airline passengers to keep their shoes on →

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