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Good afternoon. It’s Friday, July 18.

In today's newsletter:

ConocoPhillips plans to hunt for more oil this winter in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska where it’s already developing the giant Willow field, according to a statement from the company.
A citizen group is suing Gov. Mike Dunleavy in an effort to stop the appointment of a Willow political consultant to the Alaska Judicial Council, saying Dunleavy ignored constitutional rules about such appointments.
A free shuttle service from Anchorage’s Fairview neighborhood to Carrs and Fred Meyer grocery stores in Midtown and back will launch this weekend.

There's still plenty of fun to be had this summer from trail races and bike rides to outdoor music. This weekend in Anchorage, check out a block party in Fairview or a music festival at the Hilltop Ski Area. Check out our full weekend events listing here.

Anchorage weather

It's mostly cloudy today with a chance of isolated rain showers and a high of 66 degrees. Saturday will start mostly sunny before becoming overcast with a chance of rain, and we'll see mostly cloudy skies on Sunday. Daytime temperatures will climb into the low 70s over the weekend.

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

— Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com

ConocoPhillips says it plans significant oil exploration this winter in National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska →

The company wants to drill four exploration wells in the reserve, already home to the Willow project. The 23-million-acre reserve has seen growing interest from oil companies over the last decade, but exploration activity has been limited to its eastern edges.

Group sues to halt Gov. Dunleavy’s latest appointment to Alaska Judicial Council →

The governor's May appointment of John W. Wood to the Alaska Judicial Council is unlawful, Alaskans for Fair Courts contends in their lawsuit.

Free weekend shuttle service to access grocery stores launches for Fairview →

The service, which will provide an hourly route to two grocery stores, was developed to help shoppers after the closure of the Carrs on Gambell Street in May.

Mary Shields, the first woman to complete the Iditarod, dies at age 80 →

Even more than 50 years after her historic ride, Shields was still inspiring the next generation of female mushers.

The Education Department will release some frozen grants that support after-school and summer programs →

The department will release $1.3 billion in previously withheld grant money for after-school and summer programs, days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the Trump administration to allow the funds to be sent to states.

• Earlier: Anchorage School District issues layoff notices after federal funding freeze

More from the ADN

Alaska gardening: Untangling the snarly web of lawn trimmers and edgers →

Biden aides look to Fifth Amendment as autopen probe widens →

President Trump diagnosed with ‘chronic venous insufficiency,’ a common condition in older adults →

Here legally since 1999, thousands of immigrants have 60 days to leave →

Trump administration swaps hundreds of migrants the U.S. sent to El Salvador for 10 Americans jailed in Venezuela →

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