Alaska Health & Safety: A Kodiak woman was hospitalized after a brown bear attack near Bells Flats; Alaska Fish & Game says she was walking her off-leash dog by a salmon stream when a sow with cubs chased and bit her, and she wasn’t carrying bear spray. Wildfire Tech: AI firefighting drones are being tested in Alaska and elsewhere to detect wildfires early and deliver suppression while fires are still small—aiming to reduce harm during Alaska’s increasingly intense fire seasons. Healthcare Access: A new study finds Alaska ranks worst for overall healthcare in a WalletHub analysis, while a separate “childhood nutrition” index places Alaska among the top states for kids’ nutrition (ages 1–5). Community Resilience: Alaska’s Mukluk Fire prompted Gov. Mike Dunleavy to issue a disaster declaration for the Tok area, unlocking state assistance for temporary housing and disaster-related medical and other costs. Public Health Watch: CDC data shows a summer wave of COVID is rising across the U.S., with test positivity climbing in every state. Local Health Systems: Anchorage students will return to school with larger classes and fewer programs, while a new regional nursing model aims to keep “one nurse, one school.” Environment & Wellness: NOAA’s Fairweather is mapping parts of the Bering Sea and around St. Matthew Island to improve nautical charts and maritime safety as ship traffic increases with less sea ice. Energy & Reliability: Richardson Electronics will deliver battery storage systems to remote Alaska communities to strengthen power reliability in extreme cold, with completion expected by end of 2027. Substance Use Prevention: A yearlong culturally centered virtual program showed promise in reducing drug and alcohol use among urban Alaska Native and American Indian young adults.