Anchorage

Anchorage – October 06, 2026 -- Alaska fishermen hauled in 30 million wild sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay this summer, as the region marks National Seafood Month by pointing consumers to an online Fish Finder tool to buy the catch directly from fishermen or locate retailers nationwide.

Bristol Bay in western Alaska is the world's largest source of wild sockeye salmon, a fishery that supports roughly 8,000 commercial fishermen and drives economic activity across rural Alaska communities. Salmon is already the second-most consumed seafood in the United States.

Anchorage, Alaska – September 22, 2026 -- Explore.org and Katmai Conservancy have opened the 12th season of Fat Bear Week, running September 22-29, 2026, inviting the public to vote online for the plumpest brown bear at Brooks River.

Voting decides the 2026 champion on September 29

Fans can cast votes in head-to-head matchups on the Fat Bear Week website starting September 22, with new rounds advancing bears each day. The 2026 Champion will be crowned September 29 at 5 p.m. Alaska Time.

Bears pack on fat to survive Katmai's harsh winters

Brown bears at Brooks River feast on salmon throughout summer, building fat reserves essential for surviving long months in their dens. This year's competition features an expanded bracket after a record number of bear families used the river this summer.

Anchorage, Alaska – September 16, 2026 -- A new HelloNation article argues that automated online home value tools often mislead sellers, and that a comparative market analysis (CMA) delivers a far more accurate price.

Automated estimates look official but rarely match real offers

Homeowners frequently see an instant valuation the moment they search their address online. The article notes this figure appears authoritative but typically does not reflect what a buyer would actually pay.

Agents build a CMA by comparing recent nearby sales

Real Estate Expert "King" Gary Cox of Alaska Real Estate King, featured in the article, explains that a CMA involves studying recent sales of similar homes and adjusting for differences in size, age, and condition. A comparable with an extra bedroom might be adjusted downward, while one lacking a garage might be adjusted upward.