The Mat-Su View

Welcome to the site for news in the Mat-Su, where we’re surrounded by fantastic scenery – from Denali to Pioneer Peak to Tahneta Pass.

The Mat-Su View is a creation of the Valley staff of the Anchorage Daily News, and is updated frequently from the newsroom in Wasilla.

Check in for breaking news, advance word on upcoming ADN reports from the Mat-Su, for links to Outside stories with a Mat-Su connection and to read or post comments about hot topics in the Valley.

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READER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Scenic photos

Send in your photos of the beautiful Matanuska and Susitna valleys.

Animal Cruelty Charged

One of the dogs seized by Matanuska Susitna Borough Animal Control from Willow Dog breeder Frank Rich in a kennel at the animal care facility on Tuesday January 11, 2011. Rich was charged with 50 counts of animal cruelty at his arraignment in Palmer.

Dogs seized by Matanuska Susitna Borough Animal Control from Willow Dog breeder Frank Rich.

Colony Christmas

Christmas lights and decorations are up in Palmer, AK on Thursday December 9, 2010 as the town gets ready to celebrate Colony Christmas. The festival kicks of Friday and runs through Sunday. Colony Christmas features hay rides, a bon fire, art exhibits, a ball, a lights parade and numerous other activities. Jim Brown created the light rope moose driving the train.

Christmas lights and decorations are up in Palmer, AK for Colony Christmas.

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes at the Matanuska Experiment Station on Saturday August 22, 2009. The cranes have up to a 7 foot wing span and are among the tallest birds in the world. They gather into flocks for the migration south.

PJMS raising funds to visit DC, New York City - 1/27/2010 5:55 pm

Samuels to speak at Lincoln Luncheon - 1/27/2010 4:54 pm

Wasilla teen honored on Tournament of Roses float - 12/31/2009 3:50 pm

Local author signing copies of a Valley-based mystery - 12/18/2009 5:30 pm

Dad's quick decision may have saved son - 12/18/2009 12:49 pm

Request line open - 12/17/2009 3:58 pm

Free H1N1 shots available now - 12/17/2009 11:24 am

Training event in Hatcher Pass this weekend - 12/9/2009 6:30 pm

Hot and Hazy

From S.J. Komarnitsky in Wasilla --

Just blame the Interior. The light haze coating the Valley, and irritating some people's breathing, is coming from fires in the Interior. The haze is expected to continue at least for the next few days along with the sunny weather.

Matt Taraldsen, a student forecaster at the weather service office in Anchorage, said the smoke is being carried by upper level winds to Mat-Su and other places in Southcentral. So far, the haze has been pretty light, although Taraldsen said last night he could smell the smoke at the office in Anchorage. The smoke is in all levels of the atmosphere, but is most visible only at a distance like if you're looking up or at the mountains, or if the sun is behind it, he said. Denali National Park and Fairbanks are also being affected.

Here's the full note posted today on the National Weather Service website:

...WIDESPREAD HAZE AND WARM WEATHER OVER SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA...

WIDESPREAD HAZE HAS BEEN OBSERVED ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA. THIS HAZE IS A RESULT OF SMOKE FROM FIRES IN THE INTERIOR OF THE STATE. THE SMOKE FROM THESE FIRES HAS BEEN TRAPPED IN THE LOWER PART OF THE ATMOSPHERE BY A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER SOUTHERN ALASKA. HAZY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEK AS THE RIDGE REMAINS OVER THE AREA.

IN ADDITION TO THE HAZE...NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE TODAY. THE CURRENT RECORD IS 80 DEGREES AT THE ANCHORAGE
FORECAST OFFICE LOCATED ON SAND LAKE ROAD. THE HIGH TODAY IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S.

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