I want to thank everybody who helped me during a medical episode at Mosquito Lake on July 9. We’ll start with Rashah McChesney and her friends whose names I did not catch, Deb Stanford and the others at the Mosquito Lake School, the state park ranger, Klehini Valley fire chief, Haines ambulance crew and the doctor and nurse at SEARHC. If I missed anyone please accept my thanks for being there. Without your immediate attention, I would have had an even rougher day.
(The Center Square) – In high-priced Seattle, residents can now make up to $66,000 as a single person and qualify for utility assistance under a plan approved by the city council.
The Coral Princess cruise ship towers over small boats docked at Whittier’s harbor on July 16, 2025. The Princess ship is at the old cruise terminal. In the distance, at left, is a new cruise terminal built by Huna Totem Corp. in cooperation with Norwegian Cruise Line. Thanks largely to the new terminal, cruise ship visits to Whittier this year are expected to be more than double the total in 2024. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The western Prince William Sound town of Whittier is small, with only about 250 residents packed into a narrow slice of land between the mountains and the sea. But it accommodates a huge number of travelers who move in and out by cruise ship, ferry, railroad, car, bus and truck.
A recreational vehicke drives off the Alaska ferry Aurora in Whittier, with Begich Towers in the background, on July 17, 2025. Nearly all of Whittier’s residents live in the Begich Towers, which was originally a military structure. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
In recent years, according to city officials, Whittier has gotten about 700,000 visitors annually: tourists, recreational users, seafood workers, cargo shippers and others. That number is expected to increase substantially in the coming years.
To help figure out ways to move people in and out more efficiently, with fewer bottlenecks and confusion, the city and the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities are developing a plan to guide the next 20 years: Whittier Moves.
“All eyes are on Whittier as an area of opportunity to grow tourism and freight,” the plan’s website says. But to realize that potential, improvements are needed to address challenges posed by the narrow geography between the water and the mountains, including limited flat land and a sole ground transportation link to the outside, the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. It is North America’s longest combined rail-auto tunnel, but it is only one lane wide, meaning travelers to and from Whittier, whether in cars or on the train, have to take turns.
A draft master plan released in June is the product of numerous meetings, workshops, open houses and other events. Among the concerns raised by residents and visitors were lack of adequate parking during busy periods, confusing or missing signage and overtaxed public facilities. City and state officials will accept comments on the draft plan will through July 24, and they expect to complete a final plan this year.
A truck emerges from the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel on the Whittier side on July 16, 2025, as vehicles are lined up in lanes on the right in preparation to leave Whittier through the tunner. The tunnel has only one lane, and traffic goes through in shifts. It also accomodates train traffic. (Photo byYereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Concurrent with the Whittier Moves project is the city’s Whittier Safety Action Plan, which is to “identify existing safety issues, analyze roadway data, and recommend strategies and projects that can improve safety for people walking, biking, driving, and operating commercial vehicles.”
The planning work is timely. Traffic in and out of Whittier is on the rise, thanks largely to a big increase in cruise ship use.
In 2024, Whittier received 46 cruise ship calls ferrying 296,300 passengers, according to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Last year, after a new cruise terminal opened, ship calls jumped to 73, according to the department. This year, there are 103 ship calls expected, more than twice the number just two years ago, according to the department.
A resident walks on July 17, 2025, in the tunnel that connects Whittier’s downtown district to the waterfront. The military forces using Whittier during World War II and the post-war period left a network of tunnels, but most are closed off. This tunnel serves as a sheltered route to the waterfront, and it is part of a designated tsunami evacuation route. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Additionally, a big crowd is expected in Whittier in early August, when the U.S. Navy is set to commission a new warship named after the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.
Along with its role as a road-marine-railroad hub that attracts tourists, recreationalists, seafood harvesters and cargo shippers, Whittier regularly lands on lists as one of the “weirdest” towns in the nation.
The modern town, where the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Marine Highway System and the state road system converge, is a military legacy.
Nearly all residents live in a single building, the Begich Towers, a converted military building that also houses a store, post office and church.
Beneath Whittier’s shops, restaurants and other structures is a web of tunnels left by the military, most of them closed but some still in regular use, like the underground route between the Begich Towners and the Whittier School.
Tourists walk toward an Alaska Railroad passenger car in Whittier on July 16, 2025. The abandoned Buckner Building is in the background. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The biggest building in town, taking up a significant portion of the scarce space between the water and the mountains, has been abandoned for decades: the 273,600-square-foot Buckner Building. Used for only a few years in the 1950s, it was its own city under one roof, “including a shooting range, drycleaner, theater, bank, barber shop, commissary, post exchange, craft shop, snack bar, officer’s club, serviceman’s club, bowling alley, library, bakery, classrooms, radio & TV stations, office space, dental clinic and hospital,” as the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation describes it. The building has long been closed to public use because of asbestos and other hazards.
A bill passed by the legislature aims to help Whittier to gain a bit more space to accommodate visitors and traffic. The measure, House Bill 216, allows the city to buy land from the state-owned Alaska Railroad, transactions that require legislative approval. The city and railroad have already struck deals for some parcels located in strategic spots. The bill became law and went into effect on July 3 without the governor’s signature.
Jet skiers return to the Whittier harbor after an outing in Prince William Sound on July 16,, 2025. Whittier is about an hour’s drive from Anchorage, making it a convenient recreation getaway for residents and tourists. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Argentina and Spain are set to meet in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, where Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will square off in a star-studded matchup that bridges soccer’s past, present and future. FOX Sports soccer analysts Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović reacted to Argentina’s comeback win over England on Wednesday. For Henry, Sunday’s final is about more than just Spain and Argentina. It’s a clash between one of the best the game has ever seen against one of the brightest young stars in the sport today. “For me, what else do you want? European champion versus South American champion and world champion,” Henry said. “Lamine Yamal versus Lionel Messi. The future and this guy [Messi] is the past, present and the future and forever. I’m excited to see that.” Lionel Messi has the chance to lead Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles, while the 19-year-old Yamal can bring Spain its first championship since 2010 and further cement himself as one of soccer’s brightest young stars in what feels like a passing-of-the-torch showdown. The debate quickly shifted to an even bigger question: Who will win the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain? Henry declined to make a prediction, saying Messi’s history with Argentina and his legendary career at Barcelona made it too difficult to pick a side. “I actually didn’t finish one,” Thierry said. “It’s because of what Leo [Lionel Messi] represents in Spain. He played all his career there and the fear that they might be facing someone stronger than any other human being because of what they’ve seen so many times in their country.” Ibrahimović shared Henry’s view but believes Spain has the tools to handle Argentina because its style of play matches up well against the defending champions. “Spain handled France very good. … I believe they can handle Argentina,” Ibrahimović said. “They’re going to play their possession. Argentina is not a counterattack team like the way they played today. They were attacking, but I believe Spain is going to do their thing.” Ibrahimović believes Spain’s path to its first World Cup title in nearly two decades will come down to patience. If they can remain composed and control the tempo, he believes Spain has what it takes to dominate Argentina and come away with the win. “You’re going to challenge on the sides with Yamal and I believe Argentina if they don’t have patience, they’re going to hunt the ball and lose patience,” Ibrahimović said. “I believe Spain is going to dominate that game.” As he continued to break down the matchup, Henry pointed to Spain’s dominance in possession as one of its biggest strengths. “Now you have these two competing cultures clashing in this final,” Henry said. “What we saw yesterday from Spain, in terms of the possession, I don’t think that’s necessarily going to change against a team like Argentina. Here tonight [against England], they showed up.” Argentina once again found a way, scoring twice in the closing minutes to complete another comeback victory over England. The question now is whether Messi and Argentina have enough left in the tank to take down a well-rounded Spain side. “Is this the night where they took that last scoop? I don’t know,” Henry said. “Are you going to bet against them with a guy like Messi and with what this team is? There always seems to be a little bit of water in this Argentinian well and it served them well.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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Wednesday Night: Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Thursday: Overcast. High 64F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Adjusting the fruit, liquor, and shake time can alter a daiquiri’s flavor profile, but one simple method builds deep complexity with next to no effort.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup between Spain and Argentina might not feature the depth of star power that a France and England final would have, but make no mistake: the quality is there with the two finalists, as the two semifinal losers learned. That quality starts at the very top with Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, two superstars separated by 20 years, but it doesn’t end there. Here is our combined XI for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium: Formation: 4-3-3 Goalkeeper Spain has shown incredible defensive stability throughout this World Cup, and its goalkeeper Unai Simón has played a major role in that, conceding only one goal as Spain’s No. 1. But despite Simón conceding fewer goals than Emiliano Martínez, Martínez gets the nod because of his pedigree and big-game moments. He has been critical in Argentina winning two Copa Américas and a World Cup, coming up huge in key moments and in multiple penalty shootouts. Vedict: Emiliano Martínez Right Back Pedro Porro has really broken onto the scene at this tournament. He came into the World Cup off a relatively inconsistent season for Tottenham, which had a poor season as a club, but Porro has played incredibly well for Spain. He has been defensively solid while also being a presence in attack. Because of that, he gets the nod over the more experienced Nahuel Molina. Verdict: Pedro Porro Right Center Back Cristian Romero gets the nod over Pau Cubarsí because of his importance in Argentina’s back line and the way he has come up big in crucial moments. Romero got on the end of the header that was deflected in by a Cape Verde player for the winner in the Round of 32, and he also played a huge role in Argentina’s run to the final. Cubarsí has been marvelous in his first major international tournament, but Romero’s experience, edge and know-how get him over the line. Verdict: Cristian Romero Left Center Back Aymeric Laporte has been a pivotal player at the back, anchoring a back line that has conceded only one goal in this tournament. He has provided experience next to the inexperienced Pau Cubarsí, and his ball-playing ability out of the back has been essential for Spain. His ability to play in a high line while Spain squeezes opponents as a unit has made him a valuable piece. He gets the nod over Lisandro Martínez, who scored an important goal against Cape Verde in extra time earlier in the tournament. Verdict Aymeric Laporte Left Back Marc Cucurella came into this tournament as one of the best left backs in the world and has continued to show it. With his high energy going up and down the left flank, Cucurella provides defensive stability while also being an important presence in possession. His link-up play with Álex Baena on Spain’s left side has been key to how Spain controls games. Tagliafico has been solid and brings experience, but Cucurella gets the clear nod. Verdict: Marc Cucurella Left Central Midfielder Rodri has been playing his best football at this World Cup for the first time since tearing his ACL early in the 2024-25 season, following his Ballon d’Or campaign where he won the Premier League with Manchester City and the Euros with Spain. He has absolutely bossed the midfield, showing his composure, ability to dictate tempo and elite footballing brain. Paredes was introduced by Lionel Scaloni to provide more control in midfield for Argentina as the tournament unfolded, but Rodri gets the nod as one of the best players in the world. Verdict: Rodri Right Central Midfielder Fabián Ruiz was introduced by Luis de la Fuente as a starter against Belgium in the quarterfinals, and Spain has not looked back. He has provided more dynamism in midfield with his ability to carry the ball forward, while his work rate next to Rodri to close down spaces has been great. Enzo Fernández just gets the slight nod. He has not been at his absolute best this tournament while playing in a deeper role, but his pedigree and importance to Argentina still give him the very slight edge over Fabián. Verdict: Enzo Fernández Attacking Midfielder Dani Olmo continues to be a pivotal part of this Spain team, occupying the central attacking midfield position. His intricate play, ability to make late runs and presence around the edge of the box have been critical for Spain. He is not the most natural, silky No. 10, but his unique qualities and overall connectivity with Mikel Oyarzabal make him essential to this side. Mac Allister is made of the right stuff. He has the capacity to make runs into the box and be a goal threat, he is willing to do the dirty work in midfield, and he can carry the ball forward. But Olmo gets the slight nod. Verdict: Dani Olmo Left Winger Lionel Messi just continues to show why he is the greatest player in the history of football. He has scored eight goals in this tournament and had two assists in Argentina’s late comeback victory against England, taking over that game just like he took over Argentina’s late comeback against Egypt in the Round of 16. Messi looks like he is 39 turning on 29. Baena is unfortunate to be compared to Messi because of the left-sided role. He has had a solid tournament for Spain, providing the ability to keep possession, free roam and pick up different pockets. But Messi gets the clear nod. Verdict: Lionel Messi Striker Mikel Oyarzabal has had a marvelous tournament for Spain, scoring five goals, including the pivotal penalty to take the lead over France in the semifinals. He has been efficient and ruthless as a finisher while playing as an untraditional No. 9. He may not play like a classic striker, but he has been incredible in that role for Spain. Julián Álvarez has not had his best tournament compared to his contributions in 2022 for Argentina, but he still scored a magical goal to win the game for Argentina in the quarterfinals against Switzerland late in extra time. Oyarzabal gets the nod. Verdict: Mikel Oyarzabal Right Winger Because of the imbalance between Spain’s shape and Argentina playing with four midfielders, Rodrigo De Paul gets compared to Lamine Yamal. Yamal is one of the best young players we have ever seen and just turned 19 a day before Spain’s semifinal victory over France. He came into this World Cup nursing a hamstring injury he suffered near the end of the club season with Barcelona, but he has steadily grown into this tournament. He has scored only one goal, but his impact goes beyond the stats. His ability to create fear every time he gets on the ball makes him one of the most dangerous players on the pitch. Yamal gets the nod and will be the second-best player in the World Cup final behind Messi. Verdict: Lamine Yamal Final Combined XI For Spain And Argentina GK: Emiliano MartínezRB: Pedro PorroCB: Aymeric LaporteCB: Cristian RomeroLB: Marc CucurellaCM: RodriCM: Enzo FernándezCAM: Dani OlmoLW: Lionel MessiST: Mikel OyarzabalRW: Lamine YamalLatest Sports News from FOX Sports
