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Loren Holmes

@lorenholmes.bsky.social
400 followers 145 following 43 posts

Freelance photographer based in Anchorage. Former staff photojournalist at @adn.com | Anchorage Daily News

PostsRepliesMedia
Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
www.thetimes.com/article/28e1... New work for @thetimes.com about Alaska’s senate race and a man from Petersburg named Dan Sullivan
thetimes.com
Why Trump thinks a retired teacher in Alaska is a plot to ruin his presidency
Dan Sullivan Jr is the man the president fears most in next month’s crucial midterm elections
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The appropriated imagery in this case includes video from a story I worked on with former Seattle Times reporter Hal Bernton. www.adn.com/business-eco...
adn.com
A struggle to dodge salmon in pursuit of a massive pollock bounty
On a fishing trip in the Bering Sea, the captain of a factory trawler faces growing pressure to keep chum salmon bound for Western Alaska rivers out of its nets.
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Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Hanson was at the fair showing people how to do a “blanket toss,” an Iñupiat tradition that involves launching someone 30 feet into the air (!) as dozens of people pull the edges of a large blanket made of sewn seal skins. I joined in, bc YOLO. @lorenholmes.bsky.social took amazing pics of this.
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Pulitzer Center @pulitzercenter.org · 01/12/2025
For more than three decades, Skipper Robert Hanson has roamed the waters off Alaska to find halibut. But his fishing trip last year was an outright disaster as halibut stocks have plunged. Story by Hal Bernton & @lorenholmes.bsky.social for @adn.com. 🐟 bit.ly/4px9OR5
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Pulitzer Center @pulitzercenter.org · 26/11/2025
Since 2008, biologist Juan Valero has warned about the risk of overfishing a halibut population that was already in decline. This year, the halibut harvest hit its lowest point in more than a century. Story by Hal Bernton & @lorenholmes.bsky.social for @adn.com. 🐟 bit.ly/4px9OR5
Chad Tessier baits hooks ahead of halibut fishing on May 31, 2025, aboard the Oracle in Dutch Harbor. Image by Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News. United States.
A large halibut lies face-up on a table aboard the halibut longliner Oracle on June 2, 2025, in waters near Unalaska Island. Image by Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News. United States.Fisherman Jack Demmert prepares for a longline set aboard the halibut fishing boat Oracle on June 4, 2025, in waters near Unalaska Island. In the distance is Egg Island. Image by Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News. United States.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
I’m excited to finally be able to share these images made for @adn.com, Seattle Times, and Northern Journal, part of a series examining the decline of the halibut fishery. This is my 4th story with Hal Bernton, supported by @pulitzercenter.org. Read at ADN, Seattle Times, or Northern Journal.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Nearly four years ago I joined the crew of the Pinnacle as they searched for snow crab in the Bering Sea. Back then there was a lot of uncertainty about the fishery, and there still is, as @science.org reports. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Can the Deadliest Catch crab fishery survive warming seas?
After a brutal heat wave, scientists race to predict how Bering Sea snow crabs will cope with climate change
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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Editors and reporters of the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion submitted their notices of resignation today, after management from Carpenter Media Group made changes to a published story last week in response to intimidation from a state lawmaker and without input from our newsrooms. #aknews
The first page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye.

[Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full]

"Vance also said in the letter that she was “fully aware” of an effort to boycott Homer News advertising — stating that the paper would experience financial and reputational harm if it did not change its approach to covering community events. Rep. Vance never contacted the Homer News editorial team to discuss her concerns.
Without consulting the editor of the Homer News or the reporter who wrote the story, Carpenter Media removed the original article from the Homer News website, only to republish a modified version several hours later that reflected the changes demanded by Rep. Vance.
In the modified version republished by Carpenter management, there was no note to indicate the article had been changed.
We want to be clear: We have no problem with Rep. Vance expressing her opinion of our coverage. We cover difficult and sometimes controversial topics. Respectful dialogue about that coverage is welcome. As a community newspaper, we regularly provide Rep. Vance with a forum to discuss her views.
What we do have a problem with is Carpenter Media management changing a story at the behest of an elected official. We believe this destroys the credibility the public has placed in us as reporters and editors.
This willingness to acquiesce to a public official’s editorial demands and have conversations with her about the direction of our coverage is a betrayal not just of the journalists who work for Carpenter Media, but of the company’s integrity as a purveyor of news."

The second page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye.

[Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full]

These actions were taken despite there being no immediate urgency to remove the content — Rep. Vance's criticisms were raised regarding what she perceived as political bias, not factual inaccuracy.

Despite requests, we have not been informed of the content of dialogue between Rep. Vance and Carpenter Media management. In discussion with management our editor was told that the article did not meet their editorial standards and that the editing and reporting was “juvenile.”

We cannot live up to the core responsibility of a community newspaper in such an environment. We, employees of both the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion, are resigning our positions, effective Oct. 13, 2025.
Leaving these newspapers, at which we have spent a combined four decades, is not a decision we make lightly. We are proud of the work that we do covering local government as well as the arts, food, history, outdoors and sports. Though this decision is extremely painful for all of us, it is not difficult. We cannot do our jobs knowing that pressure from an elected official can mean our stories are edited without prior consultation with us.

Because we care deeply about the work we do and what it means to the community, we are all giving the standard two weeks’ notice instead of resigning outright. We hope Carpenter Media takes the opportunity to get personnel in place to continue the legacies of the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News. We hope this incident provides incentive for Carpenter Media to handle threats from officials in a way that safeguards the valued trust that readers have in newspapers.

The community deserves it."
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
I've always wondered about this. Thanks @marketplace.org for answering my question! www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
marketplace.org
Why do health insurance pools exist?
If we had a Medicare-for-all system, everyone would be in the same risk-pool, bringing down costs for patients.
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Reposted by Loren Holmes
Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 05/07/2025
Photos: Racers enjoyed sunny skies and an enthusiastic crowd during the 97th running of the Mount Marathon Race in Seward on Friday. www.adn.com/visual/photo...
adn.com
Our favorite photos from the 2025 Mount Marathon Race
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Scenes from the 97th running of the Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska
David Norris greets fans as he runs down 4th Avenue during the 97th running of the Mount Marathon Race on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Seward. Norris won his 6th Mount Marathon Race this year.Mya Taylor makes her way through a field of wildflowers during the 97th running of the Mount Marathon Race on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Seward.Tonia Baklanova and other women make their way down the mountain during the 97th running of the Mount Marathon Race on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Seward.Riga Grubis waves a flag as she cheers on competitors in the 97th running of the Mount Marathon race on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Seward.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 03/07/2025
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has asked House minority members not to show up for the first five days of an August special session in order to thwart an effort by majority lawmakers to override his veto of $51 million in education funding.
adn.com
To thwart veto overrides, Dunleavy asks House Republicans not to show up to special session he called
According to Alaska law, legislators must vote on overturning the governor’s vetoes within five days of convening.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 14/06/2025
School districts and elected officials across Alaska were left reeling after Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed tens of millions of dollars in education funding from the state budget, weeks after lawmakers had overridden his earlier veto of a permanent increase to the school funding formula.
adn.com
Alaska leaders decry governor’s education veto as districts consider new rounds of cuts
“The veto is problematic even for those of us who are on a very conservative side of the aisle,” said Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche.
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Kyle Hopkins @kylehopkinsak.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
You know the best place to be a reporter? Alaska! Come work for the Anchorage Daily News: www.journalismjobs.com/1690546-repo...
journalismjobs.com
JournalismJobs.com - Job Listing - Reporters
JournalismJobs.com has journalism and media job listings with digital media, newspapers, tv stations, radio stations, magazines, nonprofits, and academia.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
📷 📸 📷
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
A classic Alaska newspaper correction in this week’s @chilkatvalleynews.bsky.social
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
In this current climate of cross-border tensions, I'm reminded of a story I reported in the towns of Hyder, Alaska and Stewart, BC back in the summer of 2015. Softball games in Canada on one day, a parade in America on another. A real cross-border party! It may be time for another visit soon.
adn.com
Hyder, Alaska: Life and love on the international border - Anchorage Daily News
Hyder sits near the extreme southeast corner of Alaska, cut off from the rest of the state but connected by road to nearby Stewart, British Columbia. The connection between Hyder and Stewart runs deep...
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
Over 1,000 people showed up for the #HandsOFF rally in Anchorage
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Michael Armstrong @maarmstrong.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Alaska has a new newspaper, The Seward Folly, published in Seward, Alaska. My friends Marylynn and Bob Barnwell started it. I’m helping them by covering the Seward City Council. Hurray for community journalism! sewardfolly.com.
sewardfolly.com
The Seward Folly
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A sad update to this story.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
I might have splurged on a bar of these after reporting the story
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Great news for @adn.com, and all of us who have a part in producing the thoughtful journalism made here.
adn.com
Vicky Ho named editor of the Anchorage Daily News
She had been the newsroom’s managing editor since 2022 and succeeds David Hulen, who retired as editor in mid-March.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 29/03/2025
Anchorage has the nation’s most robust school language immersion programs for a city its size, experts say. Those programs are at risk. www.adn.com/alaska-news/...
adn.com
Anchorage’s school language immersion programs — among the nation’s most robust for a city its size — are at risk - Anchorage Daily News
Absent additional funding from the state Legislature, Anchorage’s premier, 36-year-old immersion programs will suffer at best, or cease to exist at worst, said the district’s World Languages and Immer...
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Reposted by Loren Holmes
Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 19/03/2025
The Alaska Volcano Observatory and several federal offices in Alaska have appeared on lists of leases set to be terminated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
adn.com
Future of some Alaska federal office leases uncertain, including for volcano monitoring
Federal agencies and their associates don’t know who to call during a period of continual uncertainty about federal leases.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Jessie Holmes gives some love to his lead dogs Polar and Hercules after they won the Iditarod early this morning in Nome.
Jessie Holmes hugs his lead dogs Polar (left) and Hercules after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Friday morning, March 14, 2025 in Nome.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 14/03/2025
Jessie Holmes, a 43-year-old Alabamian who came to Alaska more than 20 years ago, has earned his first win in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
adn.com
Jessie Holmes earns his first Iditarod victory
The veteran musher’s victory is a capstone in a short but remarkably successful career in the race to Nome.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
7 bikers tied for 1st place in the Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000 today in Nome. From left, Peter Delamere, Roberto Gazzoli, Tiziano Mulonia, Willy Mulonia, Casey Fagerquist, Joshua Brown, and Mike Beiergrohslein. The ITI is a nearly 1,000-mile race from Knik to Nome, following the Iditarod trail.
From left, Peter Delamere, Roberto Gazzoli, Tiziano Mulonia, Willy Mulonia, Casey Fagerquist, Joshua Brown, and Mike Beiergrohslein bike down Front Street on their way to the finish line of the ITI 1000 bike race on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Nome. The Iditarod Trail Invitational is a nearly 1,000-mile race from Knik, in Southcentral, to Nome, following the traditional Iditarod trail, and the seven bikers tied for first place.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
I really enjoyed discovering this place! The scene reminded me of how much fun I used to have at Gig’s in the 90’s. Thanks @theckart.bsky.social !
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
📸
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
📸📸📸
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Great reporting here from Emily Schwing and @propublica.org
propublica.org
A Rural Alaska School Asked the State to Fund a Repair. Nearly Two Decades Later, the Building Is About to Collapse.
Rural school districts depend on the state to fund construction and maintenance projects. But over the past 25 years, Alaska lawmakers have ignored hundreds of requests for public schools that primarily serve Indigenous children.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 02/03/2025
Our updated story, with photos: Today's Iditarod ceremonial start drew eager dog teams, throngs of spectators and calls for "bootie bootie bootie" www.adn.com/outdoors-adv...
adn.com
Iditarod ceremonial start draws eager dog teams, spectators and calls for ‘bootie bootie bootie’ - Anchorage Daily News
Even as a lack of snow forced organizers to shorten the course to less than 2 miles, the crowds in downtown Anchorage brought the enthusiasm and energy that’s long been a hallmark of the ceremonial st...
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 01/03/2025
Alaskans were among the hundreds of NOAA employees who began receiving firing notices this week, a blow to an agency that provides everything from weather forecasts to fisheries management to cutting-edge climate science in Alaska. www.adn.com/alaska-news/...
adn.com
NOAA firings hit crucial Alaska weather service, fishery research
The firings dealt a blow to an agency that provides everything from weather forecasts to fisheries management to cutting-edge climate science in Alaska.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/u...
nytimes.com
Meet the Trans Troops the Trump Administration Is Barring (Gift Article)
Officers and enlisted. Combat veterans and recent recruits. Transgender service members say their military experience has looked nothing like the portrayal of them in the political arena.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
📸📸📸 adn.com/iditarod-mus...
adn.com
Meet the mushers of the 2025 Iditarod
Of the 33 mushers slated to compete in this year’s race, 17 are Iditarod veterans and 16 are rookies.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 27/02/2025
After the Anchorage School Board approved massive budget cuts — which, among other changes, would dismantle several programs and end middle school sports — students, parents and staff say they would result in crippling changes to local schools.
adn.com
Coaches, nurses and gifted program teachers call Anchorage School District budget cuts a ‘body blow’
Educators, staff, students and parents are holding their breath as they await decisions from the Alaska Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 25/02/2025
Breaking news: The Trump administration plans to handpick the reporters who can ask the president questions, breaking decades of precedent in the White House.
nytimes.com
White House Moves to Pick the Pool Reporters Who Cover Trump
In announcing plans to handpick the reporters who can ask the president questions, the White House is breaking decades of precedent.
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 19/02/2025
This editorial, "Secrecy, deception erode public trust," has been taken offline. But here's an archived version, preserved by @archive.org for everyone to read: webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20250219...
webcf.waybackmachine.org
EDITORIAL: Secrecy, deception erode public trust
Your Clarksdale Press Register will be the first to say that a sin tax that would pay police to fight crime in Clarksdale is a good idea.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 19/02/2025
The leading builder of solar farms along Alaska’s Railbelt has pulled the plug on a large project in Nikiski, saying it does not pencil out for its investor amid persistently high costs and uncertainty over federal tax credits.
adn.com
Developers put brakes on multiple solar energy projects as Southcentral Alaska faces gas shortage
Renewable IPP said it can no longer afford to lead development on a project in Nikiski that would have been the state’s largest, along with two others.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
💃 📸 💃
adn.com
New program gives Spanish-speaking Anchorage seniors a space to share language, coffee and dance
To combat social isolation and chronic loneliness, Anchorage resident Ninetta Regalado is organizing gatherings for Spanish speakers who are 55 or older.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
📸📸📸
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
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Climatologist49 @climatologist49.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Anchorage Feb 3, climate notes: Feb 3, 2024: record snow depth of 33" Feb 3, 2025: record snow depth 0" (Trace)
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
I will miss Anne’s thoughtful critiques of my work, and her constant guidance and support of visual journalism at @adn.com. www.adn.com/alaska-news/...
adn.com
Anne Raup, a key member of the ADN team for decades, is retiring
Anne has been at the ADN for more than 30 years — as a staff photographer, then as assistant photo editor, and since 2011 as photo and visuals editor.
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 26/01/2025
As crackdown begins under Trump, Alaska advocates educate local immigrants on legal rights www.adn.com/alaska-news/...
adn.com
As crackdown begins under Trump, Alaska advocates educate local immigrants on legal rights
Immigration lawyers say knowledge is power amid a changing administration and uncertain future for many noncitizens.
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
📸📸📸
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Loren Holmes @lorenholmes.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
😭
adn.com
New Orleans has received twice as much snow as Anchorage this winter
Less than 4 inches of new snow has fallen in Anchorage since the beginning of December.
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latimesphotos @latimesphotos.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
10 dead, more than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed in L.A. fires; windy weather continues. (Paywall is down) @latimes.com www.latimes.com/california/l...
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Anchorage Daily News @adn.com · 10/01/2025
After President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland, U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III made comments that appeared to support Trump’s vision for annexing the Arctic territory that is part of Denmark.
adn.com
Alaska’s congressional delegation split on Trump idea of making Greenland a U.S. territory
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski called the idea “offensive.” U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III called it “history defining.”
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