New Mat-Su Welcome Stop: After nearly 20 years of delays, the new Gateway Visitor Center near Palmer opened June 19, replacing the old site displaced by Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. The $8.4 million, 9,400-square-foot center (off the Glenn Highway near Matanuska Lakes State Park) is run by the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau and is built to help travelers plan trips, linger longer, and access exhibits, restrooms, picnic areas, and even classroom space for community programs. Cruise Safety Reminder: The FBI is urging cruise travelers to report serious onboard crimes (including sexual assault, kidnapping, and severe assault) to ship security, and to contact local police/FBI if they’ve already disembarked—plus to watch for theft and robbery. Juneau Family Fun: Juneau Public Library’s free “Clara the Whale” Summer Reading event hits July 9 at the Juneau Community Center, with a 56-foot inflatable whale and marine artifacts. Arctic Water Warning: Researchers are sounding alarms over “rusting” rivers in the Arctic, where rising acidity/oxidation is turning water orange and threatening fish and wildlife. Air Travel Tech: FAA awarded Air Space Intelligence an $875 million, 12-year contract for new air traffic management software, aiming to reduce congestion before flights depart.