JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Alaska police are investigating racist graffiti in the woods near a Juneau middle school as a hate crime.

The graffiti near Floyd Dryden Middle School is described by police as including “hateful and vulgar messages.” The markings were reported to the department on Wednesday, KTOO-FM reported.

Retired teacher Janna Lelchuk and her husband were walking their dogs at Adair-Kennedy Park last weekend when they stumbled upon the racist and obscene graffiti in white spray paint on a bridge and trees.

“There were horrible things written,” Lelchuk said. “Like, all over. And what...