Author: Nicole Thompson
Nicole Thompson
Nicole Thompson is known for her in-depth coverage of community events and issues. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy, she has become a trusted voice in reporting on both local and global news.
The Biden administration halted drilling and mining in Alaska, reversing a Trump-era decision to permit resource development on 28 million acres. This action is consistent with Biden’s overarching Alaska land protection policy designed to preserve significant public spaces. Conversely, in his final days in office, former President Trump had advocated for authorizing oil and gas development in this region. However, upon Biden’s assumption of office, the Department of the Interior under his administration suspended the order. It resolved to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment that considered the concerns of the local and indigenous communities. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland stated that…
An Alaska Airlines flight on Sunday had to return to Seattle due to engine difficulties shortly after takeoff. The aircraft blasted off from Seattle Tacoma International Airport with a thunderous explosion. The plane scheduled to touch down in Oakland, California, a Boeing 737-700, had already passed through the airport. When they realized there could be an engine issue, the personnel returned to Seattle. Around 1:30 pm, Alaska Airlines Flight 1240 safely arrived at Seattle Tacoma International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Alaska Airlines verified that the crew turned off the aircraft’s left main engine as a precaution.…
On Sunday, a landslide in Alaska Ketchikan killed one and injured multiple individuals. Authorities issued evacuation orders due to the possibility of another landslide. At approximately 4:00 pm, a landslide impacted the coastal city, causing significant damage to residences, businesses, and roadways. Mayor Dave Kiffer of Ketchikan expressed his surprise at the incident and offered his deepest sympathies to the families affected. He conveyed his anguish over the catastrophe that had struck his community. Three individuals sustained injuries as a consequence of the landslide. One was treated and discharged from the hospital, while the other two are still hospitalized. Considering…
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom of Alaska suddenly withdrew her congressional campaign. This could hurt the Democrats hopes of keeping a key U.S. House spot. Dahlstrom was running against Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who was already in office, and Republican Nick Begich III, who comes from a great political family in Alaska. Dahlstrom ultimately decided not to support Begich, but she did say that her main goal was to see Peltola lose. “I entered this race because Alaskans deserve better representation than what we have received from Mary Peltola in Washington,” Dahlstrom stated. Voters in Alaska approved ranked-choice voting in 2020,…
The alarming decline of Alaskan snow crabs in the Bering Sea in 2022 has raised serious concerns among the fishing industry and scientists. The Alaskan crab missing point to drastic decline primarily results from rising global temperatures and not overfishing. Attempting to fish in the Bering Sea is extremely difficult. High-level decision making, handling of the boat, and upkeep are necessary. Even with the harsh winter conditions, it is important to schedule the fishery during the crabs growth and mating cycles of Alaskan snow crabs. The primary objective of winter fishing is to avoid disrupting the molting process of large…
Napakiak, an isolated settlement in Alaska, is preparing for another storm after intense floods devastated the area earlier this week. Around 350 people live in Napakiak, a village in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta accustomed to severe weather. However, the hamlet was unprepared for the latest floods, which occurred outside the typical spring or fall seasons. The Kuskokwim River swelled on Sunday due to severe rainfall, significantly flooding most of Napakiak. Locals hurried to relocate cars, lock up water tanks, and shield firewood from rising waves. The local preacher Job Hale utilized a front-loader to free those stranded in their raised houses…
On Monday, new information regarding the Anchorage officer involved in the shooting of a young girl last week. The shooting occurred in an apartment in the University Area, leading to the tragic death of sixteen-year-old Easter Leafa. This incident sparked protests and rallies from community members demanding reform. As of this event on May 13, it marks the sixth police-involved shooting in Anchorage. Leafa’s sister called the police on Tuesday evening, reporting that Easter had a knife. Authorities quickly responded to the call, arriving at Greenbriar Apartments. Upon arrival, officers found Leafa on the back porch, wrapped in a blanket.…
A renewable energy company has signed an agreement with Homer Electric Association, advancing the development of Alaska’s largest solar farm project. This deal sets the stage for substantial solar energy development in the state. Jenn Miller from Renewable IPP reports that the solar farm at Puppy Dog Lake in Nikiski will have a capacity of 45 megawatts. This project will significantly boost Alaska’s solar energy production, nearly tripling the current output from rooftop installations and existing farms. The ambitious project will power nearly 9,000 households on the Peninsula, making it over five times larger than Renewable IPP’s previous Houston project.…
Police charged an Anchorage man with murder on Sunday after discovering a victim dead from a stab wound inside a West Anchorage apartment. Authorities arrested 33 year old Cecil A. Skipper and charged him with first-degree murder. Officers apprehended Skipper at the scene, a residence on West 32nd Avenue near Turnagain Street. According to an official police statement released online, Skipper directly reported the incident to dispatch. Skipper cooperated with the authorities orders to vacate the flat as soon as they arrived on the scene. State court records indicate that, as of Sunday night, authorities had not yet submitted the…
On Saturday morning, members of the Samoan community in Anchorage will assemble in front of the downtown offices of the Anchorage Police Department for a significant ceremony known as a march for Easter Leafa. The Samoan community march for justice will bring together Samoan leaders, community partners, and concerned people, all dressed in white as a sign of peace and harmony. This week, police officers shot and killed 16-year-old Easter Leafa. The march comes after the horrific event that occurred earlier this week. The scenario became more serious, as stated by the Anchorage Police Department, after Leafa, who had threatened…
In an Alaska Troopers assault case, authorities charged two State Troopers on Thursday. Authorities mistakenly informed Officers Jason Woodruff and Sgt. Joseph Miller that they were apprehending Garrett Tikka, wanted for not completing his 10-day sentence for driving with a suspended license. On May 24, the agents approached an SUV connected to Garrett Tikka in the Kenai Peninsula hamlet of Soldotna. However, the Alaska Attorney General’s Office has filed charges, claiming that Ben Tikka, his cousin, was the person inside the car. This misidentification led to a violent incident in which Ben Tikka suffered severe injuries. He suffered from an…
A power outage in Alaska occurred on Monday afternoon, resulting in the loss of electricity for tens of thousands of individuals in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. At 5:30 p.m., maps of power disruptions indicated that up to 45,000 individuals in Anchorage and 24,000 in the Mat-Su region were without electricity. Fortunately, the majority of individuals were able to regain access to their electricity by 7 p.m. Only twelve residences were still anticipating the resumption of service. According to Chugach Electric and Matanuska Electric Association, two Alaskan power companies, the extensive power outage in Alaska may have been the result…
