Author: Nicole Thompson

A team of researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute is conducting innovative research at the Poas volcano in Costa Rica. Led by experts, the team aims to use unmanned aircraft, or drones, to collect gas samples from inside the volcano’s crater. The team’s research is crucial for advancing our understanding of volcanic activity. By studying the Poas volcano, researchers can gain valuable insights into the internal dynamics of volcanoes. This knowledge can be applied to other volcanoes around the world. The team consists of four members, including pilots from the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration.…

Lawmakers debated House Bill 69 on Monday as it reached the house floor, drawing sharp disagreements over public school funding allocations. Sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Himshoot, the bill has undergone multiple amendments since its introduction, reflecting differing priorities among legislators.  If passed, the bill would permanently increase Alaska’s public school funding by $275 million, significantly raising the base student allocation. Initially, the bill proposed a $1,000 increase per student, followed by a gradual $800 increase over four years. The most recent version, however, keeps the $1,000 adjustment and eliminates the annual increment. During Monday’s meeting, lawmakers discussed Amendment #10, which…

The Anchorage School’s book donation gives thousands of books a second life by distributing them to schools and libraries statewide. Instead of being stored in warehouses or discarded, these books will reach needy communities through the Bright Light Book Project.  On Monday, five pallets of donated books arrived at the Bright Light Book Project’s storage unit. Alys Culhane, the organization founder, explained that this is the second large book donation from the school district in three years. The latest batch includes textbooks, language literacy materials, and German fiction books. “Here I got a call a couple of days ago from…

On Sunday, a vibrant crowd attended a drag-themed Loteria fundraiser at Williwaw Social, which raised funds for Choosing Our Roots. SafeRoot Anchorage, a transitional housing project for queer Alaskan children in need of stable housing, was the beneficiary of the LGBTQ+ housing fundraiser.  Before the event began, Choosing Our Roots, a group that supports LGBTQ+ Alaskans, had already raised $3,000. By the end of the evening, according to Chami Krueger, co-director of programming, $20,000 had been raised to pay for two flats. Drag performers hosted rounds of Loteria, a Mexican bingo game that replaces numbers with illustrated cards and blotters…

Alaska’s rural school funding crisis has left a school on the verge of collapse. In a little brown structure on the brink of deterioration, over two dozen children attend a class every morning in the isolated community of Sleetmute. To fix the school’s leaky roof, the local school system has been pleading for state assistance for 19 years in a row. Nevertheless, every appeal has been rejected. Water infiltration has resulted in rotting support timbers, a windowpane split by winter’s heavy snow and ice, and a bowing wall showing a massive hole in the siding outside. In 2021, an architect…

In the last two years, around 100 Alaskans who were homeless have perished on Anchorage’s streets, highlighting the city’s deteriorating situation. Elvi Gray-Jackson, a Democrat, submitted a bill this week that would guarantee equitable treatment and safeguard the rights of homeless people. The proposed Homeless Bill of Rights would ensure access to necessary services such as safe housing, work opportunities, and medical treatment. Gray-Jackson stressed that homelessness should not impede access to essential services.  According to her, the law would also allow anyone to seek refuge in public areas, provided they do not obstruct traffic. Homeless advocate TJ Beers, who…

According to Alaska State Troopers, an ATV broke through the ice on the Little Susitna River Thursday morning, leaving two workers unaccounted for. The missing men were washed away beneath the ice, but three others escaped and made it to safety. At 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, Alaska Wildlife Troopers got a distress call stating that the vehicle had crashed through thin ice while five personnel were crossing the river. After climbing out, the three survivors arrived at a nearby work camp, where they were subsequently picked up by a charter helicopter. Troops verified that they refused medical care. Search crews…

Alaska State Troopers avalanche experts and rescue teams were unable to access the slide zone near Girdwood on Wednesday due to bad weather; officials said the site, which is in the remote Chugach Mountains, could only be reached by air. Authorities in Alaska plan to arrive on Thursday at the scene of the Alaska heli-skiing avalanche to recover three skiers buried under deep snow. The avalanche occurred Tuesday afternoon after a helicopter dropped skiers onto a backcountry peak. Three skiers were trapped beneath an estimated 30 feet of snow when the snow avalanche began at about 3,500 feet and went…

British Columbia Premier David Eby announced plans to impose tolls on commercial trucks transporting goods from the Lower 48 to Alaska. Eby said the truck tolls would offset President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policies on Canadian commerce while addressing the Legislative Assembly in Victoria.  He emphasized that the proposed legislation will impose penalties on trucks that use British Columbia as a transit route, among other responses. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy urged British Columbia to reconsider, emphasizing the need for federal-level solutions. Dunleavy warned that unilateral decisions by provinces or states could complicate broader trade negotiations. Commercial trucker Robert Myers, a…

The Anchorage sales tax proposal remains uncertain after the Assembly postponed its final vote until March 18 following calls for more public input. Assembly members Felix Rivera and Randy Sulte introduced the measure and announced two town hall meetings to gather residents’ feedback. The first event will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Loussac Library’s Wilda Marston Theatre, while the second is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Mountain View Library. Under the proposal, voters would decide in a special September election whether to implement a 3% sales tax, projected to be $180 million annually. Two-thirds…

The University of Alaska DEI ban has triggered intense criticism from students, faculty, and historians who argue it threatens academic freedom. The University of Alaska Board of Regents approved the measure on February 21st, 2025, by a 9-1 vote, eliminating all references to diversity, equality, inclusion, or other associated terms. This decision followed President Donald Trump’s executive order, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing. Many academics and students worry that this shift will result in fewer support services and lower financing. Katherine Sinclair, an assistant term professor of history, expressed worries that students are worried about losing…

The Ketchikan Federal Building sale could happen soon as the US government prepares to offload more than 440 properties nationwide. On Tuesday, the General Services Administration (GSA) identified these properties as non-core assets that no longer serve essential federal functions. Officials said selling underused buildings would eliminate soft maintenance and redirect taxpayer funds toward improved work environments. The 1930s-era Ketchikan building is historically significant as the only pink-painted federal structure in the nation. It is currently one of the government properties that may shortly be transferred. In addition, the GSA’s disposal list included three Anchorage locations. These include the annex…