Author: Nicole Thompson

Alaska enacted a new law to address the high number of murdered or missing Indigenous women and girls. A study published in 2018 by the Urban Indian Health Institute highlighted this situation. According to the survey, Anchorage has the third-highest number of instances in the country, while Alaska has the fourth-highest number of cases overall. One factor contributing to the issue is that a third of Alaska’s remote towns lack law enforcement. Overlapping duties across federal, state, and local entities create another problem: a lack of accountability. A 2021 study by the nonprofit Data for Indigenous Justice found that while…

Following the two pedestrian deaths over the weekend, three Assembly members on Tuesday presented fresh ideas to increase pedestrian safety in Anchorage. An SUV struck Crystal Anvil, 38, killing her tragically on Saturday night while she was crossing Northern Lights Boulevard. This was Anchorage’s twelfth pedestrian fatality of the year. Two cars struck Ambrose Aguchak, 79, on the New Seward Highway, claiming his life just one day before. Anchorage is getting closer to breaking the state record of 13 pedestrian fatalities set last year. Outraged by the mounting toll, Meg Zaletel of the Midtown Assembly highlighted the need for immediate…

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently detected Russian aircraft near Alaska. Just days after the deployment of U.S. Army troops to the region, observers spotted four Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska. According to NORAD, these aircraft entered Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Monday, though they remained in international airspace and did not breach Canadian or American sovereign territory. NORAD emphasized that, despite its proximity, this action is regular and not harmful. This month, Russian military operations resembling those frequently conducted in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) have occurred in large numbers. Concerned about…

On Saturday night in Anchorage, a lady was struck and killed by an SUV as she crossed West Northern Lights Boulevard. The tragic Anchorage pedestrian death happened at Minnesota Drive, approximately 500 feet west of the permitted crosswalk, around 7:30 p.m. According to Anchorage Police, when medical personnel got to the site, they pronounced the lady deceased. The SUV driver stayed on the site and is assisting with the inquiry. Although authorities have not brought any charges yet, investigators continue to look into the pedestrian deaths in Anchorage. This awful incident comes after Friday night’s other fatal pedestrian collision. Two…

Following his obscene threats issued via a public communication site to the justices of the Supreme Court, an Alaskan man was charged and arrested. According to court records, 76-year-old Panos Anastasiou made repeated threats to hurt and murder six judges by using derogatory and aggressive words. He made references to lynching and shooting justices and even threatened their families. According to the Justice Department, one message called for mass assassinations, stating, “If you’re corrupt, you’re corrupt.” Anastasiou allegedly sent over 465 messages, with some targeting specific justices. Threats targeted a justice identified as “Justice 1,” focusing on a racially charged…

The US Army deployed to Alaska last week due to anticipated increased Russian and Chinese military movements. The US Army deployed personnel to Shemya Island, Alaska, for a force security operation. During this, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) identified Russian military aircraft near Alaska on four occasions. The deployment of these aircraft prompted the US Army’s strategic positioning in Alaska, signifying an elevated intensity of military activities, despite their non-intrusion into Canadian or American airspace. On September 12, the Army deployed units from the 11th Airborne Division, known as the Arctic Angels, to Shemya Island. The division, typically…

The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Tuesday that it authorized the $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Airlines. The department granted both airlines the authority to maintain key Hawaiian routes and implement consumer protections as part of the Alaska and Hawaiian airline merger. The Justice Department decided not to reject the transaction in August after it was first made public in December. As a result, the airlines anticipate closing the agreement in the following days. The Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines have pledged to uphold the value of frequent flier awards and continue…

A plane had to return to Honolulu after four flight attendants on a trip from Hawaii to Seattle reported feeling unwell due to an Alaska Airlines odor incident in the cabin. As a precaution, Thursday night’s Boeing 737-890 aircraft AS810 was redirected shortly after departure from Lihue, Kauai. According to an Alaska Airlines spokesman, the flight attendants were unwell after inhaling the stink, even though none of the customers or pilots displayed any symptoms. When the four flight attendants touched down in Honolulu, they were sent to the hospital for assessment. According to local news channel KHNL, the Honolulu Emergency…

Alaska State Troopers reported that two individuals perished on Friday, in a Kenai Peninsula plane crash. The casualties were 58-year-old Keith Presley of Ninilchik, the lone passenger, and 70-year-old Danny Presley of Happy Valley, the pilot. Both men were found dead following the single-engine Champion 7GCBC aircraft accident close to Tustumena Lake. At about 11:30 a.m., Alaska Troopers got the alert following the deployment of a team by the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center to the crash scene. The chief of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Alaska, Clint Johnson, stated the jet crashed over 20 miles east of Ninilchik,…

Public health specialists announced that all Alaskans who choose vaccination will soon have access to the new COVID-19 vaccine. The recently developed 2024–2025 vaccine targets the most recent virus strains and works best for those who have completed all booster doses or are getting immunized for the first time. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its most recent guidelines on Thursday, stating that everyone six months and older should get the new vaccine. The updated recommendations aim to build defenses against recently identified virus strains and increase immunity. Immunizations are on their way to Alaska, where…

On September 12, NORAD detected two Russian aircraft near Alaskan airspace. The military immediately deployed fighter jets to monitor the situation, although the planes stayed in international airspace and did not violate Canadian or American sovereignty. These meetings are becoming more frequent as the U.S.-Russian tensions build, especially in the Arctic, where both countries have significant strategic interests. The reaction from NORAD serves as a reminder of the continual military readiness required to defend US airspace and maintain national security. Officials recognized the planes as part of Russia’s long-range fleet, which frequently flies near North American airspace. However, these activities…

A judge’s decision has permitted Eric Hafner’s candidacy, presently serving a 20-year jail sentence, to continue running for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat in the general election. The Alaska Democratic Party submitted the removal request, citing Hafner’s 2022 guilty plea for threats against New Jersey judges and police officers. In this closely watched race, U.S. Representative Mary Peltola is up against Republican nominee Nick Begich and Democratic opponent Hafner, who has no ties to Alaska. Alaska Democratic Party attorneys alleged that state election authorities made a mistake by including Hafner on the ballot. They said that Hafner was ineligible to…