Author: Nicole Thompson

Authorities confirmed Friday that all 10 passengers aboard a regional airline flight died after their plane crashed near Nome, Alaska. The US Coast Guard located the Alaska plane crash wreckage about 34 miles southeast of Nome, which ended a frantic search.  Rescue swimmers discovered three bodies inside the shattered Cessna aircraft, while officials believe the remaining victims are trappers in the wreckage. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Mike Salerno stated that recovery efforts remain challenging due to the plane’s remote location and icy terrain. Among the victims, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium employees Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson had traveled to…

On Wednesday, over 100 Alaskans demonstrated against former President Donald Trump’s policies in front of the Alaska State Capitol. Participants held signs and chanted pro-democracy slogans to express their disapproval of government activities during Trump’s first month in office. As a component of the #50501 movement, the protestors sought to plan protests at each of the country’s 50 state capitols. Protestors criticized entrepreneur Elon Musk’s engagement in federal matters and denounced Trump’s treatment of transgender people and migrants.  Protestors carried banners with messages against deportations and policies affecting marginalized communities. Alberta Everson, alongside her family, held a sign stating “No…

Alaska officials have sued the Native Village of Eklutna, the US Department of the Interior, and the National Indian Gaming Commission. The Alaska gaming lawsuit filed Tuesday argues that Eklutna’s Chin’an Gaming Hall operates on land improperly classified as a Native allotment.  The legal action follows a Monday media tour of the gaming hall recently opened to the public. The state claims federal agencies wrongly granted Eklutna control over the land, violating long-standing legal interpretations. Attorney General Treg Taylor insists the case is about land jurisdiction, not gambling operations. The complaint states that for 30 years, the US Department of…

Federal agents have ramped up Alaska immigration raids, with FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration teams assisting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Anchorage. Over the past few days, officials have detained multiple individuals, marking a rare collaboration between these agencies in the state. The FBI’s Anchorage office shared images on X showing agents leading detainees in jail uniforms into the Department of Homeland Security’s local headquarters. Another image depicted a handcuffed individual in street clothes outside a residential area. The DEA’s Seattle office posted similar images, including one of a detainee in a yellow Anchorage jail jumpsuit being escorted into…

Alaska lawmakers must address a growing deficit. Declining oil revenue left a projected $200 million shortfall for the next fiscal year. The Legislative Finance Division warned that additional spending on firefighting and public services could push the deficit past $300 million. With limited options, legislators must decide whether to cut the Permanent Fund dividend or reduce school funding. Governor Mike Dunleavy proposed a budget with a full statutory PFD of approximately $3,900, requiring a $1.5 billion withdrawal from state savings. Lawmakers resisted, arguing that spending from the Constitutional Budget Reserve would strain financial stability. Bethel Democratic Senator Lyman Hoffman stated,…

Mat-Su Borough faces a funding shift for its bus system after losing a federal grant, potentially increasing local property taxes. The 2020 census classified the borough as an urbanized area, changing its eligibility for full federal transportation funding. As a result, the borough must now match 50% of transit costs through local funding, significantly altering financial planning. Assemblyman Tim Hale explained that the new designation requires a municipal planning organization to distribute federal and state transportation funds. Valley Transit, the non-profit managing Mat-Su´s transportation, will no longer receive federal funds and must compete for grants. The borough initially delayed the…

President Donald Trump’s new executive order has reignited a battle over Alaska’s vast wilderness and mineral wealth. Trump’s Alaska mining order was signed on his first day back in office, aiming to maximize Alaska’s energy and mineral resources.  State officials and industry leaders have welcomed the move, expecting it to unlock drilling and mining opportunities across the state. A major focus is the Ambler Road project’s proposed 211-mile industrial route through remote northwest Alaska. The road would provide access to mineral-rich areas containing critical elements like copper and cobalt. Trump’s decision reverses a June 2024 Biden administration ruling that halted…

Governor Mike Dunleavy’s administration postponed the Alaska salary study’s release, which was initially expected in June 2024, due to missing data. Officials classified an early draft in June, making it inaccessible to legislators and the public.  The study, funded with $1 million in 2023, was supposed to shape budget decisions and address recruitment challenges. State agencies currently face a 16.6% vacancy rate, which disrupts essential services like food assistance processing. Ashley Carrick, a Fairbanks Democrat, led a Thursday hearing to question why the Dunleavy administration delayed the report. She emphasized its importance in determining fair wages for public employees. Paula…

The Alaska education system faces a significant policy showdown as Governor Mike Dunleavy introduces a reform package tied to specific funding proposals. Lawmakers in the House and Senate pledged to boost school funding without attacking policy changes, but Dunleavy´s plan took a different approach. His proposal for Alaska education reform offers $117 million in targeted funding, including $43 million for homeschooling, $31 million for career programs, and $22 million for reading instructions. The plan also includes a three-year $58 million teacher bonus program, granting $5,000 to $15,000 annually based on school district locations. However, many lawmakers believe short-term bonuses fail…

During a January 2024 press conference on Hurricane Helen, Trump’s icebreaker fleet expansion plan was unexpectedly revealed. He addressed trade concerns by highlighting U.S. spending on Canada before mentioning the proposed purchase.  “We’re going to order about 40 Coast Guard icebreakers, big ones,” Trump stated. “And all of a sudden, Canada wants a piece of the deal. I say, ‘Why are we doing that?'” Trump did not revisit the icebreaker proposal during the remainder of the press conference, leaving details unclear. Trump’s icebreaker fleet expansion plan’s feasibility and funding remain uncertain, but the announcement has already stirred reactions from Alaska…

Recent executive actions have escalated Alaska’s federal workforce crisis, leaving federal employees, contractors, and community programs struggling with uncertainty and economic instability. As crucial funding freezes and stops vital projects throughout the state, thousands more Alaskans employed under federal contracts now risk employment instability.  Federal contractors in Alaska now question whether they will receive their paychecks as government contracts remain in limbo. Community-driven projects in health care, education, energy, and law enforcement have stopped creating ripple effects throughout the economy. Federal employees also report being pressured to spy on colleagues, relocate families or leave their jobs under questionable buyout offers.…

President Donald Trump appointed Emma Pokon to EPA Region 10, based in Seattle. He assigned her the task of overseeing federal environmental regulations across four states. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced the appointment on Wednesday. Dunleavy praised Pokon’s qualifications and leadership in environmental policy. Pokon has served as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation since August 2023, taking over after Jason Brune resigned. Dunleavy later confirmed her as a commissioner in December, recognizing her extensive experience in environmental law and resource management. Before leading DEC in 2020, she played an important role in shaping Alaska’s environmental policies while…