Author: Nicole Thompson

Alaska State Troopers arrested 20-year-old Hooper Bay resident Shaquille Carawan four days after the horrific killings of two young ladies. Investigators discovered the bodies of 18-year-olds Novely Rivers and Abigail Olson at a home near Hooper Bay. However, upon learning of Carawan’s whereabouts, investigators quickly identified him as a suspect in the Hooper Bay murder case. Consequently, Carawan faced charges of first and second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and furnishing alcohol to minors in a prohibited area. Furthermore, Alaska State Troopers classified the act as a violent murder, thereby highlighting the gravity of the circumstances. On Friday, the Native American…

Nearly 60% of Juneau voters oppose a ballot measure that seeks to prohibit large cruise ships from docking on Saturdays. If enacted, the legislation would ban cruise ships carrying 250 or more passengers from docking on Saturdays and the Fourth of July, beginning next year. Advocates for the “Ship-Free Saturdays” initiative, including retiree Karla Hart, express concerns about overcrowding and the adverse effects of tourism on the city, particularly the noise generated by helicopter tours. Those who are against the bill, such as Protect Juneau’s Future, say it would hurt the economy in the area by cutting jobs and tax…

The contractor NaphCare, charged with disclosing a health data breach involving Alaska inmates, now maintains that while the identities were authentic, the diagnoses were not. The ACLU of Alaska revealed on Tuesday that a serious privacy breach compromised the identities and private information of 74 prisoners. This breach included sensitive details such as prescription drugs, mental health diagnoses, and other personal data, which the electronic records contractor for the Department of Corrections made publicly available on a training website(DOC). Anyone with an internet connection could view the data. In rebuttal, the prison healthcare provider NaphCare in Alabama released a statement…

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to affect the Southeastern United States, resulting in nearly 160 fatalities across six states. Hurricane Helene recovery efforts operations are intensifying. Numerous organizations, including the American Red Cross, have deployed personnel and volunteers nationwide to assist the thousands of displaced individuals. Two nurses from Alaska, including registered nurse Kimberly Gebert, are among Hurricane Helene’s recovery efforts. She traveled to Tallahassee to assist with the recovery effort. Gebert now works at a shelter in Citrus Springs, Florida, after swiftly moving south to assist in the hardest-hit areas. She worked with another nurse to tend to…

Officer Alexander Roman, who shot and killed 16-year-old Easter Leafa in Anchorage on August 13, will not face charges. The Alaska Department of Law concluded that Roman justified in using force to defend himself and others. Roman, a six-year Anchorage Police veteran, arrived after Leafa threatened her sister with a knife. The Easter Leafa shooting case has sparked protests and raised concerns about police procedures. Officers uncomfortable arrival at an East Anchorage apartment causes family members to become worried, as shown in body camera footage. They were afraid the situation would get worse if the cops showed up. In the clip,…

The Anchorage Police Department (APD) reported that a lone officer fatally shot a man in the upper torso during an Anchorage police shooting on Sunday night in Mountain View. The officer was responding to a 911 call when the incident occurred. Sean Case, the Chief of the Atlanta Police Department, gave further information on the event during a news conference. He stated that the suspect approached the police with a knife, creating a dangerous scenario as the officer waited for help. The officer investigated an injured person in the 500 block of North Park Street after receiving a complaint. The…

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…