Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Alaska’s school districts scrambled after the education grant freeze blocked $46 million in federal funds this summer. The Anchorage School District had already factored $14 million of the funding into its planned budget for the coming school year. As a result, the district eliminated 34.5 full-time staff positions, though most educators were reassigned to different jobs within ASD. However, five educators were laid off outright, and schools now face service gaps with limited time to adjust. The freeze disrupted summer assignments and planning, leaving teachers uncertain about their fall classroom roles and responsibilities. Corey Aist, president of the Anchorage Education…

A powerful 7.3 earthquake struck south of Sand Point Wednesday afternoon, prompting emergency evacuations across a 700-mile coastal stretch. The quake hit at 1:37 p.m. local time, shaking communities near Anchorage nearly 600 miles northeast of the epicenter. Officials quickly issued a tsunami warning from Homer to Unimak Pass, urging coastal residents to move to higher ground immediately. Communities like Kodiak, Cold Bay, and King Cove activated alerts as waves were forecast to hit within the next two hours. The National Tsunami Warning Center downgraded the warning to an advisory by 1:50 p.m. and canceled it entirely by 2:45 p.m.…

In a significant trade breakthrough, Trump and Prabowo finalized a trade deal that reduced US tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19%. This agreement follows Trump’s earlier threat of imposing a steep 32% tariff on Indonesian imports, which started on August 1.  After a direct phone call with President Prabowo, Trump agreed to lower the proposed rate in exchange for greater US access. Indonesia will now allow duty-free entry for US goods, including agriculture and manufactured products previously restricted by high tariffs. Additionally, Indonesia committed to buying $15 billion in American energy and $4.5 billion worth of US agricultural commodities. The…

Fire managers removed all pilot car escorts this evening as part of the region’s latest fire update. Though flames have moved away from the highway, suppression teams between Mileposts 318 and 338 remain hard at work.  The 45 MPH speed limit through the Bear Creek area has officially ended, returning the normal highway speed to 65 MPH. However, the pilot cars will continue operating 24/7 between MP 319 and MP 322 due to active road construction.  Officials advise drivers to remain cautious, expect delays, and watch for heavy equipment and firefighters along the route. The recent fire update highlights containment…

Alaska wildlife officials have reactivated the bear culling program, arguing it is essential to protect the Mulchatna caribou population. On Tuesday, the Alaska Board of Game Department resumed predator control measures near caribou calving grounds. The decision follows two previous court rulings that blocked the program due to legal and procedural flaws. Wildlife officials said predator control helped raise herd numbers slightly from under 13,000 to nearly 15,000 animals. The goal remains to grow the herd to at least 30,000 so that hunting in Western Alaska can resume. Board Vice Chair Stosh Hoffman of Bethel said the board’s responsibility is…

Alaska Senator Lis Murkowski broke with her party this week, opposing a statewide bill that endangers public broadcasting funding. The bill aims to rescind $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, including millions for rural public radio across Alaska. Murkowski joined Republican Senators Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell in voting against the measure, which still advanced in the Senate. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after the Senate split 50-50 along largely partisan lines during Tuesday’s vote. Senator Dan Sullivan voted in favor despite warnings that the bill could devastate Alaska’s local reporting and emergency alert systems. Sullivan’s…

Federal funding for Alaska’s 27 public media stations may vanish this week as the US Senate debates a massive rescission request. Former President Donald Trump pushed Congress to cancel billions in already approved spending, including $1 billion for public broadcasting. The House approved the package with support from Alaska’s Republican Representative Nick Begich, who voted to move the rescission forward. Unless the Senate votes by Friday, the proposal will expire, preserving Alaska’s vital funding for public media. Senator Lisa Murkowski has repeatedly defended public broadcasting’s value, especially in communities that rely on it for emergency updates. Senator Dan Sullivan acknowledged…

Traffic along the Parks Highway continues to be affected by recent firefighting efforts and road construction between Nenana and Fairbanks. From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., pilot cars manage traffic between mileposts (MP) 335.5 and 318.5 with delays of up to one hour.  At night, construction work shifts pilot cars are used to MP 319-322, with 20-30 minutes of wait time. This recent construction update focuses on improving a deteriorated stretch built initially in the 1950s and last upgraded in 1985. The road´s steep grades, sharp curves, and limited sightlines have caused numerous crashes, including two fatalities in the past…

The Syrian army entered the southern city of Sweida on Tuesday after days of escalating violence between local Druze factions and Bedouin fighters. Military columns backed by heavy artillery advanced early in the morning while explosions and gunfire echoed throughout the city’s neighborhoods.   The Defense Ministry confirmed the army’s entry and urged civilians to remain indoors and report movements of armed outlaw groups. Clashes broke out on Sunday after Bedouin gunmen abducted a Druze vendor along the Damascus highway, triggering a series of retaliatory kidnappings. Druze leaders initially supported troop deployment but later voiced concerns over the government’s military approach…

Heated public testimony on Monday revealed sharp divides over the Mulchatna Caribou Herd Predator Control Plan proposal, a strategy Alaska introduced to revive a declining caribou population.  Once 200,000 strong in 1997, the Mulchatna Caribou Herd has dwindled to roughly 13,000 animals, prompting urgent conservation efforts. The state’s objective for this subsistence herd ranges from 30,000 to 80,000 animals.  In response, officials introduced a predator control strategy that spans over 40,000 square miles across western Alaska. Since 2011, the plan has targeted wolves to reduce predator pressure and stabilize caribou numbers. However, the state recently proposed a plan including brown…

Firefighters made fast progress Thursday evening in the Johnson Fire near Salcha, successfully holding the blaze to just one acre. Six smokejumpers worked alongside aircraft that dipped from Harding Lake to drench the flames with multiple water drops. Quick turnaround time allowed planes to blanket the fire and limit its spread in the early stages. These rapid aerial responses significantly reduced fire intensity during initial operations. The fire started 4.5 miles east of Salcha and two miles south of Johnson Road in a patch containing an old fuel break. It burned close to black spruce trees, producing moderate activity before…

A steel monolith named Earth’s Black Box will document climate change data on Tasmania’s west coast for future civilizations. Set atop a granite plain between Strahan and Queenstown; the massive steel structure is built to endure centuries of environmental damage. Developers at Clemenger BBDO and the University of Tasmania plan to complete the project by early 2022. The black box, shaped like a city bus, is constructed from 3-inch-thick steel and powered by solar panels and battery storage. Inside, developers have packed storage drives that constantly gather climate-related data from across the globe. An algorithm scours the internet for tweet…