Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Investigators say a blue Ford Escape believed to have been driven by 86-year-old Valdez resident Mary Jo Evans was parked outside the Caribou Hotel when the building burned down in mid-November. The vehicle was identified at the scene as fire crews responded to the fast-moving blaze that destroyed the well-known Glennallen hotel. Authorities have not released further details about Evans’ current whereabouts or whether she was connected to the incident beyond the presence of her vehicle. The Alaska State Troopers and fire marshals continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire, which left the structure a total loss. No injuries…

A new transportation option is coming to the central Kenai Peninsula next month, with four buses set to begin daily roundtrips between Kenai, Nikiski, and Soldotna as part of a recently announced tribal transit service. The service aims to expand reliable, affordable public transportation for residents who commute between the three communities for work, school, medical appointments, and essential errands. The routes will operate daily, with multiple roundtrips scheduled to improve access across the region. The new buses will be operated by the tribe through its transportation program, which has been working to increase mobility options for both tribal citizens…

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is warning Upper Cook Inlet dipnetters that failure to report their 2025 personal use salmon harvests could prevent them from receiving a permit in 2026. Residents who did not submit their harvest reports by the August 31 deadline have been placed on the Failure to Report List, which blocks them from getting a personal use permit next year. The department is giving those permit holders one final chance to fix the issue. To be removed from the list and regain eligibility for 2026, dipnetters must: The deadline to complete both steps is Sunday,…

The registration deadline for the 2025–2026 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest has been officially extended to December 15, giving more time for schools and students across Alaska to enroll in the nationwide competition. Poetry Out Loud is designed to bring poetry to life by encouraging students to perform classic and contemporary works aloud. The program helps participants strengthen public speaking skills, build confidence, and deepen their appreciation for poetry through memorization and performance. The competition is open to schools serving grades 9–12, as well as individual at-large high school students who do not have a school program available. Teachers…

As Thanksgiving week begins, Anchorage Police are urging residents to prepare for heavier traffic, changing road conditions, and increased travel across the city and state. With holiday plans, family gatherings, and early winter weather overlapping, officials say a few extra precautions can help ensure everyone arrives safely. Authorities recommend checking road and weather conditions before heading out, noting that icy roads and seasonal congestion can significantly slow travel times. Drivers are encouraged to leave early and build in extra time for delays. In true Alaska fashion, police are also reminding travelers to keep an emergency winter kit in their vehicles.…

State officials are warning Typhoon Halong survivors to be on high alert following a surge in fraudulent social media accounts falsely claiming to offer “free grants” through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). According to AHFC, multiple fake profiles and pages have recently circulated online, targeting residents in storm-impacted communities and requesting personal details, banking information, or upfront fees in exchange for supposed disaster relief benefits. AHFC emphasized that it never asks survivors to pay money, send financial information, or communicate through direct messages to receive assistance. Any request of this kind is an immediate red flag. Only two official…

The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping set of proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), prompting strong pushback from wildlife organizations, conservationists, and environmental advocates nationwide. According to advocacy groups, the administration has launched four separate regulatory actions aimed at reducing federal protections for threatened and endangered species. These proposals come with a 30-day public comment window, triggering urgent calls from conservation groups for the public to respond quickly. The ESA, signed into law in 1973, is credited with preventing the extinction of hundreds of species, including the bald eagle, gray wolf, and grizzly bear, by regulating habitat…

The Trump administration has outlined a sweeping new proposal to open more than 1.3 billion acres of U.S. coastal waters to oil and gas drilling, a move that has sparked immediate concern from environmental groups and coastal communities. According to the Department of the Interior, the plan would allow new offshore leasing in areas that include the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coastline near California, and portions of Alaska’s coastal waters. The proposal marks one of the largest expansions of offshore drilling rights in decades. Environmental organizations quickly raised alarm, citing the risks of oil spills, ecosystem disruption, and long-term…

The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a significant moment in ongoing diplomatic conversations between the two global powers. According to a senior White House official, the call took place earlier today, though specific details of the discussion were not immediately released. Officials described the conversation as “constructive,” noting that both leaders exchanged views on current international issues. The call comes at a time of heightened global attention, as the U.S. and China continue to navigate complex economic, security and geopolitical concerns. While it remains unclear what topics were prioritized, analysts…

Anchorage police are renewing the call for information in the disappearance of Cassandra Lee Boskofsky, who has been missing for more than six years. Cassandra, who was 38 years old at the time she went missing, was last seen on September 1, 2019. According to investigators, she had been out of contact with her family for several years before the disappearance, and her final verified interaction was with Anchorage Police on August 7, 2019. She previously lived at 1101 Bentree Circle in Anchorage. Cassandra is an Alaska Native woman, described as 4’11”, approximately 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown…

Anchorage Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 11-year-old Lexie Gregory, who was reported missing from her home in Eagle River on November 23, 2025. Lexie was last seen or heard from at approximately 2:31 p.m. in the area of Old Glenn Highway and North Eagle River Loop Road. Officers say she left the area on foot, and her current whereabouts are unknown. According to police, Lexie is described as 5’4″, about 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time she was last seen, she was wearing pajama pants (color unknown), a black hoodie, a…

The sun has officially set for the last time this year in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), marking the beginning of the annual 65-day Polar Night in the northernmost city of the United States. Residents witnessed their final sunset of 2025 earlier today. The sun will not rise again until January 23, 2026, when daylight finally returns to the Arctic community. Also Read: What Months of the Year It’s Dark in Alaska: Expert Month-by-Month Breakdown of Winter Darkness Located above the Arctic Circle, Utqiaġvik experiences an extreme winter phenomenon: the Earth’s tilt prevents sunlight from reaching the horizon for more than two…