Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Search crews in Alaska recovered the body of a missing tourist on Thursday, confirming the Kentucky doctor found dead in Juneau. Dr. Marites Buenafe, 62, a physician from Lexington, Kentucky, disappeared after hiking alone near Juneau during a cruise stop.  She had departed the Norwegian Cruise Line ship on Tuesday morning, intending to hike from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak. Bueanafe messaged family members that morning, saying she planned to take the Mount Roberts Tramway into the mountains to begin walking. Surveillance footage later showed her exiting the tram building around 7:30 am, marking her last known appearance alive. When…

With Independence Day approaching, local officials warn that Anchorage’s July 4th fire danger remains high due to dry weather conditions. The Anchorage Fire Department is asking residents to celebrate responsibly and help prevent wildfires by taking safety precautions seriously. Authorities remind everyone that even a spark can ignite a fire when vegetation is dry, and the temperature remains unusually warm. Fire crews remain on high alert as the city is under an official High Fire Danger advisory heading into the holiday. Anchorage firefighters have increased patrols and urged residents to report any use of fireworks or open flames immediately by…

Search and rescue teams are actively looking for a 62-year-old woman who vanished during a solo hike above Juneau on Tuesday. Marites Buenafe, a Kentucky resident, arrived in Juneau Tuesday morning aboard a cruise ship and planned to hike Mount Roberts. She told her family she would take the tram and hike the Gold Ridge trail toward Gastineau Peak but never returned. Her disappearance has prompted an intensive effort involving multiple agencies. Juneau Mountain Rescue conducted a coordinated ground search using thermal drones and canine units throughout Tuesday and Wednesday. Alaska Wildlife Troopers deployed their Helo 5 aircraft to assist…

Microsoft has introduced a powerful new tool, the AI Diagnostic Orchestrator, which outperforms experienced physicians in diagnosing complex medical cases. Tested on 304 challenging real-world scenarios from the New England Journal of Medicine, the AI system reached correct diagnoses in 85% of cases, four times the accuracy rate of human doctors. The system mimics how real doctors work by analyzing symptoms step by step, asking diagnostic questions, and ordering virtual tests as needed. For instance, if a patient presents with a cough and fever, the AI may request a blood test and X-ray before diagnosing pneumonia. Each step incurs a…

On Thursday, South Korea’s National Assembly approved sweeping changes to martial law rules, responding to December’s unprecedented presidential emergency declaration. The new legislation forbids the military or police from entering the National Assembly without advance consent from the parliamentary Speaker’s office. It also clarifies that no official may stop lawmakers from entering the Assembly chambers under martial law conditions. This reform follows last December’s political shock when President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly invoked martial law without consulting parliament first.  Military vehicles surrounded the Assembly that night, and some lawmakers called its outer fences to access the main chamber. Parliamentarians successfully…

Wildfire activity forced officials to close many Parks Highway between Milepost 315 and Milepost 341 Tuesday night. At 6:50 pm on July 2, fire officials confirmed new fire activity along the highway near MP 332, prompting an immediate closure. By 10 pm, the Alaska Department of Transportation had extended the closure north to MP 341 due to changing conditions in the area. Though crews briefly opened the highway at 10:30 pm, they allowed only a few vehicles to pass using pilot escorts. Flaggers and pilot cars helped guide travelers through dangerous areas as fire crews monitored flames near the roadside.…

US Senator Lisa Murkowski defended her yes vote on Tuesday’s sweeping federal budget bill during a 25-minute phone press conference with Alaska reporters. The bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” narrowly passed the US Senate 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.  Murkowski said her vote was secured after lengthy negotiations ensured protections for vulnerable Alaskans, increased rural hospital funding, and retained key tax benefits. “I’ve been focused on making sure that the most vulnerable in our communities are not made more vulnerable by the provisions in this bill,” she said, adding that she hadn’t slept…

Fairbanks residents are turning green thumbs into greenbacks through the gardening classes 2025 by the Soil and Water Conservation District. These summer classes are part of the Alternative Fairbanks Farm and Educational Cooperative Training, also known as AFFECT. Now in its fourth year, the program teaches aspiring growers how to transform their gardening skills into small business ventures. The program focuses on market gardening, a scale of growing that allows individuals to sell at local farmers’ markets. The program accepted 15 students this summer, selected through an application and interview process based on interest and experience. Limited class sizes make…

Families grapple with deep losses and daunting futures as the Bear Creek fire destroys homes across Alaska’s rugged landscape. The fire, which continues to burn through remote communities, has already consumed dozens of structures, including years of sweat and craftsmanship.  Nick Clegg Sr and his wife Kathleen spent nearly two decades building their dream cabin by hand. They carefully selected trees for the timber and added the final touches only a year ago. When the fire spread, they evacuated quickly, hoping the cabin would be spared. At first, it survived, but the bad news came that the home was gone.…

Facing severe school district deficits and a partial funding veto, Alaska lawmakers launched the school funding task force. The bipartisan group created through House Bill 57 aims to study education funding and offer solutions by January 2027. Governor Mike Dunleavy reduced the per-student funding hike from $700 to $500, vetoing over $50 million in education funds. Legislative leaders have vowed to vote on overriding that veto during the first five days of the 2026 session.  Lawmakers had already overridden a separate veto involving a permanent $700 increase in state law. However, the increase still requires implementation through the state’s annual…

President Donald Trump threatened Elon Musk with a renewed audit from DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, reigniting tensions between the two influential figures. Trump suggested DOGE reexamine Musk’s government subsidies, claiming big money could be saved by eliminating federal support for his companies.  Trump’s social media post targeted Musk, stating that billionaires may get more subsidies than anyone in history. He added that without these funds, Musk might have been forced to close his shop and return to South Africa. To which Musk’s reply follows a series of criticisms against Trump’s big beautiful bill which would add $3.3 trillion…

Thirty-five men held on immigration violations were released Monday from the Anchorage Correctional Complex and transferred to Homeland Security. The Alaska Department of Corrections confirmed the status of the Anchorage immigration detainees transferred in a statement highlighting cooperation with the federal government. The detainees had been arrested outside of Alaska by US immigration authorities and then moved to the Anchorage facility earlier in June. Seven men had already left the facility, including two shortly after arriving, and five later transferred to detention centers in Washington state. Alaska has an agreement with the US Marshals Service to house certain federal detainees…