Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

The U.S. Senate has unanimously agreed to pass the House-backed bill requiring the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, setting up the measure to be delivered directly to President Donald Trump as soon as the House formally transmits it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that the bill is expected to arrive from the House tomorrow, at which point the Senate will immediately advance it without additional procedural steps. A Major Shift in Trump’s Position Once the Senate formally receives the measure, it will head straight to President Trump’s desk. In a notable…

The next phase of the Cowles Street Project is set to begin this Tuesday, November 18, as contractors return to the Cowles Street and Kennicott Avenue intersection to install the permanent traffic signal system and light poles. The work will take place overnight to minimize disruptions for drivers: Drivers are urged to slow down, follow flagger instructions, and stay alert for workers and equipment in the area. This installation marks one of the final steps in this phase of the project, which aims to improve traffic flow, safety, and long-term reliability at a key urban intersection. Also Read: Seward Meridian…

A major Cloudflare internal server issue caused widespread outages across multiple websites and online services today, affecting users globally who rely on the company’s content delivery and security infrastructure. The incident began earlier in the day when Cloudflare’s systems reported internal errors, triggering outages on numerous websites that use the platform for DNS management, traffic routing, firewalls, and performance optimization. Users encountered error pages, long load times, and intermittent service interruptions. Cloudflare acknowledged the disruption through its system status page, noting that engineers identified an internal server malfunction and were working to restore stability. Initial reports suggest the issue originated…

Residents across the region are invited to participate in upcoming open houses for the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan (SEATP), a 20-year multi-modal plan that will guide future public transportation infrastructure investments throughout Southeast Alaska. The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities is encouraging community members to attend and provide feedback that will help shape long-term improvements to connectivity, safety, and mobility across the region. In-Person Open Houses Ketchikan, AlaskaWednesday, November 19, 20255:00–7:00 p.m.Ketchikan High School Library, 2610 4th Avenue Juneau, AlaskaThursday, November 20, 20255:00–7:00 p.m.Mendenhall Valley Public Library, Large Meeting Room, 3025 Dimond Park Loop Virtual Open Houses (Zoom)…

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Sport Fish Division is inviting residents to a public Town Hall Meeting to discuss the 2025 sport fishing season and gather community feedback as planning begins for 2026. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 19 at 6 p.m. at the Soldotna Public Library, located at 235 N. Binkley St., Soldotna, AK 99669. Attendees will hear a recap of the 2025 season, learn about upcoming plans and management priorities for 2026, and have the opportunity to ask questions directly to ADF&G staff. Guest speaker Phill Stacey, Area Management Biologist, along with…

With a rising number of storm survivors seeking support, the Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) in Bethel will remain open for an additional week to ensure residents affected by the 2025 Typhoon Halong can access the help they need. The Bethel DAC will operate Monday through Friday, November 17–21, 2025, with hours from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Staff at the center are assisting survivors with state, federal, and partner agency programs, including individual assistance applications, documentation needs, and storm-related recovery resources. The in-person registration option is especially important for residents without reliable internet access or…

Former President Donald Trump said this week that House Republicans should vote to release the Justice Department’s investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, weighing in publicly as Congress prepares for a high-profile vote. Trump’s comments come amid growing bipartisan momentum in the House to force the release of documents related to Epstein’s trafficking network, associates, and the federal investigation that followed his 2019 death in custody. A bipartisan discharge petition, led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), recently reached the 218 signatures required to bring the bill directly to the House floor. Dozens of Republicans are expected…

Former President Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on congressional Republicans to block the full release of the Justice Department’s investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, as the House prepares for a critical vote next week. The push comes after the House reached the 218 signatures required to force a floor vote on legislation demanding the DOJ release all Epstein-related files within 30 days. The final signature was secured following the belated swearing-in of Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva, whose seating had been delayed for nearly two months during the government shutdown. The discharge petition, led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R) and Rep.…

With winter conditions settling in, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is reminding drivers to take extra precautions on the roads, especially when moose are nearby. The department is encouraging motorists to flash their hazard lights if they spot a moose on or near the road. The quick signal warns approaching drivers to slow down and prepare for potential wildlife on the roadway. Moose are drawn to roadside vegetation throughout the year, but winter is when most moose-vehicle collisions occur. Deep snow pushes moose onto plowed roadways where walking is easier, increasing the likelihood of traffic encounters. Read…

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released details of a new proposal from ConocoPhillips seeking to expand exploration activities in Alaska’s Western Arctic, launching a short one-week public comment period that has drawn attention from environmental groups and local observers. According to BLM’s announcement, the plan outlines new test drilling operations, additional seismic studies, and related exploration work near the region encompassing the company’s large-scale Willow Project, located in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPR-A). The public comment period, significantly shorter than typical federal review windows, has prompted concern from watchdog groups who say communities and stakeholders may not…

What’s Shaking Alaska?! Welcome to your weekly seismic update from across the state, brought to you by the Alaska Earthquake Center, where we monitor ground shaking 24/7. Over the past week, we recorded about 310 earthquakes. Three were reported as felt, and the largest was a magnitude 4.8 on November 8th in the western Aleutians. After an earthquake is widely felt, people often ask us how long the shaking lasted. They also share how long they experienced shaking, which can vary greatly. After the October 30th magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Seward, reports ranged from 10 to 30 seconds. And, according…

In the aftermath of the devastation left by the remnants of ex-Typhoon Halong across Western Alaska, two Bethel-born siblings are using their creativity to support families in need. Author Don Rearden and his sister, artist Beth Hill, have launched Storm Relief: An Alaskan Family Giving Back, a new initiative organized through the Bethel Community Services Foundation. The campaign is designed to provide direct assistance to families displaced or severely affected by the storm. For the pair, the effort is rooted in their upbringing and their connection to the region. Both grew up in Bethel and nearby villages, where community support…