Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Inside the Anchorage Senior Activity Center, laughter echoed as friends passed sandwiches and pastries at a recent event. The Alaska Rainbow Elders, a group of LGBTQ+ seniors mostly in their 60s to 80s, meet weekly for conversation, support, and community. They discuss everything from medical updates to national headlines, including the Trump administration’s controversial move to rename naval ships. Julie Schmidt, 77, leads the group with her wife, Gayle Schuh. She noted that many older LGBTQ+ people face unique struggles, such as living alone or lacking family support. The members are retired professionals, teachers, planners, dancers, and court workers living…

Israel is burning through its budget as the Iran conflict costs Israel $725 million daily, exposing severe economic vulnerabilities in 2025. Within the first 48 hours of strikes on Iran, Israel spent $1.45 billion, a financial hemorrhage not seen in decades. Offensive operations alone consumed $539 million, covering flight hours, jet fuel, and munitions. Defensive systems like Iron Dome and reserve troop mobilization accounted for the remaining costs. Brig. Gen. (res.) Re ’em Aminach, a financial advisor to Israel’s military leadership, confirmed that daily military expenses remain staggeringly high. That figure excludes broader economic impacts such as lost productivity and…

Two Alaska-focused bills authored by Representative Nick Begich III are headed to President Trump after passing the US Senate on Wednesday. Begich confirmed Friday that President Trump will likely sign both pieces of Alaska Native land legislation within the next 30 days. House Resolutions 42 and 43 passed the Senate by voice vote after months of collaboration between Alaska’s congressional delegation and stakeholders. House Resolution 42 will help disabled Alaska Natives access federal programs by excluding certain income from eligibility calculations under federal guidelines. House Resolution 43 will return 11,500 acres to Native village corporations by removing outdated federal landhold…

Alaska House Judiciary Committee members raised serious concerns Friday over the state’s legal exposure from housing ICE detainees in Alaska. Representative Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, who chairs the committee, warned that ignoring federal standards could lead to costly lawsuits for Alaskans.  He called the state’s current handling of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees legally risky following a tense public hearing. Several Republican members skipped the hearing, calling it political theater. Representative Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, said the hearing prompted sanctuary state politics that have no place in Alaska. During the meeting, Department of Correction Commissioner Jen Winkleman testified virtually and admitted a…

Fairbanks North Star Borough residents faced urgent evacuation alerts Thursday evening as wildfires rapidly spread across the region. The Gilmore Trail fire and Bonanza Creek blaze have escalated, prompting multi-level warnings as firefighting teams work overnight. At 9 p.m., Thursday, the Gilmore Trail Fire grew to an estimated 10 acres, fueled by dry spruce and tundra vegetation. Authorities issued different levels or alerts for other areas as the fire’s direction remains uncertain: The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection deployed a helicopter, retardant-dropping aircraft, and smokejumpers to battle the flames. Fairbanks 1 crew and Type 1 Dozer successfully contained…

According to new state research findings, Alaska’s economy grew slower than nearly every other state between 2015 and 2025. After adjusting for inflation, the GDP growth rate averaged just 0.4% per year, significantly below the national 2.1% annual average. The study concluded that only North Dakota posted weaker growth, at a mere 0.2% annually, during the same ten-year period. The report, published in Alaska Economic Trends, comes from the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s research division. Economist Sam Tappen, who authored the article, emphasized the state’s economic vulnerability and dependence on global oil prices. Tappen noted that Alaska’s…

In early Friday morning, pro-Palestinian activists broke into RAF Brize Norton, launching a bold and coordinated protest. Video footage posted online by the group Palestine Action shows individuals riding scooters across the Oxfordshire airbase targeting two military Airbus Voyager aircraft. Using repurposed fire extinguishers, they sprayed red paint directly into the engines. The RAF Brize Norton protest sparked swift condemnation from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who labeled the actions disgraceful and an act of vandalism. Defense sources confirmed engineers are now assessing damage, though they do not expect the incident to halt military operations. The Ministry of Defence condemned…

Despite Governor Mike Dunleavy´s $27 million veto of Alaska wildfire funding, fire officials insist suppression efforts remain fully supported this season. Norm McDonald, deputy director of fire protection at the Alaska Division of Forestry, addressed the public Thursday, emphasizing readiness despite budget reductions. He explained that even after the veto, the fire suppression fund held $47 million more than in any of the past 10 years. Lawmakers originally aimed to allocate $74 million to the fund, hoping to support an expectedly active fire season across Alaska. Dunleavy, however, slashed the amount as part of a $122 million total cut due…

This week, the mining sector made headlines after officials confirmed Iran’s lithium and antimony discoveries across multiple provinces. The Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) announced it had discovered 7,000 metric tons of antimony after a decade of exploration. The largest deposit lies in Sistan and Balochistan and could supply 10% of global antimony demand. Antimony is vital in producing flame retardants, solar panels, and military hardware, making these findings strategically important. As global demand increases and Chinese exports tighten, antimony prices are climbing, with projections hiring $30,000 per metric ton. Meanwhile, reports of high lithium…

Governor Mike Dunleavy signed legislation expanding Alaska Permanent Fund dividend eligibility for temporarily out-of-state residents. House Bill 75, introduced by Representative Jeremy Bynum of Ketchikan, was the first of his legislative efforts to become law.  Dunleavy signed the bill quietly without a formal announcement or signing ceremony last week. Although no press release followed the bill’s approval, official legislative notices confirmed its passage. Representative Bynum expressed satisfaction that the law will soon help more Alaskans retain their dividend eligibility. The newly enacted law clarifies and broadens what counts as allowable absences for Permanent Fund dividend (PFD) purposes. It includes training…

Vancouver’s mining industry is powering a new wave of Alaska mining projects even as trade tensions and falling mineral prices strain global markets- At January’s Roundup convention hosted by Vancouver’s Association for Mineral Exploration, geologists, executives, and investors spotlighted Alaska’s vast untapped mineral potential. The annual Alaska Night party at the Pan Pacific Hotel underscored the state’s growing importance to Vancouver-based junior mining companies. These firms, specializing in early-stage exploration, are leveraging Canada’s favorable tax and regulatory climate to fund operations across Alaska’s rugged landscape.  More than a dozen firms registered in Vancouver are eyeing Alaska’s mineral-rich terrain. Projects include…

The ACLU of Alaska has introduced a new online reporting form to document Alaska immigration enforcement actions across the state. This effort comes as the Trump administration increases arrest quotas for ICE and expands military involvement in immigration protests nationwide.  Cindy Woods, senior immigration fellow at the ACLU of Alaska, is managing the tool and helping coordinate legal support for impacted residents. The reporting form is available in English and Spanish, and more languages are planned soon. It asks users to provide details such as locations, agency involvement, and the nature of immigration enforcement incidents. Woods emphasized the form of…