Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

A Bethel man, John Japhet, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in a murder case that shocked the local community. The sentencing concludes a lengthy investigation and court process following the homicide that occurred in Bethel. According to court documents, Japhet was found guilty of second-degree murder after prosecutors presented evidence linking him to the fatal incident. The Alaska Department of Law reported that the judge cited the severity of the crime and its impact on the victim’s family in determining the sentence. The case has drawn attention across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, where residents expressed…

The Bethel community is preparing for an evening of creativity and giving at the Ceramic Pottery Sale and Dinner on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center. The event, organized by local artists and community partners, will raise funds for several important causes: Guests attending the dinner will also enjoy a book reading by Alaskan author Don Reardon, adding a literary highlight to the evening. RELATED: Alaska Events The pottery sale aims to combine art, community, and compassion—helping Bethel residents contribute to meaningful causes while supporting local craftsmanship. Residents are invited…

Anchorage, Alaska — With colder temperatures returning across the state, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is reminding drivers to slow down and remember one key winter driving tip: BARFF, Bridges and Ramps Freeze First. As winter conditions develop, bridge decks, ramps, and overpasses tend to ice up earlier than other parts of the roadway, even when the rest of the road appears dry or clear. This happens because air circulates above and below these elevated structures, causing them to lose heat faster than the ground. DOT&PF advises all motorists, from new drivers to experienced Alaskans, to…

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck 48 kilometers east-southeast of Fox River on October 30, 2025, shaking communities across Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at a depth of 60 kilometers, producing brief but noticeable shaking in nearby towns including Homer, Anchor Point, and Kasilof. No significant damage or injuries have been reported. However, local monitoring networks continue to track aftershocks that may follow in the coming days. Seismologists emphasize that Alaska remains one of the most seismically active regions in the world, located along the boundary of the Pacific and North American tectonic…

Hatcher Pass, Alaska, Archangel Road in Hatcher Pass is now closed to vehicles for the winter season, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF). The road will reopen for winter recreation such as snowmachining and skiing once there is enough snow cover. Alaska State Parks will share updates when conditions are suitable. Hatcher Pass remains open for visitors, but drivers are asked to respect road closures and stay off restricted areas until official notice. For updates, visit Alaska State Parks or check 511.alaska.gov for current road conditions. News Source: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

What was once a perfectly straight stretch of the Richardson Highway now bears visible scars of one of North America’s most powerful earthquakes. On November 3, 2002, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake along the Denali Fault ripped through central Alaska, violently reshaping the landscape in seconds. The fault rupture caused the ground to move up to eight feet (2.4 meters) horizontally, bending and displacing sections of the highway that had once run in a straight line through the rugged interior terrain. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Denali Fault event remains one of the largest strike-slip earthquakes ever recorded…

NVIDIA Corporation and Nokia Corporation announced on October 28, 2025, a strategic partnership aimed at developing next-generation AI-native mobile networks and establishing America’s leadership in telecommunications infrastructure. Under the agreement, NVIDIA will invest $1 billion in Nokia, acquiring approximately a 2.9 % stake in the Finnish company through a directed share issuance at $6.01 per share. The collaboration will focus on key initiatives including: In a statement, NVIDIA Founder and CEO Jensen Huang said: “Telecommunications is a critical national infrastructure, the digital nervous system of our economy and security. Built on NVIDIA CUDA and AI, AI-RAN will revolutionize telecommunications, a…

President Donald Trump said Friday that reports claiming he has decided to launch military strikes inside Venezuela are inaccurate. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida, Trump addressed questions about a story published by the Miami Herald, which reported that his administration had decided to target Venezuelan military facilities and that an operation could occur soon. When asked whether the reports were true, Trump responded, “No.” A reporter then followed up, asking whether a decision had been made on military action in Venezuela. Trump reiterated, “No, it’s not true.” The comments directly contradict earlier speculation that…

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has launched a real-time community update platform to provide verified information about recovery operations following the 2025 West Coast Storm. The new online resource, titled “Community Updates / Ellangllugpiim Nalluuniaruti,” includes detailed updates on infrastructure repairs, water and sanitation restoration, and local recovery activities in multiple affected communities. As of October 28, more than 20 contractors and 121 field personnel, including DOT&PF staff, local hires, and partner crews, are working across nearly 30 communities along Alaska’s western coastline. Their assignments include restoring road access, utilities, and public safety systems. The number…

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is reminding all 2025 Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Salmon Fishing Permit holders that the deadline to submit their harvest reports is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 31. According to the ADF&G Interior Alaska Sport Fishing Division, every permit holder is required to submit a report, even if they did not fish or did not catch any salmon. Reports can be submitted online at the official ADF&G reporting portal: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/harvest. The department states that failure to report will result in the permit holder being placed on the Failure to Report List, which makes them…

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has issued a safety reminder for drivers traveling through the Trunk Road and Palmer-Fishhook Road intersection in the Mat-Su Valley, urging motorists to stop at the white line to improve visibility and ensure safer travel. When approaching Palmer-Fishhook Road from Trunk Road, drivers are advised to pull all the way forward and stop at the painted white line. According to DOT&PF engineers, this position offers the best field of vision for spotting oncoming traffic, reducing the risk of collisions. Stopping too far back from the white line, officials warn, can significantly…

This week’s seismic update from the Alaska Earthquake Center takes us back to one of Interior Alaska’s most memorable earthquakes, the 1968 Rampart event. Over the past seven days, the center recorded around 340 earthquakes across the state. The strongest was a magnitude 5.1 south of Adak, while a magnitude 4.6 in Southcentral Alaska was widely felt, with more than 650 people sending in “Did You Feel It?” reports. Fifty-seven years ago, when the magnitude 6.5 Rampart Earthquake struck, Alaskans didn’t have online forms or mobile alerts. Instead, they described their experiences in letters sent by mail. Those handwritten reports…