Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Trump opens Alaska land for oil drilling by proposing to expand development across 7 million more acres in the state’s Arctic reserve. The US Bureau of Land Management released a draft that would open 82% of the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska to leasing. That equates to 18.5 million acres, up from the current 11.7 million acres authorized under a 2013 Obama-era plan. The proposal mirrors a previously attempted Trump administration strategy that never advanced but now returns with fewer environmental safeguards. Acting Assistant Secretary Adam Suess said the plan would boost American jobs and reduce dependency on foreign energy imports.…

Amid the Israeli airstrikes, some businesses in Tehran continue with reports showing residents lining up for groceries and bread despite the mass departure of tens of thousands fleeing potential Israeli attacks.  Iran’s Press TV posted footage of everyday commerce still happening across some parts of the capital even as air raid sirens continue to echo. Many families in Tehran remain stranded due to medical issues or lack of transportation. Some residents are choosing not to leave despite growing concerns. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported Israel is running low on Arrow interceptor missiles, which are crucial to defending against Iranian…

More than 50 Palestinians died from Israeli gunfire at a Gaza aid site, according to rescue officials and eyewitness reports. Israeli drones allegedly fired missiles first, followed by tank shells hitting the crowd directly. The shells reportedly came from an Israeli tank positioned 400 to 500 meters away. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gaza´s civil defense, confirmed over 50 dead and at least 200 wounded. He stated that Israeli drones and tanks fired without provocation into a desperate crowd awaiting humanitarian supplies. The Israeli military acknowledged the incident and said it is reviewing the situation.  Troops reportedly observed a large…

Alaska is set to receive up to $12.2 million over the next 15 years as part of the national Purdue Pharma opioid settlement, state officials announced. Attorney General Treg Taylor confirmed that Alaska has joined the historic $7.4 billion agreement, which includes participation from all 55 eligible attorneys general. The deal ends the Sackler family’s control of Purdue Pharma and their ability to sell opioids in the United States. Under Sackler’s ownership, Purdue spent decades marketing opioids like OxyContin, intensifying the country’s worst-ever drug crisis. This latest settlement, the largest of its kind with individuals tied to the epidemic, aims to…

Governor Mike Dunleavy has vetoed Senate Bill 183, a bipartisan measure to enhance Alaska’s tax audit transparency. The bill would have required the Department of Revenue to share audit reports with the Legislature in the format lawmakers requested.  The Legislature created SB 183 after the Revenue Department under Dunleavy stopped sharing data related to oil and gas tax audits. These audits determine how much oil companies pay the state, which could involve billions in lost or gained revenue. Senator Elvi Gray Jackson, who chairs the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, criticized the veto and called it unprecedented. The bill passed…

Meta has begun a global rollout of new advertising tools on WhatsApp, introducing features that promise to avoid disrupting private chats. The company will not place ads inside users’ message inboxes or use encrypted conversations to shape the advertisements they see. Instead, WhatsApp ad changes rely on public user data like city, country, language, and behavior with existing channels and ads. Users who connect WhatsApp to Facebook or Instagram will receive more personalized ads based on Meta’s broader ecosystem data collection. These new ad formats will appear in a redesigned “Updates” section at the bottom of the app, away from…

The man behind one of Alaska’s most significant oil discoveries is confident he’s found another in uncharted territory. Bill Armstrong, the Colorado-based geologist who discovered the giant Pikka field in 2013, believes the Sockyey-2 oil discovery could reshape the eastern North Slope. The well lies roughly 100 miles east of Pikka near ExxonMobil’s Point Thomson field and close to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Armstrong’s company, Lagniappe Alaska, partnered with Apache and Santos to drill the Sockeye-2 well earlier this year. The 325,000-acre leasehold is on state land, meaning Alaska could fully benefit from future royalties if development proceeds—the well-produced…

The Alaska school funding crisis intensified after Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed over $50 million in education funds, blindsiding school districts statewide. This controversial move followed lawmakers’ override of his previous veto of a permanent school funding formula increase.  Superintendents and local officials now face a difficult choice of either slashing spending plans or gamble on a January override by the Legislature. Many fear waiting will leave schools in disarray. Kuspuk School District Superintendent Madeline Aguillard believes this is an emergency. Her district stands to lose $254,000 and is already $2 million short. She warned of potential teacher furloughs, reduced staff…

Oil prices rose after the Israel-Iran conflict, sending shockwaves through financial markets and sparking concerns about broader economic consequences worldwide. Last week’s missile and drone exchange between Israel and Iran triggered immediate turbulence in global oil markets and investor sentiment.  Brent Crude, the leading international benchmark, initially surged to over $78 per barrel on Friday. While it has since dipped to $74.50, the price remains $10 higher than just one month ago. Oil prices frequently shift in response to global tensions, but experts say the recent increase stands out for its timing and potential ripple effect. Though the current price…

Tensions between Israel and Iran have sharply elevated following a second night of heavy cross-border attacks, resulting in mounting civilian casualties and threats of further military action. Sirens sounded across multiple Israeli cities overnight as Iranian missiles targeted central and northern regions, prompting Israeli air defenses into action.  In the Palestinian-majority town of Tamra, a house partially collapsed after being struck, while in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, a 10-storey residential building was heavily damaged. At least six people have been confirmed dead in Bat Yam under rubble as rescue operations continue. In response, Israel launched a wave of retaliatory…

Israel launched Operation Rising Lion early Friday, unleashing over 200 fighter jets to strike Iranian military and nuclear sites. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the preemptive strike targeted Iran’s top commanders, atomic enrichment sites, and missile stockpiles. IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed Iran had responded by launching more than 100 drones toward Israel’s territory. He stated that Israeli air defenses intercepted many drones and would continue to neutralize any incoming threats. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel acted to prevent Iran’s “growing threat” and to stop its race toward nuclear weapons. Netanyahu vowed the military operation would…

Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Alaska’s budget into law Thursday after vetoing $122 million, with education taking the most brutal hit. He removed $50 million from Alaska’s per-student formula and axed funding for critical school maintenance projects statewide. Legislators said they won’t consider overriding the education budget veto until January, prolonging uncertainty for school leaders. Anchorage Superintendent Jarrett Byrantt warned that districts may face emergency school closures to meet sudden budget shortfalls. Dunleavy announced his decision without holding a news conference and immediately refused to respond to emailed media questions. In a pre-recorded video, he said falling oil prices forced cuts,…