Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Anchorage, A fire at the Ravenwood Condominiums forced 45 residents to evacuate on Friday evening, leaving families displaced and pets lost. Anchorage Fire Department officials confirmed that while no residents were injured, two dogs and three cats died in the blaze. The fire is believed to have started on an exterior balcony before spreading, according to investigators. Emergency crews responded quickly and evacuated residents from the multi-unit building. Witnesses described thick smoke pouring from the upper floors as firefighters worked to contain the flames. The American Red Cross is providing shelter and assistance to displaced residents, ensuring they have access…

Alaska faces unique energy challenges, from the railbelt to remote fishing camps. In rural Alaska, where families face the highest energy costs in the country, the stakes are the difference between a thriving community and decline. Across more than 200 communities off the Railbelt, electricity costs $0.50 to $1.00 per kilowatt-hour, compared to a national average of about $0.17. Heating fuel regularly tops $6 to $10 per gallon once it is shipped or flown in. Transportation fuels, gasoline and diesel, are priced just as high, straining families, local businesses, and school districts alike. In some villages, annual household energy bills…

The Pentagon has ordered an extraordinary gathering of America’s top military leaders next week, summoning hundreds of generals and admirals from across the globe to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been referred to under the revived title “Secretary of War,” directed that every officer holding the rank of brigadier general or higher attend. The order applies across all branches, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, with attendance expected to reach roughly 800 officers. Even those currently serving in overseas commands were told to make arrangements to be present. The…

Tesla has introduced its much-anticipated Pi Phone, a device that promises to change the smartphone industry with direct satellite internet access through Starlink. The phone, price starts from $800 to $1200, allows users to connect from anywhere on Earth without needing a SIM card or Wi-Fi. From deserts to mountain ranges, as long as Starlink satellites are visible, the device can stay online. Elon Musk has described the Pi Phone as more than a phone. Along with Starlink internet, it supports solar charging, crypto mining features, and other advanced functions of Tesla Pi Phone aimed at digital nomads and explorers.…

Anchorage will mark National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27, with a community trail project at Middle Fork Trail in Chugach State Park. The event is organized by Alaska Trails in partnership with Sierra Club Alaska Chapter and Alaska Bike Calendar, with support from the Chugach Park Fund. Volunteers will meet at the Flat Top/Glen Alps Trailhead and spend about six hours working on improvements. Tasks include brushing along the route between the Middle Fork junction and the bridge, as well as repairing trail structures and adding gravel to a turnpike. The hike will cover 2 to 3 miles,…

Alaska DNR Officials Join Panel on Resource Development in Anchorage Anchorage hosted an important discussion on Alaska’s land and energy development during the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission’s annual conference. Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner John Boyle spoke about responsible resource exploration and development on state land, with a focus on the North Slope. He explained how Alaska continues to play a leading role in oil and gas production. Kevin Pendergast, Director at the Bureau of Land Management Alaska, joined the panel to talk about land selections, permitting, and ways to make the process faster. Boyle also…

We’re recording on site today from the southeast side of Kodiak Island. This is Michael West. I’m here with graduate student Cade Quigley installing a small cluster of seismometers, often called an array. We’re looking out over the Pacific Ocean, where many of Alaska’s largest earthquakes originate. It’s hard to assess these earthquakes quickly because they start far away from our land-based monitoring network. But small arrays of sensors can operate much like an antenna to measure the distance and direction to earthquakes just moments after they start. No matter how advanced our techniques are, however, most seismology begins the…

Kodiak, Alaska, September 10, 2025. The Alaska Earthquake Center has shared its weekly update, focusing on seismic activity across the state and a recent earthquake near Kodiak Island. Recent Seismic Activity During the past week, scientists recorded about 350 earthquakes in Alaska. The strongest was a magnitude 6 quake in the western Aleutians on September 3. Three quakes were reported as felt by people in nearby areas. On September 1, a magnitude 5 earthquake struck south of Kodiak Island. It was followed by at least 15 aftershocks, most of which occurred within the first 24 hours. What Is a Mainshock–Aftershock…

Dear Readers, We want to inform you that The Tundra Drums will be pausing its daily news publication temporarily due to a short-term transition in our editorial team. This is a planned pause, allowing us to upgrade our internal processes, bring in new writers, and improve the overall quality and diversity of the news we deliver. While this may cause a brief gap in our daily news flow, rest assured that we’re working hard behind the scenes to continue providing insightful and timely updates about Alaska. We expect to resume daily news stories within the coming days. During this time,…

Vladimir Putin invited Kim Jong-un to Russia during a high-profile meeting in Beijing, strengthening their alliance as Ukraine suffers renewed bombardments. The two authoritarian leaders, who were attending China’s military parade with Xi Jinping, walked together into Tiananmen Square before holding a two-hour discussion. Putin extended the invitation through interpreters while Kim embraced him afterwards, promising to support Moscow’s military efforts against Ukraine as much as possible. Kim’s possible trip would mark only his third foreign visit in six years, following last year’s journey to eastern Russia and his current Beijing arrival aboard an armoured train. North Korea remains among…

The long-running bootlegger’s plane seizure case involving retired bush pilot Ken Jouppi may soon be considered by the US Supreme Court. In April 2012, Alaska State Troopers intercepted Jouppi’s Cessna before takeoff in Fairbanks, discovering his passenger’s luggage contained multiple cases of beer.  Investigators found three cases, including Budweiser and Bud Light, destined for Beaver, a community that outlawed alcohol importation, possession and sales eight years earlier. Authorities charged Jouppi with bootlegging, and prosecutors sought to permanently seize his $95,000 airplane as part of the resulting criminal penalty.  He was convicted of a misdemeanor, sentenced to three days in Jail,…

On September 1, officers in Sand Point faced a dangerous standoff when a fishing vessel captain resisted arrest during a drug trafficking incident. According to the report at 1:50 p.m., Sand Point Department officers guarded a docked unoccupied fishing boat seized in a State Trooper-led narcotics investigation.  The captain unexpectedly boarded the vessel and attempted to escape, forcing officers to act immediately to stop him before he fled the harbor. As officers entered the bridge area, the captain suddenly pulled out a hatchet, escalating the confrontation into a deadly struggle against armed police officers. Confronted with an immediate life-threatening attack,…