Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

The Phase 1 public comment period for the Cascade Point Uplands Design & Construction project remains open through Jan. 9, project officials said. Community members are encouraged to share feedback during Phase 1, which will help shape early design and construction planning. Officials noted that public engagement will continue throughout the life of the project, with additional comment opportunities planned during Phase 2 as details are developed. Also Read: BLM Opens One-Week Comment Period on ConocoPhillips’ Western Arctic Expansion Plan Project information and the public comment form are available online at bit.ly/cascade-point-ferry-terminal.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has authorized emergency marine snow disposal in Gastineau Channel to address the ongoing snow emergency in Juneau and protect public safety. The authorization allows the City and Borough of Juneau and the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to dispose of snow in marine waters under emergency conditions after land-based disposal sites reached or exceeded capacity. Earlier in the day, CBJ and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska issued a joint emergency disaster declaration citing record snowfall and prolonged extreme weather. With major snow hauling underway, officials…

A geotechnical crew will be working at the Cordova Ferry Terminal from Jan. 17 through Jan. 24, officials said. The work follows a drilling effort originally planned for October that was delayed. Crews from PND and ONYX will conduct preliminary geotechnical drilling and soil sample collection over the one-week period. The work is part of early preparation for proposed ferry terminal improvements, specifically to gather data needed for the design of foundation piles. Also Read: Glenn Highway Archaeological Survey Launches Ahead Of Safety Project Officials said there will be no impacts to Alaska Marine Highway System service during the work…

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection will hold an additional public meeting in Homer to gather community input on the concept of establishing a Kenai Peninsula State Forest. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 6, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Kenai Peninsula College Kachemak Bay Campus, located at 533 East Pioneer Avenue. Officials emphasized that the process is exploratory and informational only, focused on long-term forest management and stewardship while continuing to support public uses such as recreation, hunting, and fishing. There is no current proposal under consideration, and only the Alaska Legislature has the authority to…

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced two beginner ice fishing classes as part of its BOW (Becoming an Outdoors-Woman) Alaska program, scheduled for late winter 2026. The identical Ice Fishing 101 classes will be held Feb. 27, 2026, and March 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each session will take place outdoors at an Anchorage-area lake, with the exact location to be announced. Registration opens Feb. 9 for the Feb. 27 class and Feb. 17 for the March 7 class, both at 9 a.m. Participation is limited to 10 people per session, and attendees are asked…

The 44th Annual Alaska Governor’s Safety and Health Conference is seeking session speakers to present technical expertise, real-world experience, and innovative approaches to workplace safety and health across Alaska’s frontline industries. The conference will take place April 7–8, 2026, at the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage. Organizers are inviting proposals for sessions aligned with the following speaker tracks: oil and gas, construction, healthcare, and general industry. The application deadline is March 6, 2026. Interested speakers can apply through the official submission form. For additional information, prospective applicants may contact organizers by email or visit the conference…

Patients arriving in Anchorage can save time and enter a weekly giveaway by using the Airport Liaison Desk at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), officials announced. Patients who pre-check in at the ANTHC Airport Liaison Desk inside Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport will be entered to win a set of Apple AirPods Pro. One set will be given away each week through Wednesday, Jan. 28, for patients who use the new kiosk to check in. The Airport Liaison Desk kiosk is located on the baggage claim level near Door 6. ANTHC said the pre-check-in option is designed to streamline…

Route 36 is now open west of Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, according to a Tuesday morning update. Motorists should expect delays of up to 30 minutes as crews continue cleanup and monitoring operations in the area. Earlier, the highway was fully closed due to the Grizzly Slide, where crews have been working to remove slide material from the roadway. Officials said work has required slow, careful operations, with frequent pauses to allow additional material to come down safely. Several large stumps remain suspended above the slide area, and intermittent slide activity has been reported. Clearing the catchment berm has…

An online public update on the Nelchina caribou herd will be held Thursday, Jan. 8, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. AKST. The session will be led by Heidi Hatcher, the Glennallen Area Wildlife Biologist, who has worked with the Nelchina herd since 2015. The presentation will cover the herd’s history, management and monitoring efforts, current status, and expectations as the population continues to recover. The event will be hosted online via Microsoft Teams. Registration is required and available through the official event link. Also Read: Western Arctic Caribou Herd Designated “Critical and Declining” Following 2025 Count The update is…

Anchorage People Mover has issued a rider notice informing passengers that buses will continue operating Tuesday, Jan. 6, but detours and service delays are expected across the system. According to the notice, riders should plan for potential disruptions and allow extra travel time. While no routes were reported as fully suspended, transit officials emphasized that conditions may affect schedules throughout the day. To help passengers stay informed, Anchorage People Mover encouraged riders to track their buses in real time using the Transit App or the mStop app. Riders may also receive arrival updates by texting their bus stop ID to…

JAN. 6, 2026 DR-4893-AK NR-010 FEMA NEWS DESK: (425) 487-4610 EMAIL: FEMA-R10-NEWSDESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Due to inclement weather, the reopening of the Bethel Assistance Hub, which assists Alaskans affected by the severe storms, flooding, and remnants of Typhoon Halong Oct. 8-13, 2025, has been delayed. The deadline to apply for state and FEMA Individual Assistance is Feb. 20, 2026. Location AVCP Tugkar Building 570 3rd Ave. Bethel, AK 99559 Other ways to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance: To apply for state Individual Assistance, visit www.ready.alaska.gov/ia or call 1-844-445-7131. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners,…

The Juneau Police Department announced that its non-emergency services are closed today due to inclement weather and additional City and Borough of Juneau facility closures. Officials emphasized that emergency services remain fully operational. Residents are reminded that 9-1-1 services are always available for emergencies, regardless of weather conditions. For non-emergency matters, police reports can be submitted online through the Juneau Police Department’s official website at juneau.org/police. Due to staffing limitations and higher-priority service demands, officials noted that if follow-up contact from police is required, residents should allow up to seven days for reports to be reviewed and processed. Also Read:…