Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Elon Musk launched a sharp attack on Trump’s spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” that worsens America’s debt crisis. Musk’s comments on X came after the House passed the bill, awaiting Senate approval under tight Republican control. The bill includes sweeping tax breaks, expanded defense funding, and a significant increase to the federal borrowing limit for the following year. Musk warned that the plan could push the national deficit to $2.5 trillion, burdening future generations with immense debt. Musk’s posts targeted both Republicans and Democrats, accusing lawmakers of prioritizing pork-barrel spending over fiscal responsibility. He condemned House members who…

Contractors in Juneau have installed two miles of glacial flood barriers to prevent another devastating summer flood. The temporary barriers stretch along the Mendenhall River, where floodwaters damaged nearly 300 homes last year. Over the past two summers, water from the Suicide Basin has surged downstream, smashing into homes without warning. Last year’s Jökulhlaup flooded nearly 300 homes after 16 billion gallons spilled from the basin. The year before, entire homes were swept away by rapidly rising water. The source of the flooding was the Suicide Basin, which was once covered by glacial ice. Due to warming temperatures, it fills…

Glenfarne Group announced that more than 50 companies have shown formal interest in the Alaska LNG pipeline investment project. These firms, from the US, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, India, and the European Union, expressed support totaling $115 billion. Glenfarne revealed the news just hours before Trump cabinet officials spoke at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said President Trump has prioritized the LNG pipeline and expects swift, high-quality completion. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Senator Dan Sullivan echoed their long-standing support for the proposed gas pipeline and infrastructure. However, longtime energy analyst Larry Persily says…

Lee Jae-myung won the South Korean presidency following a snap election triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief martial law order. Lee, representing the liberal Democratic Party, led comfortably with 48.523% of the vote counted when 70% of ballots had been tallied. His primary opponent, conservative Kim Moon-soo, conceded after failing to attract swing voters amidst party infighting over Yoon’s legacy. Speaking to reporters, Lee thanked citizens and promised to meet their expectations with integrity and dedication as South Korea’s leader. The election came after South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment for declaring martial law during protests in…

Tariff concerns and shifting economic forecasts have led Alaska Air to pause the delivery of two regional jets from Embraer. The planes were due to join Horizon Air’s fleet in May but were halted over disagreements tied to increased import costs. Despite recent trade policy adjustments, Alaska Air refused to pay the added expenses from tariffs that still affect foreign aircraft. This delay has already disrupted summer operations, causing Horizon to cancel 14 daily flights through July.  The affected routes span Horizon’s core network from Alaska to California and into Utah, Colorado, Alberta, and British Columbia. Horizon-focused cancellations on routes…

The Trump administration has reversed Alaska wilderness drilling protections, reopening the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA) to fossil fuel extraction. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the move on Monday in Alaska, flanked by EPA chief Lee Zeldin and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Burgum said the Biden administration’s 2023 executive order undermined energy independence by halting oil and gas production in critical Alaskan reserves. He added that the new directive reflects a return to common sense, emphasizing energy as a national security and economic stability pillar. The 23 million acres NPR-A located 600 miles north of Anchorage had remained shielded from…

Dozens of Filipino educators gathered in Manila this year, eager to impress Alaska school recruiters with their skills. Julieth Tapado drove over an hour from Cavite City and waited patiently outside the busy venue for her brief interview. She ranked Alaska above any other U.S. destination and applied nowhere else, hoping to teach in a state she respects. Tapado has applied three times and hopes this will finally open the door to her American teaching dream. At the recruiting event, Serjoe Gutierrez welcomed more than 120 candidates with advice and encouragement based on his experience. Gutierrez teaches in Kodiak and…

A powerful Mount Etna eruption in Sicily sent thick ash clouds and smoke into the sky early Monday morning. Thermal imaging cameras captured volcanic materials pouring from the southeastern side of the Carter shortly after midnight. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported signs of increasing seismic activity before the explosive event. At 12:39 am local time, INGV recorded the initial changes in Mount Etna’s volcanic behavior and later confirmed a Strombolian eruption.  These eruptions are marked by bursts of gas pressure, which eject ash, lava, and rock with great force. Geologists believe a Carter collapse occurred during…

A woman suffered life-threatening injuries after a hit-and-run on Seward Highway early Saturday morning in Midtown Anchorage. Around 3:04 am, several callers alerted Anchorage police to a woman lying on the roadway near East Benson Boulevard. Officers arrived quickly and found the woman unconscious and severely injured in the northbound lanes of the Seward Highway. According to a police statement posted later Saturday, witnesses saw a vehicle hit the woman before speeding away from the scene. The driver did not stop or attempt to help the victim, prompting officers to investigate the suspect’s identity immediately. Paramedics transported the woman to…

Three top Trump officials visit Alaska this week to fulfill the administration’s pledge to unlock the state’s resource wealth. The group includes Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. On Sunday, they joined energy stakeholders for a roundtable focused on the challenges of boosting energy output while protecting the environment. Zeldin emphasized that the administration sees no conflict between economic growth and environmental responsibility. Zeldin began his EPA tenure with what he called the most significant deregulatory announcement in history, which included rolling back over two dozen environmental rules. His position signals a continued…

President Donald Trump raised steel and aluminum import tariffs from 25% to 50%, aiming to revive America’s steel industry. Trump declared the move would increase production, create jobs, and reduce dependency on Chinese steel. He claimed a $14 billion partnership between US Steel and Nippon Steel would transform Pennsylvania’s manufacturing over the next 14 months. Trump assured steelworkers that there would be no layoffs and promised every worker a $5,000 bonus under the proposed agreement. He credited his original 25% tariffs from 2018 for saving US Steel and setting the foundation for today’s tariff increase. Trump’s speech resonated with union…

State Troopers have arrested six individuals accused of bringing illegal alcohol into Yukon Delta communities where alcohol restrictions apply. The arrests followed concerns of Village Public Safety Officers and residents in Emmonak and nearby villages like Alakanuk and Scammon Bay. Authorities say alcohol was fueling an increase in assaults and other crimes across the region. Alaska State Trooper Lieutenant Nick Zito said the village leaders and officers launched a collaborative investigation after noticing rising alcohol-related incidents. Troopers intercepted multiple large shipments of distilled spirits, each exceeding legal volume limits and lacking required invoices or labeling. Investigators discovered 150 bottles of…