Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Over the weekend, the federal immigration crackdown resulted in 42 men being sent to the Anchorage Correctional Complex by ICE. The Alaska Department of Corrections confirmed that these men were arrested outside Alaska and transported to the facility under a federal agreement. Two men, Ronaldo Alberto Calderson from El Salvador and Jose Gonzalez-Montes from Peru, were shifted to Washington state within 24 hours of arriving. Department spokesperson Betsy Holley stated that the remaining 40 detainees are expected to be held in Anchorage for about a month. The detainees, originating from 22 countries, including India, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Egypt, were not…

Officials confirmed that significant job cuts under the Trump administration have drastically reduced NOAA’s scientific capacity, putting Alaska seafood harvests at risk. Since January, NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska regional office has lost 28 employees, nearly a quarter of its staff, director Jon Kurland told a recent council meeting. Kurland explained that the cuts severely impact NOAA’s ability to manage fisheries sustainably, affecting permitting, data analysis, and quota oversight. He noted that their IT systems, crucial for tracking real-time seafood catches, now operate with less than a skeleton crew. Director Robert Foy said that NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which supports research…

Anchorage police arrested a 27-year-old man on Monday in connection with a deadly stabbing at Chelsea Inn. Officers responded to a report of a stabbing late Saturday night at the Spenard Hotel, according to a police statement. Medics found 25-year-old Michael Kaskey suffering from a stab wound to the abdomen inside the lobby. Despite their efforts to save him, Kaskey was declared dead at the scene. Authorities later identified and arrested Mathew Alexie, 27, on charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Court documents said Alexie arrived at the Chelsea Inn with three others, including a woman who allegedly…

A salvage team is set to reach the Morning Midas cargo ship fire scene early next week following a major blaze aboard the vessel. The 600-foot ship, which was carrying around 3000 vehicles to Mexico, ignited Tuesday in remote waters off Alaska’s Aleutian island chain.  Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s management company based in London, said a tug with salvage specialists and gear would arrive on Monday. Another tug with firefighting and towing capability is also being prepared to assist with recovery and safety operations at sea. Satellite-connected systems onboard the vessel have helped monitor conditions remotely as smoke continues rising…

Next week, tourists arriving in Alaska’s capital will witness a rare sight of emergency crews in hazmat suits near Juneau’s cruise docks and the State Capitol. The military exercise operations ORCA begins on June 9 and involves a large-scale simulation of a terrorist attack involving weapons of mass destruction. Lt. Col. Brett Haker, commander of the 103rd Civil Support Team, said this year marks the first time Juneau has hosted the exercise. Officials chose the city because of its political significance and its busy tourism season, which sees over a million cruise ship visitors annually. From June 9 through 12,…

Families of victims in two Boeing 737 Max crashes are outraged over a new settlement between the aerospace company and the US Justice Department. The agreement allows Boeing to avoid a criminal trial by paying $1.1 billion and implementing internal reforms.  Attorney Sanjiv Singh, who represents 16 families from the 2018 Indonesian crash, called the settlement morally repugnant and a way for Boeing to dodge full accountability. The deal includes $444.5 million to improve the company’s safety and compliance systems. The crashes which occurred in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. Lion Air Flight 610 plunged into the Java Sea…

After intense public criticism, the Alaska State Board of Education voted unanimously on Wednesday to delay proposed school funding regulations. The new rules would have restricted how much financial support municipalities could offer school districts across Alaska.  Officials fast-tracked the regulation process, prompting concerns from educators, lawmakers, and parents about its legality and fairness. The Anchorage School District warned it would sue the state if the board approved the changes without proper public review. Attorney Mathew Singer, representing the district, said there was no real emergency to justify bypassing standard procedures. The regulations, which came from the Alaska Department of…

Federal investigators are travelling to the scene of a North Slope helicopter crash that killed two people near the Kuparuk oil field. Clint Johnson, Alaska chief for the National Transportation Safety Board, confirmed that a Robinson R-66 helicopter went down Wednesday afternoon. Search crews discovered wreckage about 30 miles west of Deadhorse after the aircraft was reported missing earlier in the day. Pollux Aviation, the Wasilla-based company operating the helicopter, confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the crash, according to general manager Sam Maxwell. He stated that the company works closely with the Federal Aviation Administration and…

A cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 vehicles, including 800 electric cars, caught fire off Alaska’s coast, forcing the crew to evacuate. The vessel Morning Midas burned 300 miles southwest of Adak, Alaska, after smoke was seen coming from the EV deck. Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s operator, said the 22 crew members could not extinguish the flames and abandoned the ship. They escaped in lifeboats and transferred to a nearby merchant vessel with assistance from the US Coast Guard and other ships. According to the Coast Guard, three vessels were already in the area when the emergency response began to unfold.…

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…