Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Drivers traveling along the Sterling Highway near Sportsman’s Landing should prepare for lane restrictions and delays this week as geotechnical crews conduct drilling operations between mileposts 55 and 56.According to the Alaska Department of Transportation, the work will take place daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., October 8 through October 15, as part of the Sterling Highway MP 45–60 Project (Cooper Landing Bypass).Flaggers will be stationed in the area to direct traffic, and motorists are urged to slow down, follow signage, and stay alert for crews and heavy equipment operating along the road.The DOT reminds travelers that this work…

Multiple head of cattle have been struck by vehicles along Highway 14A in the Hunt Mountain area over the past 24 hours, according to local reports. Early Tuesday morning, a truck collided with two cows on the highway. The animals perished in the incident, but the driver declined medical treatment offered by emergency medical services (EMS) at the scene. Officials note this is the time of year when ranchers are moving cattle down from the mountains. During this process, a few animals can become separated from the herd and remain in open range areas. Authorities are reminding motorists that stray…

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is hosting a hands-on Rifle Cleaning and Maintenance class on Wednesday, October 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Endo Shooting Range. The class is designed to teach participants essential firearm care techniques, including how to properly clean, inspect, and maintain rifles for safe and reliable performance. All necessary materials — including firearms — will be provided. The event is open to individuals ages 10 and older, though children under 16 must be accompanied by an enrolled adult. The cost of participation is $10 per person, offering an affordable opportunity…

Alaska is beginning to feel the strain as the federal government shutdown enters its first week, with rural transportation, wildlife operations, and federal offices facing disruptions across the state. Federal offices on the Kenai Peninsula and beyond have closed their doors, halting public services at places like the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has suspended most permitting activities, while hundreds of employees have been furloughed. Meanwhile, essential federal workers, including air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and active-duty military members, continue working without pay. The U.S. Department of Transportation has…

In a major development for Alaska energy and mining sectors, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order Monday approving the 211-mile access road to the Ambler Mining District. The decision reverses the 2024 rejection of the road under the Biden administration. The project is designed to open remote Northwest Alaska’s copper, cobalt, gold, zinc, and other critical mineral deposits. The U.S. government has committed $35.6 million to Trilogy Metals, acquiring a 10% ownership stake and warrants for an additional 7.5%. Supporters, including Alaska’s congressional delegation and state officials, praise the move as a boon for economic growth, jobs, and…

Yakutat, Alaska – September 31, 2025 – The Alaska Earthquake Center has brought back to life one of its long-silent monitoring stations, restoring a key part of the state’s seismic network in the Deception Hills near Yakutat. After nearly ten years offline, station DCPH is now active again. The site fills a major gap in earthquake and tsunami monitoring for southeast Alaska. A region that faces both onshore fault activity and offshore subduction earthquakes. The Earthquake Center’s field crew ended their summer work by repairing and reconnecting the DCPH station. The process was not easy. Over the years, the site…

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced Monday a landmark multi-year deal to supply artificial intelligence chips to OpenAI, with the added incentive of a warrant allowing OpenAI to acquire up to 10% of AMD if certain milestones are met. Under the agreement, AMD will deploy six gigawatts of GPU computing power over several years beginning in the second half of 2026. The first phase involves rolling out one gigawatt of infrastructure. The warrant gives OpenAI the right to purchase up to 160 million shares of AMD common stock at $0.01 per share, contingent on performance benchmarks such as chip shipments and…

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) will host a public presentation titled “Hunting in Bear Country” on October 16 at 6 p.m. at the Sitka Public Library. This session aims to educate hunters on staying safe while hunting in Southeast Alaska’s bear habitats. Participants will learn about bear deterrents, best practices for gutting, handling, and packing game, and how to respond in worst-case scenarios. With Alaska’s wilderness being home to both brown and black bears, understanding safe hunting methods is critical. The event is open to the public and free to attend. For more details, contact the Sitka…

The Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation and B.O.W. Alaska are hosting a Mountain Huntress Clinic in Anchorage on Saturday, November 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Rabbit Creek Shooting Park. The clinic costs $60 per participant, and online registration opens Monday, October 6 at 12 p.m. The event requires hunter education certification for all attendees. Organizers say the clinic aims to provide hands-on training in mountain hunting skills tailored for women, covering topics such as elevation navigation, safety practices, and field preparation. Those interested should visit bow.adfg.alaska.gov when registration opens to secure a spot.

International attention has turned to Israel after reports surfaced that 497 people from 46 countries were detained from the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission that sought to deliver aid to Gaza. The flotilla, which organizers described as a peaceful mission to challenge Israel’s blockade, was intercepted at sea earlier this week. Among those detained are citizens from the United States, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia, Greece, Tunisia, Brazil, Ireland, and dozens of other nations (see infographic). Critics and human rights groups have condemned the action, calling it an act of “global kidnapping,” while Israeli officials have defended the interception, claiming…

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Oct. 4, 2025) , A 23-year-old Alaskan mountaineer, Balin Miller, fell to his death earlier this week while climbing Yosemite National Park’s iconic El Capitan, according to multiple reports. Miller, originally from Anchorage, was live-streaming part of his climb when the fatal fall occurred on October 1. He was scaling a route known as Sea of Dreams, one of the 3,000-foot granite wall’s most challenging paths. Witnesses, including Yosemite photographer Tom Evans, said Miller had already completed the climb when his gear became stuck near the top. “He went down his lead line to clear it, but the…

This summer, Cordova faced a tough challenge when both of its garbage trucks went out of service during the peak of fishing season. The main truck required major repairs, and the backup vehicle was totaled in an accident, leaving the community without a way to handle daily waste collections at one of the busiest times of year To help, the City of Valdez stepped in. Working with Cordova’s Public Works Director Kevin Johnson, City Manager Nate Duval, and Valdez’s own Finance and Public Works teams, Valdez shipped one of its spare garbage trucks by ferry to Cordova. The loaner truck…