Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

Ravn Alaska cut essential air routes to two remaining rural destinations this week due to aircraft shortages and rising operating costs. The airline filed official notices with the US Department of Transportation stating it will terminate federally subsidized service by September’s end. These filings affect flights from Anchorage to Valdez to St. Paul, two of Ravn’s last rural stops, which are still on the schedule. CEO Tom Hsieh explained that the situation stems from a sudden and major drop in available aircraft from Canadian leasing company Avmax, which recently decided not to renew its lease. Because of this shortfall, Ravn…

State lawmakers finalized a $5.9 billion budget on Sunday, setting the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend for 2025 at $1000. Six House and Senate negotiators reached the deal, which will fund government services from July 1 through June 30 of next year.  The legislature expects to vote on the finalized document on Tuesday before sending it to Governor Mike Dunleavy. He holds the authority to veto or reduce line items but cannot raise funding amounts. Lawmakers face a hard deadline with the legislative session ending on Wednesday. The $1,000 dividend sparked less debate than in previous years. Representative DeLena Johnson, a…

Tornadoes ripped through Missouri and Kentucky, killing at least 21 people and injuring dozens more between Friday and Saturday morning. Governor Andy Beshear confirmed 14 deaths in his state and warned that the deaths may continue rising. Sheriff John Root reports that a tornado struck Laurel County, Kentucky, late Friday, resulting in significant damage and serious injuries. Overnight, emergency personnel searched affected neighborhoods and rescued stranded people from homes and structures that had collapsed. Missouri officials confirmed Saturday that seven storm-related fatalities were reported, including five in St. Louis County and two more in Scott County. According to Louis Mayor…

Gaza ceasefire negotiations resume in Doha with Hamas officials and international mediators back at the table to end the conflict. Taher al-Nounou, a top Hamas adviser, confirmed on Saturday that the group had entered a new round of discussions without preconditions.  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Hamas returned to indirect talks, describing their decisions as a notable shift from obstinacy. Parallel diplomacy unfolded while Israel launched “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” mobilizing thousands of troops to capture territory and rescue remaining hostages.  Military statements declared forces would operate until Hamas ceased threatening Israel, and every captive was safely returned home to…

Alaska’s seafood industry is gearing up for a stronger season as biologists forecast a sharp rise in commercial salmon harvests. The 2025 Alaska commercial salmon harvest projection includes an expected haul of 214.6 million fish, more than double last year’s total.  The Alaska Department of Fish and Game forecast credits the rebound largely to more substantial pink salmon returns this summer. Pink salmon, the most abundant yet least valuable species, are expected to harvest nearly 100 million fish by 2024. These pink salmon follow a predictable pattern with odd-numbered years typically yielding more substantial returns due to their two-year life…

Alaska lawmakers took a significant step Friday to overhaul how the state processes sexual assault evidence and supports victims in the aftermath. With a 39-0 vote, the Alaska House advanced House Bill 62, a proposal to speed up testing and add transparency. The bill would create a system that allows survivors to track the status of their forensic kits privately. Representative Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, explained the bill is about trust, accountability, and restoring power to victims. Currently, no firm legal deadlines require health providers or law enforcement to act quickly after collecting a sexual assault exam kit. If enacted, the…

Nissan announced it may expand the Dongfeng factory partnership globally as it restructures operations and cuts 11,000 jobs. The Japanese carmaker revealed it would shut seven factories worldwide but did not confirm where the closures would occur. Nissan executive Ivan Espiona emphasized that UK operations will remain stable, reassuring workers at its Sunderland facility. “We have announced that we are launching new cars in Sunderland,” stated Espiona. Facing declining sales in the US and China, Nissan said it will reduce global production by 20% as part of a cost-cutting effort. These layoffs add to the 9,000 job cuts Nissan announced…

The Alaska voting access bill passed the Senate 14-6 along party lines on Monday, sending sweeping election reforms to the House. Lawmakers said the bill would streamline voting processes, update registration rules, and expand ballot access across rural and urban Alaska.  Senator Bill Wielechowski, a democrat from Anchorage, said the bill merges twelve prior proposals from all the political affiliations. Wielechowski emphasized that the voter rolls need urgent cleanup. “We have 106% more registered voters in the state than citizens,” said Wielechowski. The bill clarifies the definition of residency and shortens the timeline for marking voters inactive if they don’t…

The Trump administration announced Monday it will revoke protection for 9,000 Afghan refugees, including many who supported US forces. Just days earlier, the Alaska House unanimously passed a resolution urging the federal government to restart evacuations and resume visa processing. House Joint Resolution 13, introduced by Representative Will Stapp of Fairbanks, aims to support Afghan allies left stranded overseas. Stapp, a Republican and Iraq War veteran, described local interpreters and officers who risked their lives to aid US missions. On the House floor, Stapp emphasized fulfilling promises made to those who stood beside American soldiers in dangerous combat zones. He…

A New Zealand committee has recommended suspending the new Indigenous MPs after they performed a protest haka during a controversial vote last year. On Wednesday, the Privileges Committee proposed suspending Te Pāti Māori leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days.  The committee also recommended suspending 22-year-old MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the youngest in parliament, for 7 days over her actions. According to their report, Maipi-Clarke received a lighter punishment after sending the Speaker a written letter of contrition. The incident occurred in November when Maipi-Clarke tore a bill and launched into a haka during a legislative session. Her party…

President Donald Trump announced that India dropped tariffs on US goods signaling a significant shift in ongoing trade discussions. Speaking in Doha during a business forum Trump stated India agreed to eliminate tariffs on most American imports immediately. India’s commerce ministry has not yet responded publicly. Trump shared these remarks while discussing Apple’s decision to move iPhone production from China to India in the coming months. He said he discouraged Apple CEO Tim Cook from expanding in India. Trump claimed he reminded Cook that Apple had benefited from US tolerance in its manufacturing in China for many years. The president…

Lawmakers in the Alaska House approved the capital budget for 2025 on Wednesday, advancing a modest construction and renovation package statewide. The House passed Senate Bill 57, the official capital budget, by a 21-19 vote split cleanly along caucus and party lines.  This year’s proposal includes just $167.9 million in general-purpose funds, reflecting tight oil revenues and decreased federal financial support. In contrast, lawmakers spent over $750 million on infrastructure two years ago, but economic conditions limited options for 2025 planning. Representative Calvin Schrage, co-chair of the capital budget committee, said the team had to reject many worthwhile projects this…