Author: The Tundra Drums Staff
According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, a massive landslide in Southeast Alaska early Sunday morning triggered a small tsunami. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. in the Endicott Arm area located south of Juneau. While the precise location is still under investigation, scientists estimate that the landslide involved tens of millions of cubic meters of material crashing into the water. Seismic data confirmed the event, and early signs point to it generating a tsunami wave of about one foot in height. No injuries or property damage have been reported, but authorities continue assessing the situation. The Earthquake Center is collaborating…
US Vice President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lamy hosted senior security officials near London to prepare for Trump and Putin’s peace talks in Alaska. The Saturday gathering at Chevening, the official residence of the UK Prime Minister, followed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Steamer said the meeting would serve as a vital forum for advancing discussions on peace in Ukraine amid ongoing Russian military aggression. Senior officials from the US, Ukraine, and Europe attended, aiming to coordinate positions ahead of Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska on 15 August. President Zelensky…
Trump’s administration plans for Arctic drilling expansion in a 23 million-acre Arctic Ocean reserve have ignited intense public opposition and concern. On June 2, the Bureau of Land Management proposed rolling back protections for the National Petroleum Reserve, America’s largest public land tract. Over 250.000 people submitted comments during the two-month review period, expressing fears about threats to wildlife, indigenous rights and fragile Arctic ecosystems. One Georgia worker overheard an oil worker shooting another polar bear that was encountered with her two cubs in northern Alaska. An 18-year-old from Denmark pleaded for reconsideration, warning that industrial expansion could destroy the…
President Donald Trump announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday for peace talks. Trump revealed the August 15 2025, meeting on social media, calling it a historic opportunity to address the three-year Russian invasion of Ukraine. Within an hour, activists scheduled a protest in downtown Anchorage, urging demonstrators to fight back against Trump during the high-profile event. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy welcomed the meeting, emphasizing Alaska’s long-standing role as a bridge between nations and a vital diplomatic gateway. If confirmed, the meeting would mark Alaska’s third presidential-level international encounter, following Nixon’s meeting with Emperor Hirohito…
On Friday, August 8, two Richardson Highway work zones will operate between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., affecting traffic flow. At the Tanana River Bridge milepost 275.5, the DOR&PF Bridge team will inspect the bridge and install monitoring equipment. Single lane traffic with flaggers will guide vehicles during the inspection while the boat launch and parking area remain open. Officials said these inspections strengthen safety, maintain infrastructure integrity, and ensure the bridge remains resilient for Alaska´s transportation needs. Near milepost 297.5, crews will assist geologists by providing flagging support during investigations into recurring road damage along the highway. Both projects…
Police in Hong Kong arrested eleven foreign domestic workers on suspicion of child destruction and illegal abortions during a targeted investigation. The arrests followed the discovery of a dead fetus at least 28 weeks old at one worker’s employer’s home in June. Paramedics responding to a medical emergency found the fetus hidden in a laundry basket inside the 39-year-old woman’s bedroom. Police said the fetus had not been born alive and suspected abortion pills were involved, sparking further investigation into potential suppliers. During questioning, the woman admitted she bought the pills from another foreign domestic worker who allegedly brought them…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will begin Surveyor ship construction next week, and a formal ceremony will be held in Louisiana. Scheduled for August 14, the keel-laying event will officially mark the start of building NOAA’s newest charting and mapping vessel. The Surveyor will be homeported in Ketchikan, expanding NOAA’s capacity for ocean mapping and nautical charting in Alaska and beyond. NOAA officials expect the Surveyor to be completed by 2027, with its sister ship, the Navigator, set for 2028 delivery. Both ships will join NOAA’s fleet of 15 vessels, which conduct charting, mapping, and fisheries operations using an…
According to new data, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested twice as many people in Alaska this year as last year. The Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley, reported 33 ICE arrests in Alaska by June 26, 2025. Of those arrested, 24 individuals were arrested, with only 10 deported or awaiting deportation, the report further indicated. President Trump signed executive orders directing the Department of Homeland Security to intensify arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants nationwide. Anchorage immigration attorney Margaret Stock said enforcement tactics in 2025 differ significantly from those she has seen in her 25 years of…
As of August 7, Trump’s global tariff policy officially took effect, impacting more than 90 countries worldwide. President Donald Trump confirmed the enforcement through a social media post, claiming that billions of dollars are flowing into America. His administration introduced sweeping tariffs to pressure foreign nations and restore jobs and manufacturing within US borders. Some countries like Laos and Myanmar now face massive 40% import taxes, one of the steepest under Trump’s latest directive. India also faced backlash from Trump, who warned of raising tariffs to 50% unless Delhi stops importing oil from Russia. The administration additionally threatened 100% tariffs…
A detainee treated at Tacoma General Hospital claims ICE detainees were exposed to tuberculosis during their stay in Anchorage. Alaska’s Department of Corrections confirmed 41 immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees were held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex starting June 8. All detainees received tuberculosis screenings upon arrival, but no active infections were reported during intake testing. Despite initial assurances, one detainee was prescribed tuberculosis medication on July 4 after returning to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. Medical records later showed he suffered severe symptoms and received emergency care three days later. His attorney Sean Quirk said ICE officials…
US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. defended his controversial vaccine funding cut at a Tuesday news conference in Anchorage. Speaking at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium headquarters, Kennedy claimed mRNA COVID-19 vaccines prolonged the pandemic rather than ending it. He argued the virus mutated in a way that rendered early vaccines ineffective, despite evidence showing updated versions protected against severe illness and death. Kennedy said the Department of Health will redirect roughly $500 million in federal funds toward developing a “universal vaccine” instead. He insisted this new approach would use “much safer” and “better technology,” challenging decades of established…
Starting this August, field crews will launch the Glenn Highway archaeological survey for the Arctic Avenue to Palmer-Fishhook Road Safety & Capacity Improvements (AA2PF) project. Crews will walk the public at night and dig shallow shovel test pits to check for historic or cultural remains in the soil. Each step of the work ensures the land’s cultural history is respected before safety and capacity upgrades begin on the Glenn Highway. This Survey will help project teams decide how to move forward responsibly and with minimal disturbances. Residents may see crews conducting work, but no major disruptions are expected.