Author: The Tundra Drums Staff
On Wednesday, an accidental message startled many Alaskans when a routine test unexpectedly triggered a cellphone emergency alert across the state. Mark Roberts oversees Alaska’s Emergency Alert System, which usually sends only alerts through television and radio. However, instead of selecting just the traditional test, the worker mistakenly clicked the Wireless Emergency Alert option during the process. That mobile-based system, controlled by federal guidelines, pushes critical emergency updates to every cellphone in a targeted geographic region. Though unintentional, the message did not indicate a live threat and clearly labeled itself as a test when it appeared on screens. Only Alaskans…
A small plane crashed Friday morning at the Dillingham, Alaska airport, resulting in the death of the pilot, who was the only person on board. Alaska State Troopers confirmed that John Landsiedel, 33, of Dillingham, was flying a Piper J3C-65 Cub when it went down. According to a statement released by state troopers online, the crash occurred sometime before 9:15 a.m. on the airport runway. Troopers said responders found Landsiedel dead at the scene and that no one else was involved in the tragic accident. Landsiedel worked as a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game but…
The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict escalated sharply this week with deadly clashes spreading across 12 border points and displacing thousands. Thailand´s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned that the escalating violence could move towards war if the fighting continues. Heavy weapons, including rockets and artillery, have devastated villages and forced Thai authorities to evacuate communities within the impact zones. Cambodia accused Thailand of using internationally banned cluster munitions during the last round of fighting along their shared border. Thailand denied the use of such munitions but confirmed Cambodia fired into civilian areas, prompting large-scale evacuations. In Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodian officials…
The Alaska Bar Association will hold a disbarment vote next month following findings of serious judicial misconduct. Former US District Judge Joshua Kindred resigned in 2024 after investigators uncovered a sexualized relationship with a law clerk. The clerk later became a prosecutor and allegedly lied about the relationship to a senior judge and federal investigators. Kindred failed to appear in his state disciplinary hearing in June after a complaint was filed with the bar association in January. The hearing committee unanimously agreed that disbarment was the appropriate consequence for his actions. Kindred, appointed by President Donald Trump, maintained what officials…
Too much moose and unsecured antlers caused Mary Peltola’s husband’s plane crash in September 2023, investigators confirmed Tuesday. When the overloaded plane fell, Eugene Buzzy Peltola Jr, 57, was flying a Piper PA-18 alone near St Mary’s, Alaska. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report detailing how the aircraft exceeded its maximum weight by 117 pounds. The NTSB said that Peltola had flown hunters and their moose meat from a remote area earlier that day without any incident. After that first trip, he returned for a final load that proved fatal when he added too much cargo. Investigators…
Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi signed a major UK-India trade deal Monday, ending three years of negotiations. The agreement lowers tariffs on key exports like whisky, textiles, and cars, delivering a multi-billion-pound boost to both economies. Announced at Chequers, Starmer called it “the most economically significant” agreement Britain has signed since leaving the European Union. The deal immediately cuts whisky tariffs from 150% to 75%, dropping to 40% by 2035, opening India’s massive spirits market. Reduced duties will also benefit UK exports of aerospace parts, lamb, chocolate, and cosmetics, improving global competitiveness. India will gain easier access to…
Three Alaska school districts; Anchorage, Fairbanks North Star Borough, and Kuspuk, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over a $6 billion education funding freeze. The Districts are all losing vital resources. On Monday, these districts joined others nationwide to sue the US Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget. The lawsuit in Rhode Island aims to force the agencies to release frozen federal funds supporting vulnerable student groups. Programs affected include services for migratory students, English learners, foster children, and homeless youth in Alaska’s education system. The Anchorage School District, which serves 43,000 students, reportedly lost…
Perplexity has officially launched its new Comet browser, rolling it out in limited access to Perplexity Max subscribers this week. Built on Chromium, this browser will replace traditional search engines like Google with AI assistance for direct conversational results. Instead of cluttered search pages, Comet gives summarized answers, complete with source links and product options when relevant. An integrated ad blocker and a summarize button make browsing cleaner, while an “Ask” button adds live context to tabs. Users can connect Gmail to Comet, allowing AI-powered queries across their inbox, calendar, and upcoming events or tasks. According to CEO Aravind Srinivas,…
Authorities responded swiftly Wednesday morning after reports of possible explosives at Mile 115 on the Richardson Highway. The incident triggered a joint response from Alaska State Troopers, the FBI Anchorage Field Office, and military explosive disposal teams. Investigators discovered approximately 50 pounds of antiqued dynamite stored inside a privately owned bus. The FBI confirmed the dynamite was outdated but still dangerous, requiring urgent disposal to eliminate any threat. At around 11 a.m., law enforcement began clearing the area and periodically closed the Richardson Highway for safety. Crews used specialized equipment to remove and destroy the explosive materials safely. No one…
Before heading out on Alaska’s water this weekend, officials urge everyone to follow critical boating safety tips to stay safe. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources advises checking weather tide charts and local conditions before launching your boat. After assessing conditions, boaters should make a firm go or no-go decision based on real risk, not just plans or pressure. If they decide to go, officials recommend filing a float plan with a friend or relative who can contact help if needed. This float plan should list your boat details, route passenger names, expected return time, and emergency contact instructions. Alaska’s…
President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping agreement with Japan this week, calling it the biggest trade deal ever signed. This deal reduces US tariffs on Japanese goods to 15%, down from the 25% previously threatened by Trump. In return, Japan has pledged to invest $550 billion in the US economy, boosting manufacturing and job creation nationwide. During a White House event, Trump declared the deal a victory for both countries after weeks of intensive negotiations in Washington. Trump emphasized that Japan will now open access for US cars, trucks, rice, and other agricultural products previously restricted. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba…
On Tuesday, a state judge ruled in favor of former Representative David Eastman in the high-profile lawsuit against Dunleavy. Eastman, a Republican from Wasilla, filed the lawsuit after lawmakers passed Senate Bill 189 using multiple unrelated provisions during the final legislative hours. Though Governor Mike Dunleavy had no part in crafting the bill, he allowed it to become law without a signature, prompting Eastman’s challenge. He argued the legislation violated Article II, Section 13 of the Alaska Constitution, which limits bills to a single subject only. Superior Court Judge Larry Woolford agreed and declared Senate Bill 189 unconstitutional, voiding the…