Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

An Anchorage measles case in minors has prompted city health officials to issue a public warning about possible exposure risks. On Wednesday, the Anchorage Health Department confirmed that an unvaccinated juvenile tested positive for measles, a highly contagious disease. The individual reportedly visited multiple public locations while potentially infectious, raising concerns about wider community transmission. Officials identified three places the minor visited while contagious: the YMCA on Lake Otis Parkway on May 12, Target on 100th Avenue on May 11, and the O’Malley Sports Center/Fly Trampoline Park on May 10. During those dates and times, people at these venues may…

On the final day of Alaska’s legislative session, Speaker Bryce Edgmon introduced a bill to ban sulfide mining in Bristol Bay. The proposal, House Bill 233, builds on the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 decision to block the controversial Pebble Mine project. The EPA used a rarely applied Clean Water Act provision to halt any permits for the mine near salmon-rich waters. Edgmon’s bill would outlaw all hard-rock mining within the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve, extending earlier protections. Established in 1972 to block oil and gas development, the reserve was championed by Jay Hammond, who later became governor. The same logic…

An Aid Convoy for Gaza collected over 90 lorry loads of essential supplies after Israel erased its blockade three days ago. On Wednesday night, UN teams transported aid from the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza’s warehouses under tight security precautions.  The shipments included flour, baby formula, and vital medical supplies, later distributed to bakeries and health centers. UN agencies confirm that insecurity along the approved Israeli route delayed deliveries, leaving trucks vulnerable to attacks and theft.  Despite Israeli claims of allowing 100 more lorries through aid organizations, the supplies remain far below Gaza’s massive needs. The World Food Programmed-backed bakeries…

Nike will raise prices on several shoes and clothing items beginning June 1, citing ongoing business and seasonal evaluations. Although the company avoided directly linking the hike to US tariffs, it acknowledged the broader economic uncertainty affecting operations. Shoes priced above $100 cost up to $10 more, while clothing and gear could rise between $2 and $10. Nike emphasized its commitment to regularly reviewing prices based on demand, costs, and market conditions worldwide. In March, Nike’s CFO Matt Friend told investors that tariffs were part of several external issues disrupting the retail climate. He added that the company monitors consumer…

An Alaska judge has extended a restraining order blocking the Alaska predator control program due to the state’s unlawful bear cull. Superior Court Judge Christina Rankin issued the order Monday saying the Department of Fish and Game bears despite legal prohibitions. The department resumed the cull on May 10 even though a March 14 court ruling declared the program unconstitutional. According to the department, officials killed eleven brown bears, and one would die just days after the court ruled against the program. Those killings follow the 2023-2024 culls that eliminated 175 brown bears, five black bears, and 19 wolves. Judge…

A gunman fatally shot Andriy Portnov in Madrid on Wednesday morning, just after he dropped off his children at school. Spanish police confirmed the assassination occurred around 9:15 AM local time in the affluent Pozuelo de Alarcón suburb. Witnesses saw Portnov walking back to his black Mercedes when a man opened fire, striking him in the back and head. Emergency responders declared Portnov dead at the scene, despite attempts to save him. The shooter reportedly escaped through a nearby park’s wooded area before police arrived. Authorities launched a massive search involving drones and a helicopter but have not yet made…

A powerful explosion struck a school bus in Khuzdar, southwest Pakistan, killing six people and injuring at least 38 others. The attack occurred on Wednesday morning as the Army Public School vehicle picked up children for classes. Officials said the blast killed four students, the driver, and his assistant, while nearly 46 students were inside the vehicle. Yasir Iqbal Dashti, a senior district administrator, confirmed the injuries and said authorities were airlifting critical cases to Quetta.  At a press conference, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the bomb was likely a vehicle-borne IED planted on the roadside. He urged calm,…

Alaska lawmakers have approved $5.5 million in child advocacy center funding, ensuring services for abused children continue statewide. The funding follows months of uncertainty after federal grants were reduced or eliminated, threatening the future of all 20 state centers. On Friday, the Legislature’s budget conference committee agreed to allocate the money in its final budget reconciliation between the House and Senate. Representative Andy Josphson, a Democrat from Anchorage, emphasized the importance of the centers and pushed firmly to prioritize the emergency funding. The centers had faced a $5.5 million shortfall, placing vital services for child abuse victims at risk beyond…

In a historic move, the Alaska Legislature vetoed 46-14 to enact the Alaska school funding override, increasing education funding. The override of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto marked the first time since 2002 that lawmakers overturned a sitting governor´s decision.  The override secures a permanent $700 increase in the base student allocation, the core of Alaska’s public school funding formula. Lawmakers say the change offers stability, ending the uncertainty districts faced with last-minute funding decisions in past years.  In 2023, schools only received a one-time $680 bonus after already setting their budgets. The House and Senate both passed HB57 earlier with…

British authorities have sentenced a UK-based smuggler to 25 years in jail after he orchestrated deadly boat crossings across the Mediterranean. Egyptian national Ahmed Ramadan Mohamed Ebid, 42, helped move nearly 3,800 migrants from Libya to Italy between October 2022 and June 2023. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Ebid entered the UK in a small boat and later ran a major trafficking operation from London. He worked with North African smuggling groups to charge each migrant around £3,200, making over £12 million. He organized the crossings using overcrowded fishing boats, many of which risked capsizing during the treacherous Mediterranean…

Shares of China’s leading electric vehicle battery maker jumped sharply on Tuesday as the CATL IPO surged on its Hong Kong debut. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) trades in Shenzhen and raised $4.6 billion in Hong Kong’s biggest IPO this year.  The stock soared to 18% on its first trading day, signaling strong investor confidence despite rising geopolitical tension. CATL manufactures more than one-third of all-electric vehicle batteries sold worldwide and supplies major automakers like Tesla and Volkswagen. The company’s success is closely tied to Beijing’s massive investments in clean energy and strategic independence initiatives. Founded in 2011 by…

Governor Mike Dunleavy issued his second Alaska education funding veto of the year, rejecting House Bill 57, which would have increased the base student allocation by $700 per student. The veto has triggered an override vote scheduled for Tuesday morning.  Lawmakers say the bill was a bipartisan compromise that included several of the governor’s policy goals, such as cell phone restrictions, reading improvement grants, and changes to charter school applications; Dunleavy maintained that the measure lacked key reforms, including support for charter and homeschool programs, teacher retention grants, and open enrollment. During a Monday news conference, Dunleavy criticized Alaska’s low…