Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

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…

A brown bear attack in Alaska left a woman injured Tuesday afternoon while she hiked along the basher Trail in the Chugach Mountains. Around 3 p.m., the woman called 911 and reported being mauled approximately two miles into the trail. Police officials confirmed. After the bear fled the area, she told dispatchers she couldn’t walk and needed urgent assistance. Anchorage Police spokesperson Christopher Barraza said officials used drones to locate her exact position during an hour-long phone call. She continued updating responders as they worked to reach her through the remote terrain. Alaska State Troopers dispatched a helicopter that successfully…

The Gaza malnutrition crisis claimed at least 33 Palestinian lives, including 12 children, within just 48 hours, officials confirmed Wednesday. The Hamas-run health ministry reported 11 adults and four children died in one day alone from hunger-related complications. At al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, doctors identified Ahmed al-Hasanat as among the latest to die from extreme malnutrition in Deir al-Balah. Meanwhile, in Khan Younis, 13-year-old Abdul Hamid al-Ghalban’s body was wrapped in a white shroud before burial at Nasser Hospital. In Gaza City, a six-week-old boy, Yousef al-Safadi, died at al-Shifa Hospital due to starvation and lack of medical care. UN Secretary-General…

Alaska officials are reminding anglers to stop chopping and throw fish remains properly to reduce danger from bears. Bears actively seek fish waste, making discarded entrails and carcasses along riverbanks or in dumpsters dangerous for everyone nearby. Authorities advise cleaning the fish only at designated stations or homes where waste can be stored securely until garbage collection day. If filleting near water, anglers should chop carcasses into pieces and toss them into deep, fast-moving currents far from shorelines. Leaving fish remains in shallow water, bushes, or trash can attract bears even in developed towns and residential neighbourhoods. People should freeze…

The OpenAI UK government deal set the stage for deploying artificial intelligence across multiple public service sectors, including justice and education. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle formalized the agreement as part of efforts to modernize the public sector. The agreement outlines plans to explore AI use in civil service operations, to improve productivity and citizen access to services. It also includes developing an information sharing program and creating safeguards that protect democratic values and public interest in AI use.  OpenAI will work closely with government departments to test and implement large language models in justice,…

Governor Mike Dunleavy has vetoed the Alaska commercial fishing loan bill, a widely supported measure to assist struggling commercial fishers. Senate Bill 156 proposed transferring $3.69 million from an inactive state loan fund to the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank. The state-owned bank provides loans to commercial fishers who often lack access to traditional financing due to seasonal income and risk factors. The bill passed the Legislature by a 59-1 margin reflecting strong bipartisan support after recommendations from a joint legislative task force. Dunleavy said funding a private lender during a tight budget year is unwise and emphasized the…

University of Texas at Austin students will soon arrive in Anchorage after biking more than 4000 miles over 70 days. The cyclists are part of the Texas 4000 cancer ride, an annual event that raises awareness and funds to fight cancer across North America. Executive director Dr. Beverly Hamilton explained the meaning behind their ride, calling it a reflection of the cancer journey itself. The event began in 2004 and was created by Chris Condit, a childhood cancer survivor and Hamilton’s former engineering classmate at UT Austin. Condit wanted to give back meaningfully and chose the difficult challenge of biking…

South Korean aviation officials have concluded that the pilot’s error led to last December’s fatal runaway accident in Muan. Investigators revealed that the pilot mistakenly shut down the left engine, which was functioning, instead of the bird strike damaging the right engine.  The crash of Flight 2216 killed 179 of 181 people on board, making it the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil. On December 29, pilots reported a bird strike and made a mayday call as they neared Muan International Airport’s runway. Instead of aborting, they attempted to land from the opposite direction without deploying the landing gear,…

The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities launched a new Alaska’s road safety program to reduce crashes through local engagement. Through its new “Partner in Safety” outreach, DOT&PF wants to hear where Alaskans feel safe or not on their daily commutes. The program moves beyond crash reports, recognizing that local insight can reveal safety concerns before crashes occur. The department hosted its first event in Anchorage on September 18, 2024; more are planned in cities like Juneau, Sitka, and Bethel. Two significant efforts support the program: the Alaska Highway Safety Office, which focuses on behaviour, and the Highway Safety Improvement…

Chugach Electric Association is preparing an Anchorage electricity rate increase after winter’s warmth reduced demand and slashed expected revenue. Executives say electricity sales dropped by 4% last winter, contributing to financial shortfalls despite earlier rate hikes in July and February. The cooperative, which serves over 90,000 members in Anchorage, relies heavily on high winter usage for indoor heating, lighting, and appliances. Warmer temperatures have reduced consumption and revenue, pressuring the utility’s operating budget and financial standing this year. At recent board meetings, leaders explained that a January windstorm also cost the utility $1 million in emergency response efforts. Officials will…

An Alaska Airlines IT outage grounded hundreds of flights across the US on Sunday evening, causing widespread travel disruption and confusion. The issue began around 7 pm Alaska time, prompting the airline to confirm the grounding included flights under its brand and its regional carrier, Horizon Air, across all airports. The airline operates more than 320 aircraft, including Boeing 737s and Embraer 175s, most of which were grounded during the outage. The IT system failure affected flight coordination tools, forcing the airline to halt takeoffs until its teams could assess the situation. By 10 pm Alaska time, Alaska Airlines had…

Storm Wipha unleashed chaos Saturday as a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, triggering the tragedy. Officials confirmed that 34 people died and several others remain missing after the vessel overturned during the afternoon storm. The boat Wonder Seas carried 53 people, most of them families from Hanoi, who were enjoying a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site. Around 2 p.m. local time, the boat encountered violent weather, with heavy rain, hail, lightning, and strong winds that tipped it. Authorities said the vessel flipped quickly, catching passengers off guard as waves crashed against the sides during the…