Author: The Tundra Drums Staff
sitors to the Kenai Peninsula will soon enjoy improved amenities at the Eveline State Recreation Site (SRS), as Alaska State Parks begins construction to replace the site’s aging pit latrine with a modern vaulted toilet facility. According to Alaska State Parks, the upgrade began on October 30 and is expected to be completed by November 10, with construction lasting approximately 4–5 days. The project aims to enhance visitor comfort and sanitation standards while maintaining the site’s natural charm. During construction, the small parking area and trailhead at Eveline SRS will be temporarily closed to ensure public safety while contractors complete…
Jamaica is bracing for impact as a monster hurricane barrels toward the island, described by meteorologists as one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Caribbean. The system, now a Category 5 hurricane, has been dubbed “a satellite spectacle” due to its massive structure and near-perfect eye formation captured by orbiting weather satellites. Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warn that the storm’s sustained winds exceed 165 mph (265 km/h), with gusts strong enough to cause catastrophic damage. Satellite imagery shows an expansive storm system stretching hundreds of miles,…
Efforts to restore power in Western Alaska are gaining momentum as replacement transformers are on their way to Kipnuk, a community hit hard by recent electric grid failures. This progress highlights the power of collaboration between state agencies, contractors, and Alaska’s utility companies. According to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), the situation in Kipnuk was especially challenging because the community uses pole-mounted transformers, a type not typically available through regular suppliers such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, or even commercial electrical warehouses. When it became clear that local suppliers couldn’t meet the need, DOT&PF reached out to…
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has confirmed that the Elliott Highway at Milepost 38 is now open to traffic following a temporary closure earlier today. The section, located north of Fairbanks, was briefly closed due to maintenance and safety concerns caused by roadway conditions. Crews worked through the morning to ensure the route was safe for travel before reopening it to the public. Drivers are encouraged to continue exercising caution, as road surfaces in the interior region can change rapidly due to shifting temperatures and early winter conditions. The DOT&PF recommends checking 511.alaska.gov for real-time travel…
The world is mourning the loss of Sudan, the last male northern white rhinoceros. His death marks a heartbreaking milestone in conservation history, leaving the species functionally extinct with only two surviving females. Sudan lived his final years under the care of Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where he received round-the-clock armed protection. Conservationists worked tirelessly to preserve his genetic material and explore scientific solutions that could save his kind from complete extinction. Researchers are now relying on advanced reproductive methods such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and stem-cell techniques to revive the species. Teams of scientists across the globe are collaborating…
A rare and mysterious event is unfolding in space right now, the arrival of 3I/Atlas, the third confirmed interstellar object ever detected passing through our solar system. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by NASA’s ATLAS observatories, 3I/Atlas is already making headlines for its enormous size, record-breaking speed, and perplexing orbit. A Visitor From the Stars Unlike comets or asteroids that orbit the Sun, 3I/Atlas is unbound to our solar system’s gravity. It’s simply passing through, a true traveler from the depths of interstellar space. Early estimates suggest that 3I/Atlas could be up to 20 kilometers wide and is traveling at…
How Earthquakes Get Their Name(s) Welcome to this week’s seismic update from the Alaska Earthquake Center, where ground shaking is monitored 24/7. Over the past week, about 300 earthquakes were recorded across the state. Five of them were reported as felt by residents. The largest quake, which had a magnitude of 5, occurred south of Unalaska on October 17. This week also marks the anniversary of a powerful earthquake in Alaska’s Panhandle. It’s been called by several names: the 1927 Pelican earthquake, the 1927 earthquake west of Chichagof Island, and even the Sitka earthquake along the Fairweather Fault. Despite the…
The remnants of Typhoon Halong tore through the coastal village of Quinhagak earlier this month, stripping away parts of the shoreline and washing priceless Yup’ik artifacts into the Bering Sea. The storm destroyed sections of the Nunalleq Archaeological Site, one of the most significant collections of pre-contact Yup’ik artifacts in Alaska. Archaeologists estimate that as much as 60 feet of beach and hundreds of cubic meters of unexcavated ground were lost. Residents riding ATVs along the coast after the storm discovered ancient carvings and wooden masks scattered across the sand. Volunteers and archaeologists have since recovered more than 1,000 artifacts…
President Donald Trump on Wednesday approved $25 million in federal disaster assistance to support recovery efforts in Western Alaska following the destructive impacts of Typhoon Halong. The funding follows a request from Mike Dunleavy and Alaska’s congressional delegation, who sought a major disaster declaration after the storms displaced around 2,000 residents and devastated remote villages. The aid will cover initial recovery expenses and unlock further federal assistance, including infrastructure repair, housing reconstruction, and unemployment relief. Some of the hardest-hit communities include Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, where damage assessments show nearly 90 % and 35 % of structures destroyed, respectively. Senators Lisa…
Oil markets shot higher Thursday after the U.S. imposed new sanctions on major Russian oil companies, triggering fresh concerns about global supply disruptions. Key Market Moves Why This Matters The rally comes amid growing geopolitical risks. The U.S. Treasury emphasized the sanctions aim to “degrade” Russia’s war-funding capabilities amid its conflict in Ukraine.Oil markets interpreted the move as a signal of potential longer-term disruption in crude supply, especially if large buyers such as China or India reduce imports from sanctioned firms. Outlook & Risks While the price uptick was strong, some analysts remain cautious. Questions linger over whether Russia can…
A 20-year-old man has died following a shooting inside the Walmart Supercenter in Midtown Anchorage on Monday afternoon, according to the Anchorage Police Department (APD). Police identified the victim as Julius Reape and confirmed that his next of kin have been notified. Officers responded to reports of gunfire just before 2 p.m. at the store located on A Street near Benson Boulevard. According to investigators, two men who knew each other were involved in a verbal exchange near the store’s entrance before one of them fired multiple shots. Reape was struck in the upper body and transported to the hospital,…
The U.S. military announced Wednesday that it struck a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean late Tuesday, marking the first known operation of its kind in the Pacific theatre. According to defense officials, the vessel was operating off the coast of South America and was believed to be en route to the United States with large quantities of narcotics. Two people aboard the boat were killed in the strike, which brought the total number of casualties in what the administration terms a campaign against drug-smuggling vessels to at least 34. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared video footage showing…