Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

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…

Senator Lisa Mukrowski felt betrayed after securing Alaska wind and solar tax credits in the new spending law. To support critical clean energy projects across Alaska, Mukrowski negotiated a one-year tax credit extension for renewable energy. She viewed the concession as a lifeline for wind projects needed to address Alaska’s energy crisis, especially along the Railbelt. Despite the win, President Trump issued an executive order days later to restrict renewable energy tax credit eligibility. The order emphasized equal treatment for oil, gas, and hydropower and discouraged preference for intermittent sources like wind and solar power. Soon after, the Interior Department…

From July 21 to 23, officials launched Mendenhall River flood mapping efforts using drones to prepare for future flooding risks. The Alaska DOT&PF and the City and Borough of Juneau teamed up to survey the Mendenhall River and surrounding areas. They used aerial drones to capture high-resolution images, aiming to predict where floodwater could potentially cause the most damage. This data collection effort is part of a broader strategy to prepare for the expected 2025 glacial lake outburst flood. Officials believe drone imagery will help emergency teams act faster and more efficiently if severe flooding hits the Juneau area. By…

A pro-judicial group filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Anchorage Superior Court, claiming Governor Mike Dunleavy made an unconstitutional appointment to the state board. Alaskans for Fair Courts argued that Dunleavy violated both the state and the Alaska Constitution. The lawsuit disputes the appointment of John W. Wood, a former attorney and state contractor, to a Council seat designated for a non-lawyer. According to the Alaska Constitution, the governor appoints three public members and three attorneys from the Alaska Bar Association.  The chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court also serves as the seventh member and chair of the Alaska Judicial…

Netflix uses generative AI for visual effects in its latest sci-fi series El Eternauta, marking a first for the streaming platform. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed the company used AI tools to complete a complex building collapse sequence in Buenos Aires. The show El Eternauta tells the story of survivors navigating a deadly toxic snowfall in post-apocalyptic Argentina. Using AI-driven visual effects, the team finished the collapsing building scene ten times faster than traditional tools allowed. Sarandos emphasized that this approach helped deliver high-quality visuals while staying within the production’s limited budget. He stressed that real artists guided the creative process…

Under a new federal law signed by President Trump on July 4, states are now required to verify Medicaid enrollees’ work or education status each month by the end of 2026. The law mandates that residents in 40 states and Washington, D.C., must prove they are either employed, volunteering at least 80 hours per month, or enrolled in school part-time to maintain their coverage. The law grants states $200 million for system upgrades, but experts warn the funding is insufficient for such a major rollout. Harvard health economist Dr. Benjamin Sommers said states won’t meet the deadline using a single…

Alaska public broadcasting funding cuts have sparked a sharp divide between the state’s two Republican senators during a critical Senate vote. On Wednesday night, the Senate narrowly approved a $9 billion rescission bill, reversing previously approved federal spending, mainly in foreign aid.  The measure includes $1.1 billion in cuts to public broadcasting over two years, which affects more than $20 million set aside for Alaska’s 27 public stations. Senator Dan Sullivan favored the package while Senator Lisa Murkowski opposed it.  Sullivan’s spokesperson, Amanda Coyne, said he had long warned NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that biased reporting could…

The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that Aniak Light & Power Company, Inc. (ALPC) filed TA243-5, its proposed cost of power adjustment (COPA), power cost equalization (PCE), and small facility power purchase rate (SFPPR) update for the period beginning July 1, 2025. With TA243-5, ALPC also proposes to change its COPA methodology by removing the COPA cost element for the balancing account balance (BAB) surcharge approved in Letter Order L2300254, issued July 28, 2023, in TA230-5. The total balance approved for recovery through the BAB surcharge, which was amortized over 24 months, was fully recovered by the end…

The South Korean Supreme Court ruled Thursday to uphold the Lee Jae-yong fraud acquittal, closing a major legal chapter for Samsung. The court dismissed all appeals and reaffirmed earlier rulings that cleared Lee of fraud, stock manipulation, and accounting crimes. Prosecutors accused Lee of manipulating stock prices during a $8 billion merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2015. They alleged Lee used fraudulent accounting at Samsung Biologics to increase his control over the Samsung group after his father’s death. They alleged Lee used fraudulent accounting at Samsung Biologics to increase his control over the Samsung group after his…

Alaska’s school districts scrambled after the education grant freeze blocked $46 million in federal funds this summer. The Anchorage School District had already factored $14 million of the funding into its planned budget for the coming school year. As a result, the district eliminated 34.5 full-time staff positions, though most educators were reassigned to different jobs within ASD. However, five educators were laid off outright, and schools now face service gaps with limited time to adjust. The freeze disrupted summer assignments and planning, leaving teachers uncertain about their fall classroom roles and responsibilities. Corey Aist, president of the Anchorage Education…

A powerful 7.3 earthquake struck south of Sand Point Wednesday afternoon, prompting emergency evacuations across a 700-mile coastal stretch. The quake hit at 1:37 p.m. local time, shaking communities near Anchorage nearly 600 miles northeast of the epicenter. Officials quickly issued a tsunami warning from Homer to Unimak Pass, urging coastal residents to move to higher ground immediately. Communities like Kodiak, Cold Bay, and King Cove activated alerts as waves were forecast to hit within the next two hours. The National Tsunami Warning Center downgraded the warning to an advisory by 1:50 p.m. and canceled it entirely by 2:45 p.m.…

In a significant trade breakthrough, Trump and Prabowo finalized a trade deal that reduced US tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19%. This agreement follows Trump’s earlier threat of imposing a steep 32% tariff on Indonesian imports, which started on August 1.  After a direct phone call with President Prabowo, Trump agreed to lower the proposed rate in exchange for greater US access. Indonesia will now allow duty-free entry for US goods, including agriculture and manufactured products previously restricted by high tariffs. Additionally, Indonesia committed to buying $15 billion in American energy and $4.5 billion worth of US agricultural commodities. The…