Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping set of proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), prompting strong pushback from wildlife organizations, conservationists, and environmental advocates nationwide. According to advocacy groups, the administration has launched four separate regulatory actions aimed at reducing federal protections for threatened and endangered species. These proposals come with a 30-day public comment window, triggering urgent calls from conservation groups for the public to respond quickly. The ESA, signed into law in 1973, is credited with preventing the extinction of hundreds of species, including the bald eagle, gray wolf, and grizzly bear, by regulating habitat…

The Trump administration has outlined a sweeping new proposal to open more than 1.3 billion acres of U.S. coastal waters to oil and gas drilling, a move that has sparked immediate concern from environmental groups and coastal communities. According to the Department of the Interior, the plan would allow new offshore leasing in areas that include the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coastline near California, and portions of Alaska’s coastal waters. The proposal marks one of the largest expansions of offshore drilling rights in decades. Environmental organizations quickly raised alarm, citing the risks of oil spills, ecosystem disruption, and long-term…

The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a significant moment in ongoing diplomatic conversations between the two global powers. According to a senior White House official, the call took place earlier today, though specific details of the discussion were not immediately released. Officials described the conversation as “constructive,” noting that both leaders exchanged views on current international issues. The call comes at a time of heightened global attention, as the U.S. and China continue to navigate complex economic, security and geopolitical concerns. While it remains unclear what topics were prioritized, analysts…

Anchorage police are renewing the call for information in the disappearance of Cassandra Lee Boskofsky, who has been missing for more than six years. Cassandra, who was 38 years old at the time she went missing, was last seen on September 1, 2019. According to investigators, she had been out of contact with her family for several years before the disappearance, and her final verified interaction was with Anchorage Police on August 7, 2019. She previously lived at 1101 Bentree Circle in Anchorage. Cassandra is an Alaska Native woman, described as 4’11”, approximately 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown…

Anchorage Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 11-year-old Lexie Gregory, who was reported missing from her home in Eagle River on November 23, 2025. Lexie was last seen or heard from at approximately 2:31 p.m. in the area of Old Glenn Highway and North Eagle River Loop Road. Officers say she left the area on foot, and her current whereabouts are unknown. According to police, Lexie is described as 5’4″, about 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time she was last seen, she was wearing pajama pants (color unknown), a black hoodie, a…

The sun has officially set for the last time this year in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), marking the beginning of the annual 65-day Polar Night in the northernmost city of the United States. Residents witnessed their final sunset of 2025 earlier today. The sun will not rise again until January 23, 2026, when daylight finally returns to the Arctic community. Also Read: What Months of the Year It’s Dark in Alaska: Expert Month-by-Month Breakdown of Winter Darkness Located above the Arctic Circle, Utqiaġvik experiences an extreme winter phenomenon: the Earth’s tilt prevents sunlight from reaching the horizon for more than two…

A major power outage disrupted the AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons on Saturday night after two light towers at the Gabba unexpectedly failed, plunging parts of the stadium into darkness. The incident began when one of the stadium’s lighting towers caught fire, prompting safety protocols and forcing officials to suspend play for nearly 35 minutes. Another tower went dark shortly afterward, leaving players and spectators waiting as engineers and emergency crews responded. Stadium staff worked to isolate the electrical fault and extinguish the fire before restoring safe lighting conditions on the field. No injuries were…

Alaska State Parks has announced that 2026 Annual Parking Decals will be available for purchase beginning Monday, November 24, 2025. The passes cost $60 and become valid immediately, covering the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026. Residents and visitors can pick up their passes at several in-person retail locations: Anchorage Fairbanks Kodiak Additional chambers in Homer, Seward, and other communities will receive their pass inventory in early December. For those who prefer to order online, passes can be purchased anytime through Alaska State Parks at: https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/passes/ Also Read: Alaska State Parks Warn of Trail Hazards Ahead of Weekend Event…

The Richardson Highway is closed in both directions at Milepost 267 on Friday morning as Alaska State Troopers investigate a crash that occurred earlier in the day. The closure is expected to remain in place for multiple hours, according to transportation officials. Drivers traveling through the area are being directed to use available detours at Jack Warren Road and Nistler Road. Also Read: Archangel Road in Hatcher Pass Closed for Winter Motorists are urged to use caution and plan for delays. The Alaska Department of Transportation is advising the public to monitor 511.alaska.gov for real-time updates as crews continue to…

A 16-year-old boy from Emmonak died Friday evening after his snowmachine went into open water on the Yukon River, according to Alaska State Troopers. Troopers received a report around 8 p.m. that the teen, identified as Kennedy Teganlakla, had driven a snowmachine onto open water near the Western Alaska community. Troopers said the machine sank shortly after entering the river. According to the trooper dispatch, Teganlakla had been attempting to water skip, a practice in which riders skim a snowmachine across stretches of unfrozen water. Search teams from the community and responding agencies began looking for Teganlakla shortly after the…

Fairbanks, Alaska — Emergency management teams from across the state gathered in Fairbanks this week for a two-day statewide preparedness workshop hosted by the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP). The event brought together representatives from state agencies, borough governments, tribal organizations, public safety departments, and wildfire response teams. The goal was to strengthen coordination and response strategies ahead of future emergencies, including wildfires, severe storms, and community-level disasters. Over the course of the workshop, personnel reviewed emergency communication systems, interagency coordination protocols, resource deployment strategies, and lessons learned from recent large-scale incidents across Alaska. Officials said the…

Anchorage, Alaska — Communities across Alaska joined national observances on Wednesday to recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual day dedicated to honoring transgender individuals who have lost their lives to violence and discrimination. The ACLU of Alaska shared a public message emphasizing the significance of the day, which has been observed globally since 1999. The remembrance aims to highlight the ongoing risks faced by transgender people, particularly those who experience heightened vulnerability due to discrimination, lack of access to healthcare, and social marginalization. Local organizations encouraged Alaskans to reflect on the challenges faced by transgender residents and to support…