Author: The Tundra Drums Staff

The Trump administration has reversed Alaska wilderness drilling protections, reopening the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA) to fossil fuel extraction. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the move on Monday in Alaska, flanked by EPA chief Lee Zeldin and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Burgum said the Biden administration’s 2023 executive order undermined energy independence by halting oil and gas production in critical Alaskan reserves. He added that the new directive reflects a return to common sense, emphasizing energy as a national security and economic stability pillar. The 23 million acres NPR-A located 600 miles north of Anchorage had remained shielded from…

Dozens of Filipino educators gathered in Manila this year, eager to impress Alaska school recruiters with their skills. Julieth Tapado drove over an hour from Cavite City and waited patiently outside the busy venue for her brief interview. She ranked Alaska above any other U.S. destination and applied nowhere else, hoping to teach in a state she respects. Tapado has applied three times and hopes this will finally open the door to her American teaching dream. At the recruiting event, Serjoe Gutierrez welcomed more than 120 candidates with advice and encouragement based on his experience. Gutierrez teaches in Kodiak and…

A powerful Mount Etna eruption in Sicily sent thick ash clouds and smoke into the sky early Monday morning. Thermal imaging cameras captured volcanic materials pouring from the southeastern side of the Carter shortly after midnight. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported signs of increasing seismic activity before the explosive event. At 12:39 am local time, INGV recorded the initial changes in Mount Etna’s volcanic behavior and later confirmed a Strombolian eruption.  These eruptions are marked by bursts of gas pressure, which eject ash, lava, and rock with great force. Geologists believe a Carter collapse occurred during…

A woman suffered life-threatening injuries after a hit-and-run on Seward Highway early Saturday morning in Midtown Anchorage. Around 3:04 am, several callers alerted Anchorage police to a woman lying on the roadway near East Benson Boulevard. Officers arrived quickly and found the woman unconscious and severely injured in the northbound lanes of the Seward Highway. According to a police statement posted later Saturday, witnesses saw a vehicle hit the woman before speeding away from the scene. The driver did not stop or attempt to help the victim, prompting officers to investigate the suspect’s identity immediately. Paramedics transported the woman to…

Three top Trump officials visit Alaska this week to fulfill the administration’s pledge to unlock the state’s resource wealth. The group includes Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. On Sunday, they joined energy stakeholders for a roundtable focused on the challenges of boosting energy output while protecting the environment. Zeldin emphasized that the administration sees no conflict between economic growth and environmental responsibility. Zeldin began his EPA tenure with what he called the most significant deregulatory announcement in history, which included rolling back over two dozen environmental rules. His position signals a continued…

President Donald Trump raised steel and aluminum import tariffs from 25% to 50%, aiming to revive America’s steel industry. Trump declared the move would increase production, create jobs, and reduce dependency on Chinese steel. He claimed a $14 billion partnership between US Steel and Nippon Steel would transform Pennsylvania’s manufacturing over the next 14 months. Trump assured steelworkers that there would be no layoffs and promised every worker a $5,000 bonus under the proposed agreement. He credited his original 25% tariffs from 2018 for saving US Steel and setting the foundation for today’s tariff increase. Trump’s speech resonated with union…

State Troopers have arrested six individuals accused of bringing illegal alcohol into Yukon Delta communities where alcohol restrictions apply. The arrests followed concerns of Village Public Safety Officers and residents in Emmonak and nearby villages like Alakanuk and Scammon Bay. Authorities say alcohol was fueling an increase in assaults and other crimes across the region. Alaska State Trooper Lieutenant Nick Zito said the village leaders and officers launched a collaborative investigation after noticing rising alcohol-related incidents. Troopers intercepted multiple large shipments of distilled spirits, each exceeding legal volume limits and lacking required invoices or labeling. Investigators discovered 150 bottles of…

Alaska school districts are turning to Filipino teachers in Alaska to ease a growing national shortage of certified educators. Kodiak Island Borough School District is one of several districts actively recruiting in the Philippines, cutting out third-party agencies and leading their hiring trips. Serjoe Gutierrez, a violinist and teacher from the Philippines, joined Kodiak High School three years ago. He plays alongside his orchestra students and has become a community fixture through concerts, radio, and church events. His journey started with a google search. Kodiak was the last district he applied to, but he was the only one to offer…

French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Friday that Israel could face sanctions if it fails to address the Gaza starvation crisis. During a visit to Singapore, Macron said France cannot ignore the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, which aid agencies now describe as catastrophic. Standing beside Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Macron declared that Israel’s actions have made conditions in Gaza untenable on the ground. He emphasized that the world must not remain passive as Palestinians continue to suffer from extreme hunger and lack of necessities. Macron suggested that France could target Israeli settlers with sanctions, increasing the pressure on…

Japan supports the Alaska LNG project as its top trade officials prepare to attend a major energy summit in Anchorage next week. The Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, taking place June 3-5, will draw representatives from the US, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to discuss energy projects and strategic partnerships.  Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, Takehiko Matsuo, will represent the country at the event, Trade Minister Yoji Muto confirmed during a press briefing on Friday. The conference follows a meeting scheduled by US officials for June 2 led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Although Matsuo’s…

The Alaska education funding disparity issue could cost the state $81 million after it failed an equity test earlier this month. Federal officials notified Alaska’s education department on May 16 that the state did not meet the disparity test requirements. This test ensures a fair funding gap between the highest and lowest-funded school districts nationwide. Alaska receives Impact Aid from the federal government each year to support districts with non-taxable land, such as tribal areas and military bases. However, the state can only reduce its funding by deducting this aid if it passes the disparity test. Bryan Zadalis, spokesperson for…

A 61-year-old man from Alaska pinned by a boulder in a freezing creek survived three terrifying hours with help from his wife and rescuers. Kell Morris was hiking with wife Jo Roop near Godwin Glacier south of Anchorage when disaster struck on a rocky creek bed. The couple, avoiding holiday crowds, chose a remote trail behind a prison in Seward lined with massive boulders deposited by glaciers. Morris slipped down an embankment and landed face-first in icy water when a boulder rolled down and trapped him. Despite the crushing weight, rocks beneath him bore the impact, sparing him serious injury…