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Billionaire Hilcorp owner chips in $25,000 to influence Alaska elections
The Alaska Public Offices Commission voted Thursday to not conduct an immediate investigation of Aurora Action Network to decide if the cash cow is headquartered in Bob Griffin’s house in Anchorage or in Wisconsin.The commission said it would deal with the matter, which relates to a ballot measure scheduled for the November election, at its August 26 meeting. The initiative would end open primaries and ranked choice voting, as well as current rules that require transparency on donations.The big
Graphite One: Permitting process now requires Environmental Impact Statement rather than Environmental Assessment
By Diana Haecker */ The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District is pursuing a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement review rather than an Environmental Assessment in their permitting review for the proposed Graphite One mine on the northern slopes of the Kigluaik Mountain range. The news was announced on Thursday morning, in a joint statement from Native Village of Brevig Mission, Mary’s Igloo Traditional Council and the Native Village of Teller.In an email reviewed by the Nome Nugg
3 sent to hospital after tornado touches down near Alberta-Saskatchewan border
<p>Dillberry Lake Provincial Campground evacuated Wednesday evening, July 8 </p>
State, federal and tribal groups partner with Juneau to prepare for annual glacial outburst flood
A U.S. Geological Survey worker views the flooding Mendenhall River from the Brotherhood Bridge following the glacial outburst event on Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)Officials and residents in Alaska’s capital city are preparing for what has become an annual summer glacial outburst flooding event that threatens the densely-populated Mendenhall Valley. Similar to past years, flooding is expected in early August.Federal, state, tribal and local agencies are closely monitorin
KRSA’s Bum Rap: Conserving Alaska’s Fisheries for Future Generations
For more than four decades, the Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) has been a leading voice in Alaska fisheries conservation. What began as an effort to protect Kenai River king salmon has grown into a statewide mission focused on sustainable fisheries. Habitat protection, education, and responsible fisheries management are at the core of KRSA.In a recent conversation on the Fish Alaska Podcast, KRSA Executive Director Shannon Martin and Senior Fisheries Advisor Kevin Delaney shared the
Smithsonian rejects Trump ‘anti-American’ charge, noting nonpartisan history
The National Museum of American History sits on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy National Museum of American History)WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s latest attack on the Smithsonian Institution represents an attempt to replace a shared American history with his own ideology, academics said as the Smithsonian defended its longstanding position as a nonpartisan actor.A July 4 White House report accused the Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of American Histo
Joint celebration of life planned next week for Cordova mother and son
Loved ones of a late Cordova mother and son duo will be hosting a celebration of life next week at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The celebration of life on July 16 will honor Kathy Zamudio, who died in Washington unexpectedly in 2024, and her son Enrique Zamudio, a Cordova High School alum who died in 2016 just three months after his high school graduation.Originally from Arizona, Kathy moved to Ketchikan in 1986 with her husband and worked at the Ketchikan General Hospital, Holy Name Scho
Public comment sought for winter 2026/27 ferry schedule
State transportation officials are seeking public comment through July 22 on the draft schedule of regional sailings from Oct. 1, through April 30, 2027.The proposed schedule and supporting documentation released on July 8 is available online at dot.alaska.gov/amhs/doc/winter_considerations_2026-2027.pdf.The public is encouraged to review the draft document and submit comments through 5 p.m. on July 22 to [email protected]. Two virtual public hearings are also scheduled on July 23 to
Republicans in Congress struggle with internal squabbles as time runs out on 2026
Republicans in Congress are quarreling on social media and rebelling on the House floor as they try to pass legislation prior to the November midterm elections and keep their majority. In this photo, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., left, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., appear at a news conference on the Upper West Terrace of U.S. Capitol Building on Oct. 1, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)WASHINGTON — Republicans are campaigning to keep control of
The state of Alaska has been killing bears for 20 years. Where’s the outrage?
A mother bear known as Bear 402 and her cubs are seen on Sept. 26, 2018, below a viewing platform at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park and Preserve. The Brooks Camp site, at the salmon-rich Brooks River, is a world-famous destination for bear viewing. Bears that arrive at the river's waterfall area each year include those roaming the habitat used by the Mulchatna caribou herd. (Photo by R. Taylor/National Park Service)With the Board of Game’s consent, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is
Partnership launched to bring veterinary care to rural Alaska
A dog team trots through the snow at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 5, 2022, in Anchorage. Dogs are important to life in rural Alaska, but veterinary care to protect their health is in short supply. A new partnership has been launched to help fill the need. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)For years, rural Alaska communities have struggled with out-of-control dog populations that pose dangers to children, and diseases circulating through wildlife that can s
US Olympian canoeist pleads not guilty to charges of damaging Reflecting Pool
Norm Eisen, an attorney with the Democracy Defenders Fund, speaks outside District of Columbia Superior Court after an arraignment hearing for David C. Hearn, center, on felony charges of destruction of property of $1,000 or more. At left is Mary C. Dohrmann, senior counsel at the Washington Litigation Group and another member of Hearn’s legal team. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)WASHINGTON — The former U.S Olympian charged with damaging a section of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Poo
Under new agreement, federal government limits obstacles to oil leasing in Alaska’s Arctic refuge
A single caribou stands in 2019 amid cottongrass and other tundra plants near the Hulahula River in the Arctic National WIldlife Refuge. (Photo by Alexis Bonogofsky/U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service)The federal government has agreed to permanently loosen rules for oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, according to a draft settlement agreement filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.Adam Gustafson, an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justic
A classic gumbo
The world is lush and green in the peak of summer, and it teases me from just outside my office window. I have a job to do- a goal to achieve- and I’m so close to completion but it seems I have reached the dreaded 85% curse. This cursed pattern begins with the best intentions and diligent effort. I set a goal for myself with an achievable timeline, and I charge forward and plow through the majority like a shark fin slicing through waves. Then, just when the end is in sight, I suddenly
Homer Pet of the Week: Goose
<p>Goose has been with the animal shelter for 110 days </p>
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander announces retirement following 2026 season
Longtime MLB pitcher Justin Verlander announced Wednesday that he will retire following the 2026 season, bringing an end to an illustrious 21-year career.The 43-year-old Detroit Tigers right-hander revealed the decision shortly after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred named him an American League “Legend Pick” for next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Although injuries will prevent Verlander from pitching in the exhibition, the selection marks his 10th career All-Star appearance
Alexander Zverev defeats Taylor Fritz to secure first Wimbledon semifinal berth
Alexander Zverev advanced to his first-ever Wimbledon semifinal on Wednesday, securing a dominant straight-sets victory over American Taylor Fritz at the All England Club. The second-seeded German controlled the match from start to finish on Court No. 1, dispatching the No. 6 seed 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in just under two hours.The victory represents a major milestone for Zverev, the newly crowned French Open champion, who managed to snap a persistent seven-match losing streak against Fritz. Though Fritz
Scotty McCreery celebrates 15 years in music with retrospective album ’15’
Fifteen years after his breakthrough audition on American Idol, Scotty McCreery is marking the milestone with a new retrospective album titled ’15,’ arriving July 17.The project highlights some of the country star’s biggest career moments while also introducing several fresh recordings. Reflecting on the anniversary, McCreery shared, “Man, fifteen years go by like a flash.” He noted that while his first American Idol audition in Milwaukee sometimes feels recent, at other times it fee
Walker Montgomery revives classic romance with new single “I Don’t Think I Will”
Rising country artist Walker Montgomery is embracing timeless love songs with the release of his latest track, “I Don’t Think I Will,” out now.Penned by Doug Johnson and produced by Bart Butler, the song reflects the traditional country sound Montgomery grew up loving. “Classic-sounding country love songs are back! ‘I Don’t Think I Will’ has always been one of my favorite songs. Being able to give this song a whole new life and introduce it to a new generation is something I’ve been really looki
Justin Bieber added to first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show
Justin Bieber has been added as a co-headliner for the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, expanding an already high-profile lineup for the championship match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.FIFA announced that Bieber will perform alongside Madonna, Shakira and BTS during the 11-minute production, marking a historic first for the men’s World Cup final. The show is being produced in partnership with Global Citizen and curated by Coldplay frontman Chri