Government

More than $12 million is set aside for Alaskan communities affected by the decline of the timber industry. That money goes to districts with large amounts of untaxed federal land, and is distributed in annual payments to rural boroughs and school districts — including those near the Tongass National Forest in Southeast.

The library in the Native village of Klukwan, outside Haines, lost the bulk of its funding in the spring. That included a $150,000 grant, of which only $100,000 had been spent, plus another $10,000 grant. 

The lawsuit faults the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for greenlighting ConocoPhillips’ winter seismic and drilling program after a public comment period of only 7 days.

Sen. Dan Sullivan didn’t defend sending the National Guard to U.S. cities. He didn’t criticize it either.

After discussing five options in a three-day, closed-door meeting with federal and local leaders this week, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided it will design a tunnel through Bullard Mountain.

NOAA scientists emphasized that last year’s projections were reliable enough to guide 2026 limits.