KNOM - Nome

After years of waiting, the Arctic Deep Draft Port project in Nome was authorized by Congress on Dec. 21 and is ready to move forward.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the Iditarod race organizers to create an altered route, one that goes through mostly unpopulated checkpoints.

The Nome Police Department is using analyzed cellphone data provided by the FBI in their search for Florence Okpealuk.

One climatologist forecasts sea ice will form late, the extent will be below average, and it will be similar to last year’s.

In 2003, Emily Nanouk noticed a strange smell and dead vegetation between her property and the abandoned North River Relay Station.

Stebbins has one of the Norton Sound region’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks. It also lacks running water, which is forcing the community to get creative with sanitation measures.

Local residents told KNOM they worry that the virus is spreading more easily because of the number of people living in overcrowded homes with their extended families.

Gambell has instituted a hunker down mandate asking all residents to remain at home for two weeks.

Right now, according to NPD’s Evidence Custodian Paul Kosto, the state lab is taking about a year to process kits.

Searchers go out every day to look for Okpealuk, and the community held a prayer vigil Sept. 12th at Old St. Joseph’s park.