The annual defense bill is considered must-pass legislation to keep military programs going.
Military
Trump’s defense veto could sink Sitka’s Coast Guard dock
President Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act has put Sitka’s plans for a new Coast Guard fast-response cutter on the rocks.
Trump administration may hire private ship to fill Arctic ‘icebreaker gap’ by year’s end
The Trump White House is racing to lease an icebreaker. One candidate is a ship with a notorious Alaska past owned by a Republican mega-donor.
Russian intimidation of Bering Sea fishermen shows gap in Arctic investment, Sen. Sullivan says
Sen. Dan Sullivan said the Arctic is the next arena of great military power competition, and Russia has built up a lot more infrastructure on its side.
Coast Guard newbies stepped up when mission was threatened by quarantine
The youngest, newest and usually most-inexperienced members of the Coast Guard helped save a ship’s mission this summer.
Permit for Navy activities allows over 16,000 ‘behavioral disturbances’ to Southeast marine mammals
Environmental groups have expressed concern that the Navy does not do enough to mitigate its impact on marine life, from whales and porpoises down to zooplankton.
Alaska’s oldest WWII veteran prepares for her 104th Birthday
Hallie Dixon settled in Anchorage with her husband, eight years before Alaska became a state. They also spent 14 years in St. Mary’s.
Mechanical problems force 2 F-16 jets to land in Bethel
One of the jets had a mechanical problem in flight while returning from a military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region.
Uptick in Russian aircraft flying near Alaska shows ‘probing’ for weakness, Sullivan says
Sen. Sullivan says a large Russian naval exercise happening in the Bering Sea at the same time as the triple aircraft intercept demonstrates that the Arctic has become a flashpoint.
U.S. investigates ‘unprofessional interactions’ after Russian military confronts Bering Sea fishermen
The altercation interrupted fishing for several boats, and some fishing industry players say they’re worried about continuing impacts from the exercises.