Alaska Senate Passes Bill to Allow Safe Haven Baby Boxes

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The Alaska Senate passed a bill that would allow devices designed to prevent infant abandonment in the state.

The Alaska Senate advanced the bill, which would legalize Safe Haven Baby Boxes, on an 18-2 vote. Sens. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican, and Löki Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat, voted no, the Alaska Beacon reported on Tuesday.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes were created to deter parents from abandoning their newborns, potentially leaving them to die. Baby boxes are temperature-controlled incubators often built into exterior walls of fire stations, police stations, and hospitals, and can be accessed from inside. At-risk mothers can safely and legally place their newborns inside. Then, the outside door locks, and mothers have time to get away before an alarm goes off, alerting first responders or hospital staff inside.

The baby is then quickly removed and sent to a hospital for a wellness check. From there, the baby is usually placed into state custody and often quickly adopted.

Alaska has had its Safe Haven law since 2008, which allows for the in-person surrender of newborns up to 21 days old to fire stations, hospitals, and police officers. (Read more from “Alaska Senate Passes Bill to Allow Safe Haven Baby Boxes” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Lisa Murkowski Joins Democrats, Votes for Abortion in VA Facilities

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The U.S. Senate squashed an effort Wednesday by Democratic lawmakers to overturn the Department of Veterans Affairs’ ban on abortions or abortion counseling for VA patients.

In a 50-48 vote, the Senate rejected a proposal by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, to reinstate VA coverage of abortions. . .

The VA finalized a rule Dec. 31 that prohibits the procedure at VA medical centers unless the veteran’s life is at risk. The new policy overturned a policy implemented in September 2022 that allowed the VA to provide the procedure or cover the cost in cases of rape, incest or endangerment of the life or health of the mother. . .

Between September 2022 and August 2025, the VA had covered or provided abortions to roughly 100 veterans and 40 CHAMPVA patients, according to data provided by the VA.

Blumenthal’s proposal would have opened debate on whether to repeal the VA’s ban. The vote fell nearly unanimously along party lines, with 50 Republicans voting no and two Republicans, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joining 46 Democrats voting yes. (Read more from “Lisa Murkowski Joins Democrats, Votes for Abortion in VA Facilities” HERE)

Alaska Air Guard Evacuates Hundreds from Western Alaska

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The Alaska Air National Guard C-17 evacuated over 300 civilians from the remote western coast of Alaska to emergency shelters in Anchorage, the latest in the military response to massive flooding caused by Typhoon Halong over the weekend. The crew flew the evacuation from Bethel, the only town along the impacted coast with a runway large enough to handle heavy cargo jets.

Many onboard had been rescued in recent days by Alaska Army and Air Guard teams, Coast Guard and state rescue workers who spent the previous several days finding and moving civilians from surrounding towns where homes and buildings had been left destroyed or uninhabitable by flood waters.

Military and state rescue forces had rescued at least 51 people in those remote villages over the weekend, officials said.

The storm received little attention outside the state, but left a trail of devastation through several coastal villages whose populations are mostly Alaskan natives. The flooding has torn buildings, including some homes, from their foundations and floated them away.

The rescues have taken place in the communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, an Alaska National Guard news release says. At least one person has been killed by the storm and two are missing, the Associated Press is reporting. (Read more from “Alaska Air Guard Evacuates Hundreds from Western Alaska” HERE)

Photo credit: Alaska Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Typhoon-Devastated Alaska Facing Hardships More Severe Than Most Americans Will Ever Comprehend

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By Alternet. Remnants of a powerful typhoon swept into Western Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta on Oct. 12, 2025, producing a storm surge that flooded villages as far as 60 miles up the river. The water pushed homes off their foundations and set some afloat with people inside, officials said. More than 50 people had to be rescued in Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, hundreds were displaced in the region, and at least one person died.

Typhoon Halong was an unusual storm, likely fueled by the Pacific’s near-record warm surface temperatures this fall. Its timing means recovery will be even more difficult than usual for these hard-hit communities, as Alaska meteorologist Rick Thoman of the University Alaska Fairbanks explains.

Disasters in remote Alaska are not like disasters anywhere in the lower 48 states, he explains. While East Coast homeowners recovering from a nor’easter that flooded parts of New Jersey and other states the same weekend can run to Home Depot for supplies or drive to a hotel if their home floods, none of that exists in remote Native villages. . .

People are going to have really difficult decisions to make. Do they leave the community for the winter and hope to rebuild next summer?

There likely isn’t much available housing in the region, with the flooding so widespread on top of a housing shortage. Do displaced people go to Anchorage? Cities are expensive.

There is no easy answer. (Read more from “Typhoon-Devastated Alaska Facing Hardships More Severe Than Most Americans Will Ever Comprehend” HERE)

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Videos, Photos Show Devastating Aftermath of Typhoon in Alaska

By Men’s Journal. Hurricane-force winds have devastated swaths of western Alaska and decimated at least two towns amid intense flooding that has killed at least two people.

According to multiple reports, remnants of Typhoon Halong raised water levels 4 to 6 feet above normal high tide levels, and dozens of people needed to be rescued across the region, including some waiting for help on rooftops. Families along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta have been displaced due to the powerful storm that triggered major coastal flooding.

Video taken in Bethel, Alaska, shows boats being swept away. Another video shows how the typhoon, which packed more than 100 MPH winds and previously ravaged Japan, brought catastrophic flooding to the coastal villages of Yup’ik, with homes being swept away and destroyed.

At this moment, authorities continue to work on how many exactly are accounted for, but at least one woman was found dead, and at least two people are missing.

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Christopher Culpepper described the situation in the villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok as “absolute devastation,” per The Associated Press. About 380 people live in Kwigillingok, an Alaska Native community.

(Read more from “Videos, Photos Show Devastating Aftermath of Typhoon in Alaska” HERE)

Houston-Based Company Makes LNG History in Alaska

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Texas-based companies continue to lead the U.S. in oil and natural gas production – including in Alaska.

A Houston-based company has helped make history by completing the first liquified natural gas (LNG) delivery from Alaska’s North Slope beyond the arctic region this month.

Houston-based Harvest Midstream and Alaska’s Interior Gas Utility (IGU) have completed the first delivery of LNG via pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope to Fairbanks, making the delivery the first commercial sale of North Slope gas to communities beyond the Arctic region in U.S. history.

“For the first time in history, North Slope gas isn’t just staying on the Slope — it’s reaching beyond to power Alaska’s future,” Harvest CEO Jason Rebrook said. “This project unlocks clean, reliable energy for Interior families and businesses and shows what’s possible when we work together to build Alaska’s energy security.”

Harvest’s North Slope LNG facility near Deadhorse, Alaska, will produce up to 150,000 gallons a day, triple the capacity of IGU’s current plant. Deliveries are projected to surpass 8 million cubic feet of natural gas a day as IGU expands its infrastructure and converts customers over to natural gas service, it says. (Read more from “Houston-Based Company Makes LNG History in Alaska” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Russian Bear Nuclear Bombers Spotted Off Alaska Coast — Sending US Fighter Jets Scrambling

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The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected two Russian nuclear bombers and fighter jets operating around Alaska’s air defense zone on Wednesday.

NORAD said two Tu-95 “Bear” bombers, which are nuclear-capable long-range bombers, and two Su-35 “Super Flanker” fighter jets were spotted at the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), adding that at no time did the jets enter America’s airspace.

“The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” the agency said in a statement.

“This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” NORAD added.

The command subsequently responded to the Russian jets by deploying an E-3, four F-16s and four KC-135 tankers to the ADIZ. (Read more from “Russian Bear Nuclear Bombers Spotted Off Alaska Coast — Sending US Fighter Jets Scrambling” HERE)

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Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan Join Republicans to Block Release of Epstein Files in Narrow Senate Vote

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In a sharply divided Senate, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan — both Republicans from Alaska — voted Wednesday night in favor of tabling an amendment that would have required the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to release case files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The amendment, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑N.Y.), was narrowly defeated 51–49.

Schumer’s amendment, attached as part of debate over the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sought to force disclosure of Justice Department and other federal records in the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Supporters of the amendment argued that the public, especially survivors of Epstein’s abuse, deserve full transparency.

All Senate Democrats voted in favor of releasing the files, joined by Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky. The rest of the GOP, including Murkowski and Sullivan, joined in voting to table (set aside) the amendment, blocking its consideration.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑Alaska) said she voted against the motion to release the files not because she opposes transparency per se, but because she viewed Schumer’s amendment as a last‑minute procedural surprise. She called it a “political stunt” and said the process was flawed.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R‑Alaska) defended his vote similarly, saying that while he believes as much information as possible should be released in a way that protects survivors, he opposed Schumer’s approach of forcing the issue into the defense bill knowing it might be stripped out in later negotiations.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer pressed repeatedly for the files’ release, arguing that Republicans have long claimed support for transparency but now had a moment to prove it. He criticized what he described as obstruction, cover‑ups, and misinformation.

The Alaska Democratic Party sharply criticized Murkowski and Sullivan, accusing them of being complicit in a “cover‑up” and failing to respond to both survivors and constituents who want disclosure.

The vote has heightened scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s past promises. During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to release Epstein‑related files; however, after entering office, his administration has declared that no comprehensive “client list” exists and has resisted further disclosure.

This vote goes beyond procedural maneuvering. For many, it symbolizes a larger struggle over how much of the Epstein case — including possible connections to influential individuals — remains hidden from public view.

As Schumer put it on the Senate floor:

“The American people deserve transparency…. If Republicans vote no, you’ll be saying to the American people that they should not see the Epstein files.”

Photo credit: Flickr

Eagle River Man Speaks Out After Disarming Gunman During Alaska State Fair Brawl (VIDEO)

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A man from Eagle River is being hailed as a hero after he stepped in to disarm a gunman during a chaotic brawl at the Alaska State Fair on Labor Day. The incident, which was captured on multiple viral cellphone videos, shows a flurry of physical altercations erupting near vendor booths as families and children looked on in shock.

Jaden Perry, 24, said he didn’t hesitate when he saw a gun drawn during the fight, which broke out shortly after 8 p.m. Monday evening.

“The first thought that went through my head is there are kids everywhere,” Perry told reporters. “I didn’t think much during it, but afterwards I’m glad I did. I would do it again every time.”

Perry said he had been helping a friend tear down a booth when he saw two young men fighting — one of whom pulled a firearm. Without thinking, he jumped in to de-escalate the situation and successfully disarmed one of the men. He says he ensured the gun was pointed toward the ground while attempting to remove a second weapon.

“Last thing anybody needs to do is bury their child, take their kid to the hospital, or even a parent — they were everywhere,” Perry said.

According to Perry, the brawl appeared to involve at least eight people in different altercations happening simultaneously.

Brawl at Alaska State fair
byu/AKRickyRules inalaska

The viral footage — shared widely across platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) — shows Perry and others rushing in amid screams and panic. While some bystanders fled, others froze in place, visibly stunned by the sudden outbreak of violence.

Perry, a former military trainee with no formal law enforcement background, says he didn’t act for recognition.

“People need to be aware that things can go wrong at any moment, no matter where you are,” he said. “That should not have happened in the first place.”

No major injuries have been reported, and fair organizers say they are reviewing the incident to determine whether additional security measures are needed in the future.

Trump Meets Putin in Alaska in Historic Summit, Discusses Ukraine Conflict

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President Donald Trump traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what both leaders described as a “historic” summit aimed at addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine.

During a joint press conference following their meeting, Putin remarked that Trump had been correct in suggesting that, had he been president in 2022, the war in Ukraine might not have occurred. “I tried to convince the Biden administration about the situation in Ukraine,” Putin said, noting that a different U.S. leadership could have altered the course of events.

Trump, who has frequently criticized his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for the handling of Russia’s invasion, described the Alaska meeting as “extremely productive” but emphasized that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.” He noted that “many points were agreed to, there are just a few that are left,” adding that while the summit did not conclude with a final agreement, there was potential for progress.

After the press conference, Trump said he would brief NATO allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the discussions. Both leaders suggested the possibility of another meeting, with Putin proposing Moscow as the location for the next summit. Trump acknowledged the idea, saying, “That’s an interesting one. I’ll get a little heat on that one, but I could see it possibly happening.”

Neither president took questions from the press, and no details were provided about the specific agreements reached during the meeting. A ceasefire or formal resolution was not mentioned. Trump concluded the conference by noting the strength of his relationship with Putin, stating, “I’ve always had a fantastic relationship with President Putin.”

The Alaska summit marks a rare direct engagement between U.S. and Russian leadership amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with both sides framing the meeting as a step toward dialogue, though specifics on outcomes remain limited.

Photo credit: Flickr

Trump Makes Shocking ‘Power Move’ and Flies Nuclear Bombers Over Putin’s Head at Meeting

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The power plays are underway already, as President Donald Trump had a nuclear bomber fly over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s head.

The highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Putin is finally taking place in Anchorage, Alaska, today (August 15). The pair are meeting in an attempt to broker peace amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

And so far, things have already gotten off to a bizarre start as Trump was seen going in for his trademark handshake when greeting the Russian president.

But as well as that, Putin will have also heard the famed American B-2 Bomber, as well as four F-35 fighter jets, zoom over his head after just stepping off the plane.

Taking to Twitter to share the news, one user posted a clip of it with the caption: “Trump just flew a B-2 stealth bomber over Putin’s head… Absolutely incredible.” (Read more from “Trump Makes Shocking ‘Power Move’ and Flies Nuclear Bombers Over Putin’s Head at Meeting” HERE)