Related content
Alaska restores employee pension plan
The Alaska State Senate has passed HB 78, legislation to restore a defined benefit retirement system, by a 12–8 vote.
After nearly two decades of advocacy, this vote marks a significant milestone for public employees across the state.
"For too long, the lack of a stable, secure retirement has made it harder to keep experienced educators in our classrooms and attract new ones to our state", NEA-Alaska states in a post on Facebook.
NEA-Alaska is an affiliate of the National Education Association.
The bill will reinstate a pension system for state and local government employees in Alaska.
Announces homeporting of the first two Arctic Security Cutters in Alaska
On Thursday this week, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that the first two Arctic Security Cutters will be homeported in the State of Alaska.
"Anticipating delivery of the first Arctic Security Cutters by the end of 2028, the Coast Guard has begun planning to ensure necessary infrastructure and support are in place to receive two icebreakers. Ensuring these vessels are supported by trained and ready crews, and ready homeport facilities including housing, will be essential to delivering full, enduring operational capability required to meet emerging Arctic security challenges," a press release from the USCG reads.
“Homeporting Arctic Security Cutters in Alaska underscores the United States’ leadership as a maritime power in the Arctic,” said Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard.
“By strategically positioning these state-of-the-art icebreakers in Alaska, the Coast Guard will maximize our ability to defend our northern border and approaches, while reinforcing America’s maritime dominance in a crucial region of strategic importance," Lunday added.
The homeporting of the first two Arctic Security Cutters in Alaska builds on the historic expansion of the Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet and underscores an unprecedented investment in the Arctic, the press release states.
The announcement is furthermore described as a national milestone in U.S. Arctic capability, following contract awards for up to 11 Arctic Security Cutters.
Mike Dunleavy (R) new USARC commissioner
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) has nominated Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) as the new Commissioner of the United States Arctic Research Commission (USARC).
The Commission is an independent federal agency that advises the President and Congress on U.S. research activities in the Arctic.
"The Commission is pleased to welcome Governor Dunleavy," said Thomas E. Dans, Director of USARC, in a press release.
He added that Alaska plays a central role in the nation's Arctic research efforts.
"The Governor's perspective and experience will contribute to the Commission's work to advise the President and Congress on Arctic research priorities and promote collaboration between the federal government, the State of Alaska, and Arctic communities."
At the same time, USARC thanks outgoing Commissioner Deborah Vo for her work in advancing Arctic research priorities and engaging with Arctic communities.
Trump threatens to withdraw from NATO - again
US President Donald Trump said in an interview on Wednesday that he is seriously considering pulling the US out of NATO after the allies refused to join the Iran war on his side.
“I’ve never been impressed with NATO. I’ve always known they’re a paper tiger and Putin knows that too, by the way,” Trump told Britain’s The Telegraph.
Trump is upset that the other NATO countries have not wanted to step in and secure oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran effectively stopped after the US and Israel's attack on Iran.
The president draws comparisons to the war in Ukraine.
“Ukraine was not our problem. It was a test and we were there for them. But they are not there for us,” Trump said, referring to Iran.
The 54th Iditarod has begun
Mushers competing in this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race departed from Willow Lake early Sunday afternoon, embarking on their 975-mile journey to Nome, writes Anchorage Daily News.
This year’s field includes 37 teams, including four previous champions, 14 rookies and three mushers participating in the event’s inaugural Expedition Class.
One of the mushers participating in the Expedition Class is Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke, who has pledged more than $300,000 to support the Iditarod 2026.
2025 was Alaska’s 8th hottest year on record
Alaska experienced its eighth warmest year on record in 2025, Alaska Public Media reports.
A new research report finds that warming was particularly pronounced in the northern part of the state. Utqiaġvik had the highest temperature anomalies, about 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.
The report points to shrinking sea ice as a key finding. Alaska's sea ice reached its annual maximum in March at just over 5.5 million square miles - the lowest ice maximum recorded in 47 years.
"It's still a large area, but less than in any year previously observed. We are on track to an ice-free Arctic later this century," researcher Falk Stuefer told the newspaper.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen says no to Trump's hospital ship
The Greenlandic Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, says 'no, thanks' to US President Donald Trump's hospital ship.
Trump said he would dispatch a hospital ship in a social media post to bring health services to Greenland.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded by saying 'no, thanks' and that Greenland has free healthcare and that "This is a conscious decision and a fundamental part of our society."
The US Special Envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, reacted strongly to Nielsen's response. He says Nielsen should be ashamed and that Donald Trump and America care in a post on X.
Russian aircrafts operating off of Alaska
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked Russian aircrafts operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on February 19, the command informs in a press release.
The Russian aircrafts were two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50.
NORAD launched two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and four KC-135s to intercept, positively identify, and escort the aircraft until they departed the Alaskan ADIZ.
"The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat," NORAD states in the press release.