Alaska

Alaska sees increased Russian naval and flight incursions

Published

1 year ago

September 21, 2024

Alaska sees increased Russian naval and flight incursions

Last week, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, and the U.S. Coast Guard detected and tracked four separate incursions of Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone and one incursion of Russian naval vessels in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
The U.S. Coast Guard located four Russian Federation Navy vessels Sunday, Sept 14, about 57 miles northwest of Point Hope. While on a routine patrol in the Chukchi Sea, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton observed the Russian vessels transiting southeast along the Russian side of the maritime boundary line.
The crew of the Stratton witnessed the Russian vessels cross the border line into the U.S Arctic. The Russian vessels were assessed to be avoiding sea ice on the Russian side of the border. They operated in accordance with international rules and customs as they transited approximately 30 miles into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. “We are actively patrolling our maritime border in the Bering Sea, Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea, with our largest and most capable cutters and aircraft, to protect U.S. sovereign interests, U.S. fish stocks, and to promote international maritime norms,” said Rear Adm. Megan Dean, Commander of Coast Guard District Seventeen. “Coast Guard Cutter Stratton ensured there were no disruptions to U.S. interests.”
The Russian vessels consisted of two submarines, a frigate and a tug.
Prior to the naval incursion, NORAD detected and tracked two Russian TU-142 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on Sept. 13, 2024 and then again on Sept. 14 and 15, when NORAD tracked four Russian IL-38 military aircraft.
The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, said a NORAD press release.
According to U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Russia and China began the Ocean-24 military exercises on Sept. 10 in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Sullivan said this marks Russia’s largest joint naval and air drill since the Cold War. China and Russia conducted a similar exercise near Alaska in July.
“As the world becomes more dangerous, Alaska continues to be on the frontlines of authoritarian aggression,” Senator Sullivan said. “Coordinated activity off Alaska’s shores by the Russians and Chinese is increasing: On five separate occasions in the past seven days, Russian military incursions into our ADIZ or EEZ have occurred – both naval and air. In the past two years, we’ve seen joint Russian-Chinese air and naval exercises off our shores and a Chinese spy balloon floating over our communities. These escalating incidents demonstrate the critical role the Arctic plays in great power competition between the U.S., Russia, and China.”
The U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division announced the deployment of more than 100 soldiers to the Aleutian Islands in response to increased Russian and Chinese activity near Alaska. (see story on page 7). According to Sullivan, the U.S. military has also deployed a guided missile destroyer and a Coast Guard cutter to the western region of Alaska. Sullivan called for a more permanent response like “reopening the Navy base at Adak, Alaska, which I have been pressing to be done for years.”
“Authoritarian regimes are testing the United States,” Sullivan said. “Dictators like Vladimir Putin see through a lens of either strength or weakness, which is why I’ve long encouraged our senior military leaders to be ready and to respond with strength.”
Governor Mike Dunleavy also weighed in and called for more military investments in Alaska. “Alaska’s strategic position on the globe gives the United States an advantage in the Arctic and the Pan Pacific, but we need leaders in Washington to recognize that Russia and China are increasing their military presence in the region, and the U.S. must increase its military investment in Alaska if we are to continue to ensure protection of our people and resources,” Dunleavy said.
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Alaska

Alaska to highlight rich sports history with ‘Week of Dreams Kickoff’

Published

1 hour ago

February 23, 2026

Press Room

Alaska to highlight rich sports history with ‘Week of Dreams Kickoff’

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Visitors to the Mountain View Library on Thursday will have a chance to both read and hear about the rich history of Alaskan athletics.

The Alaska’s Week of Dreams Kickoff, organized by America250-Alaska, will feature speakers, presentations and exhibits highlighting the intertwined histories of sports and the 49th state, with a special emphasis on baseball.

“It’s the American pastime, right?” Alaska State Historian Katherine Ringsmuth, who will be presenting at the event, said. ″But what’s so extraordinary, is when baseball arrives, because Alaska is such a unique place, we really give it an Alaskan flavor.”

There exists perhaps no better example of that flavor than in the sport’s very first foray into what is now Alaska, with Saint Paul Island’s “Knock Down and Skin ‘Em” missionary squad, another of Thursday’s presentation topics, beginning play in 1868.

In the many decades since, the sport has blossomed in the Last Frontier, with Ringsmuth citing examples such as the indoor women’s teams in Nome helping to lay the groundwork for what is now the sport of softball, as well as all the future MLB superstars, from Randy Johnson to Barry Bonds to Aaron Judge, who have played summers in Alaska courtesy of the Alaska Baseball League.

The event itself is a preview for the Alaska’s Week of Dreams event, which will serve as part of the America250 organization’s nationwide celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday.

“This is a great opportunity to celebrate our past, but also remind not just Alaskans, but the whole country, the whole world, that here in Alaska, dreams can come true,” Ringsmuth said.

While plans for the week itself, set to conclude on July 4, are not yet finalized, Ringsmuth said events such as MLB youth clinics, special Alaska Baseball League games, and even a celebrity golf tournament to raise money for youth sports associations across Alaska, are in the works.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

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Alaska

Scituate 6th grader makes her own history on Alaska’s Iditarod Trail – The Boston Globe

Published

13 hours ago

February 22, 2026

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Scituate 6th grader makes her own history on Alaska’s Iditarod Trail – The Boston Globe

“I was shocked,” Hanks said in an interview at her family’s home, “but I was really, really happy.”

Her English teacher sent her mother, Karyn Hanks, an email notifying her that Violet had won. The proud mother cried tears of joy, and couldn’t wait to see her daughter after school.

“I was like, ‘I’m just going to meet her down at the bus,’ which I don’t usually do,” Karyn Hanks said. “As I was going over the little hill, I saw her running from the bus, and we were both jumping up and down.”

Karyn Hanks (standing) was so excited about her daughter Violet’s winning design, she cried tears of joy. Debee Tlumacki

The 54th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicks off March 7 with an 11-mile, ceremonial start through Anchorage. The real work begins the following day, when the mushers guide their sled dogs across approximately 1,000 miles of extreme terrain from Willow to Nome.

Along the route, mushers carry “trail mail” to honor the history of sled dogs delivering mail along the Iditarod Trail. Letters and artwork from students are carried by mushers in the race, and then returned to them afterward.

Hanks’ design will be printed on envelopes used for every piece of trail mail. She also got to choose a musher to carry her own piece of trail mail. She chose last year’s Iditarod winner, Jessie Holmes.

Violet’s English teacher, Brian Hickox, and art teacher Tracey Woodford collaborated to promote the contest to their students.

Hickox has a history with the Iditarod, having served in 2019 as the “Teacher on the Trail,” where he traveled along the Iditarod trail in Alaska, reporting on the events and building themed lessons for teachers.

Hickox said many of their students expressed interest in the art contest, and six submitted. When he found out Hanks won, he was ecstatic.

“I almost couldn’t even sleep all night,” he said. “That’s how excited I was, because I knew how much it meant to just earn this achievement.”

Iditarod EDU staff sifted through submissions and chose five finalists, said Jim Deprez, Iditarod EDU co-director. Renowned Alaskan artists Jon and Jona Van Zyle decided the overall winner and two runners up.

The theme for this year’s trail mail contest was “Celebrating Iditarod Veterinarians,” honoring the roughly 50 volunteer vets who monitor the health and safety of the sled dogs.

Violet Hanks,12, learned of the art contest from teachers at Gates Middle School. Debee Tlumacki

Hanks’ design depicts the female veterinarian and dog smiling, with bubble hearts between them. The design is splashed with blue watercolor, which Deprez said impressed the staff.

“This one was a little different because it was watercolor, which we don’t see a whole lot of,” he said, “and the drawing itself, with … the expressions on the faces that she was able to portray, it spoke volumes.”

Woodford previously taught Hanks in elementary school. A few summers ago, the pair became pen pals , sending each other their artwork, including watercolor book marks by Hanks.

“She’s been a student that’s been really close to my heart for many years,” Woodford said. “It was really nice to see that her talents are recognized at a much larger scale, because I’ve always known that she’s something special.”

Lauren Albano can be reached at lauren.albano@globe.com. Follow her on X @LaurenAlbano_.

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Alaska

Alaska Sports Scoreboard: Feb. 21, 2026

Published

1 day ago

February 22, 2026

Press Room

From left, Colony’s Raven Spangler and Grace Christian’s Austin Merriner compete. The cross-country skiing state championships opened on Thursday, February 19, 2026, with 5-kilometer freestyle races at Government Peak Recreation Area in Palmer. (Marc Lester / ADN)

High School

Basketball

Girls

Sunday

Chaputnguak 63, Nelson Island 52

Nelson Island 48, Chaputnguak 46

Chaputnguak 72, Nelson Island 52

Monday

Bartlett 66, Service 55

Tri-Valley 56, Nenana 22

Unalaska 26, Lumen Christi 20

Tuesday

Mountain City Christian Academy 88, Soldotna 22

Nenana 28, Effie Kokrine Charter 17

Mt. Edgecumbe 62, Sitka 33

West 51, East 24

Wasilla 47, Colony 45

Service 78, South 35

Susitna Valley 38, Redington 22

Lathrop 41, North Pole 40

Grace Christian 53, Palmer 36

Homer 40, Ninilchik 15

Bartlett 75, Dimond 28

Chugiak 49, Eagle River 24

Barrow 69, Bethel 9

Monroe Catholic 50, Delta 20

Wednesday

Ketchikan 48, Sitka 39

Mt. Edgecumbe 47, Ketchikan 32

Barrow 67, Bethel 4

Thursday

Tok 40, Glennallen 26

Service 65, Chugiak 43

Grace Christian 47, Nikiski 33

Wasilla 65, North Pole 25

Homer 54, Houston 7

Palmer 37, West Valley 24

Colony 64, Lathrop 24

Galena 56, Delta 42

Mt. Edgecumbe 40, Ketchikan 33

Sitka 64, Nome-Beltz 53

East 55, Kodiak 39

Friday

Akiachak 43, Akiak 41

Tok 51, Cordova 34

Minto 71, Nenana 28

Alak 51, Meade River 47

Homer 52, Redington 29

Dimond 61, West 54

Lathrop 40, Palmer 35

Eagle River 49, South 42

Newhalen 63, Dillingham 36

Anthony Andrews 55, Gambell 51

Wasilla 57, West Valley 26

Mountain City Christian Academy 79, Kodiak 31

Grace Christian 51, Kenai Central 29

Delta 51, Galena 37

Seward 63, Susitna Valley 22

Bartlett 87, North Pole 50

Unalaska 33, King Cove 23

Mt. Edgecumbe 69, Nome-Beltz 36

Shaktoolik 60, Shishmaref 44

Alak 73, Nuiqsut Trapper 40

Akiachak 55, Kalskag 50

Anthony Andrews 75, Gambell 45

Meade River 76, Nuiqsut Trapper 46

Barrow 71, Kotzebue 25

Saturday

Mountain City Christian 79, Kodiak 19

Tuluksak 49, Akiachak 30

Shishmaref 42, Shaktoolik 38

Newhalen 67, Dillingham 52

Meade River 75, Nuiqsut Trapper 42

Grace Christian 61, Homer 22

Nikiski 47, Redington 31

Seward 73, Lumen Christi 13

Wasilla 72, Lathrop 32

Meade River 54, Alak 50

Boys

Sunday

Nelson Island 53, Chaputnguak 47

Savoonga 67, James C Isabell 48

Nightmute Elitnaurviat 73, Ayaprun 60

Chaputnguak 94, Nightmute Elitnaurviat 45

Kake 50, SISD 47

Chaputnguak 70, Nelson Island 66

Monday

Chaputnguak 57, Nelson Island 56

Savoonga 54, James C Isabell 48

Tri-Valley 75, Nenana 39

Kake 45, SISD 41

Service 73, Bartlett 38

Unalaska 58, Lumen Christi 53

Tuesday

Mountain City Christian Academy 62, Soldotna 48

Effie Kokrine Charter 67, Nenana 53

Mt. Edgecumbe 42, Sitka 32

Barrow 54, Bethel 53

Lathrop 78. North Pole 50

West 59, East 44

Grace Christian 79, Palmer 45

Susitna Valley 65, Redington 50

Service 51, South 49

Wasilla 67, Colony 66

Chugiak 63, Eagle River 39

Dimond 76, Bartlett 28

Ninilchik 80, Homer 34

Wednesday

Klawock 75, SISD 41

Lumen Christi 54, Redington 48

Skagway 93, Hydaburg 40

Barrow 71, Bethel 54

Dimond 78, Chugiak 45

Thursday

Tikigaq 87, Birchwood Christian 42

Sitka 55, Nome-Beltz 45

Hoonah 57, Gustavus 47

Tok 59, Glennallen 55

Skagway 75, Hydaburg 59

Homer 56, Houston 39

Wasilla 71, North Pole 40

Grace Christian 67, Palmer 40

West Valley 56, Monroe Catholic 12

Lathrop 52, Colony 47

Gambell 94, Anthony Andrews 88

Delta 57, Galena 50

Friday

Akiachak 75, Akiak 43

Chief Ivan Blunka 57, Manokotak 49

Brevig Mission 52, James C Isabell 45

Alak 96, Meade River 55

Akiachak 84, Z John Williams 78

Cordova 38, Tok 37

Minto 68, Nenana 21

Nuiqsut Trapper 73, Alak 37

Aniguiin 87, Martin L Olson 76

Monroe Catholic 55, Valdez 36

Koyuk Malimiut 73, White Mountain 55

Brevig Mission 58, James C Isabell 52

Unalakleet 79, Hooper Bay 19

Juneau-Douglas 53, Ketchikan 41

Haines 49, Petersburg 41

Mountain City Christian Academy 53, Kodiak 42

Grace Christian 75, Tikigaq 41

Houston 72, Nikiski 50

Homer 56, Redington 43

Dimond 69, West 57

Seward 57, Susitna Valley 51

South 85, Eagle River 30

Lathrop 83, Palmer 62

North Pole 47, Bartlett 37

Delta 51, Galena 39

Nuiqsut Trapper 92, Meade River 36

Gambell 92, Anthony Andrews 52

Akiachak 63, Akula Elitnaurvik 54

Wrangell 67, Craig 40

Barrow 101, Kotzebue 66

Nome-Beltz 79, Mt. Edgecumbe 66

Saturday

Koyuk Malimiut 50, White Mountain 41

Martin L Olson 88, Aniguiin 48

Unalakleet 103, Hooper Bay 26

Mountain City Christian Academy 61, Kodiak 37

Cordova 37, Glennallen 36

Alak 65, Meade River 34

Kenai Central 62, Ninilchik 50

Palmer 69, North Pole 61

Lumen Christi 76, Seward 61

Lathrop 76, Wasilla 39

Nuiqsut Trapper 48, Alak 41

Service 48, East 47

• • •

Nordic skiing

2026 ASAA State Championships

Overall team scores

Boys

1. South 2:54:44.2; 2. Colony 2:55:15.1; 3. West Valley 2:58:59.9; 4. Service 3:00:05.4; 5. West 3:05:13.9; 6. Kenai Central 3:11:00.2; 7. Soldotna 3:14:02.2; 8. Homer 3:15:50.5; 9. Dimond 3:18:30.7; 10. Chugiak 3:29:21.6

Girls

1. South 3:23:36.5; 2. Service 3:27:07.7; 3. Colony 3:37:57.8; 4. West Valley 3:40:09.9; 5. Chugiak 3:49:13.2; 6. Bettye Davis East 3:49:55.7; 7. West 3:50:35.5; 8. Dimond 3:53:19.1; 9. Soldotna 4:00:36.8; 10. Kenai Central 4:04:40.1

From top, East’s Adele Hayes, Juneau-Douglas’ Kaia Mangaccat and Lathrop’s Anna Stringfellow climb a hill on the race course. The cross-country skiing state championships opened on Thursday, February 19, 2026, with 5-kilometer freestyle races at Government Peak Recreation Area in Palmer. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Freestyle 5K

Boys overall

1. Jack Leveque, Service, 12:29.1; 2. Chase Laker, Kenai Central, 13:11.3; 3. Ethan Elliott, South, 13:13.7; 4. Kieran Kaufman, West Valley, 13:18.2; 5. Vebjorn Flagstad, South, 13:21.0; 6. Gabe Black, Colony, 13:32.0; 7. Nathan Vandelugt, West Valley, 13:36.8; 8. Weston Sensabaugh, Colony, 13:51.2; 9. Finn Dudley, West, 14:01.6; 10. Ethan Styvar, South, 14:06.5; 11. Freedom Bennett, Service, 14:08.9; 12. Ollie Dahl, Soldotna, 14:12.0; 13. Johannes Bynagle, Homer, 14:13.1; 14. Basile Plattet, West Valley, 14:15.2; 15. Raven Spangler, Colony, 14:15.4; 16. Grayson Stanek-Alward, South, 14:22.6; 17. Leif Anderson, Lathrop, 14:25.1; 18. Josiah Sheldon, Service, 14:27.4; 19. Fletcher Darr, Kenai Central, 14:27.9; 20. Easton Roads, Grace Christian, 14:28.8

Girls overall

1. Mia Stiassny, South, 15:22.2; 2. Miya Kam-Magruder, Service, 15:27.8; 3. Tania Boonstra, Soldotna, 15:43.8; 4. Alise Elliott, South, 15:56.4; 5. Reine Soule, Service, 16:07.3; 6. Talia Smith, Service, 16:07.9; 7. Solvej Lunoe, South, 16:09.1; 8. Olivia Soderstrom, West, 16:18.5; 9. Calista Zuber, South, 16:18.6; 10. Mady Lowen, Dimond, 16:19.7; 11. Elliot Sensabaugh, Colony, 16:24.0; 12. Adah Decker, West Valley, 16:30.2; 13. Olivia Ronzio Pico, Chugiak, 16:36.7; 14. Elin Lunoe, South, 16:40.1; 15. Ellie Abrahamson, West Valley, 16:44.4; 16. Faith Harlamert, Service, 16:49.9; 17. Isela Austin, Colony, 16:56.4; 18. Maya Tirpack, South, 17:00.9; 19. Miriam Armstrong, West Valley, 17:10.1; 20. Kate Cox, Soldotna, 17:14.7

Classic 7.5K

Boys overall

1. Jack Leveque, Service, 20:41.2; 2. Vebjorn Flagstad, South, 20:46.2; 3. Gabe Black, Colony, 20:56.7; 4. Chase Laker, Kenai Central, 21:10.4; 5. Kieran Kaufman, West Valley, 21:13.3; 6. Finn Dudley, West, 21:25.1; 7. Weston Sensabaugh, Colony, 21:34.7; 8. Banyan Smyth, Colony, 21:57.1; 9. Freedom Bennett, Service, 22:02.4; 10. Ethan Styvar, South, 22:03.5; 11. Nathan Vandelugt, West Valley, 22:15.4; 12. Grayson Stanek-Alward, South, 22:24.3; 13. Raven Spangler, Colony, 22:25.5; 14. Braxton Thornley, South, 22:29.1; 15. Jake Black, Colony, 22:29.9; 16. Leif Anderson, Lathrop, 22:37.0; 17. Basile Plattet, West Valley, 22:42.8; 18. Fletcher Darr, Kenai Central, 22:44.3; 19. Owen Harth, South, 22:51.4; 20. Ethan Elliott, South, 22:55.5

Girls overall

1. Miya Kam-Magruder, Service, 24:49.8; 2. Mia Stiassny, South, 24:51.0; 3. Elliot Sensabaugh, Colony, 25:03.5; 4. Alise Elliott, South, 25:12.4; 5. Elin Lunoe, South, 25:14.1; 6. Tania Boonstra, Soldotna, 25:15.5; 7. Talia Smith, Service, 25:19.5; 8. Solvej Lunoe, South, 25:59.3; 9. Mady Lowen, Dimond, 25:59.9; 10. Reine Soule, Service, 26:02.4; 11. Calista Zuber, South, 26:07.7; 12. Olivia Soderstrom, West, 26:08.5;13. Olivia Ronzio Pico, Chugiak, 26:21.2; 14. Adah Decker, West Valley, 26:46.7; 15. Clara Sensabaugh, Colony, 27:04.3; 16. Ellie Abrahamson, West Valley, 27:10.6; 17. Maya Tirpack, South, 27:19.0; 18. Madeleine Lojewski, Bettye Davis East, 27:20.1; 19. Kyndle LaRousse, Palmer, 27:23.0; 20. Isela Austin, Colony, 27:27.2

4X3K mixed relay

Boys overall

1. South 32:00.2; 2. Colony 32:13.1; 3. Service 32:43.4; 4. West Valley 33:28.9; 5. West 34:13.9; 6. Kenai Central 34:44.2; 7. Soldotna 35:24.2; 8. Dimond 36:28.7; 9. Homer 36:47.5; 10. Chugiak 38:51.6

Girls overall

1. South 38:35.5; 2. Service 38:50.7; 3. Colony 41:33.8; 4. West Valley 42:05.9; 5. Chugiak 43:01.2; 6. West 43:19.5; 7. Bettye Davis East 43:28.7; 8. Dimond 45:14.1; 9. Soldotna 45:38.8; 10. Kenai Central 46:19.1

• • •