Alaska
Peltola flips script on long-running congressional drama over Arctic drilling
Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office building, across the street from the Capitol, has been the venue for many prior congressional clashes over oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic. But on a recent visit, Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola flipped the script in the decades-old debate.
At issue in Wednesday’s hearing was a bill called Alaska’s Right to Produce Act.
In the role of Democrat opposed to Arctic drilling: New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“In the Arctic (National Wildlife) Refuge in Northeast Alaska, fossil fuel development is a looming threat to the Gwich’in people,” she said in her opening remarks to a House Resources subcommittee, echoing the words of many Democrats before her. “Their way of life depends on the survival of the caribou herd that reproduces in the region.”
The bill, supported by all three members of Alaska’s congressional delegation, aims to undo the Biden administration’s Arctic conservation efforts. It would nullify proposed protection on 13 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, though it would leave the approval of ConocoPhillips’ Willow project intact. The bill would also reinstate oil leases in ANWR.
As in hearings of yore, Republicans argued that shutting down domestic oil production would benefit autocratic regimes. Among those making this case, Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana.
“You know who’s profiting?” Graves said, nearly yelling. “Iran … Venezuela. Not to mention both countries have higher emissions than those from the exact same volumes or barrels of energy coming out of the United States.”
And, not for the first time, witnesses came from the North Slope to make a very personal case about how oil development improved their lives.
Doreen Leavitt, representing the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, said without local taxes on oil industry infrastructure, essential services in Alaska’s most northern borough would wither.
“We fund our own schools, search and rescue, ambulance, hospital, clinics in every single village – we won’t be able to sustain that,” she testified.
The late Alaska Congressman Don Young used to relish these hearings. He’d holler at Democrats and tell whoever was testifying on behalf of national environmental groups that they didn’t know a darn thing about Alaska.
But Congresswoman Peltola is in Young’s role now. She’s carried many of Young’s signature issues, including support for Arctic drilling. But her style is vastly different. Even though she’s a sponsor of this pro-development bill, she made no speeches in favor of it and she didn’t yell. She was elected with substantial support from people on both sides of this issue. She took an expressly even-handed, non-confrontational approach to questioning witnesses.
“’I’d love to hear from each of you on how we can do a better job as Alaskans, making sure that industry, Native people and environmental folks can collaborate and work together,” she said when it was her turn to ask questions. “And that’s the only way we’re going to get anywhere.”
Time ran out before each witness could answer. But the witness for the environmental groups did have a chance to weigh in, and he brought a new perspective to the hearing, too. Karlin Itchoak, state director for The Wilderness Society, made it clear he’s not new to the Arctic.
“My grandfather and grandmother, Wilber and Cora Itchuagaq, are from the Colville River,” he testified. “My father, Tommy Itchuagaq, was from Utqiagvik. I was born and raised in Nome. I’ve been going back to the Arctic every year for many years.”
Itchoak reckons he may be the only member of the conservation community who has harpooned a whale. He said the ecology of the region needs to be safeguarded for future generations.
“There’s never going to be another place like the Arctic,” he said. “And the way we’re moving forward with the exacerbation of the climate crisis, we’re not going to have the Arctic for much longer.”
The bill has a good chance of passing the Republican-led House. Democratic leadership in the Senate is highly unlikely to bring it up for a vote.
Alaska
Alaska Airlines faces heat after UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov gets removed from flight: 'Shame on you'
Alaska Airlines is getting called out on social media after a clip surfaced showing a famous UFC fighter get into a dispute on-board until he was escorted off his flight. The video shows Russian hall of fame athlete Khabib Nurmgomedov debating airline staff in the U.S. while he was sitting in the exit row on the plane.
The video of the incident, which reportedly took place at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Saturday, shows an employee telling the 36-year-old mixed martial artist he either has to switch seats or get off the plane. “They’re not comfortable with you sitting in the exit row,” the worker added.
“It’s not fair,” said Nurmgomedov, who was reportedly flying to Los Angeles, to which the worker replied, “It is fair. Yes, it is.”
Nurmgomedov explained that when he was checking in for the flight, he was asked he if knew English, to which he said he did. The airline worker responded, “I understand that, but it’s also off of their judgement. I’m not going to do this back-and-forth. I will call a supervisor.”
The employee reiterated the athlete could either take a different seat on the plane, or staff could “go ahead and escort” him off the flight. She asked “which one are we doing?” and then replied to Nurmgomedov saying they were going to have to rebook him on a different flight.
Across social media, people have been calling out Alaska Airlines asking why they had him removed from the plane. Many called for others to boycott the airline, and some claimed the staff were profiling Nurmgomedov, who is Muslim.
“Why did you remove Khabib from your plane? His fans need to know! I hope he sues you,” an Instagram user wrote on the airline’s most recent post.
“Are you aware of who Khabib is? His legacy surpasses that of the entire airline,” another chimed in.
“Shame on you, Alaska Airline. We all boycotting them,” a TikTok user added.
“What is the reason!? Because they don’t feel comfortable he’s sitting by a window?” another questioned.
Neither Nurmgomedov or Alaska Airlines have yet commented on the situation.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – With a storm approaching and high winds in the forecast for a portion of Southcentral Alaska, experts recommend preparing for potential power outages and taking safety precautions.
Experts with the State of Alaska, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management recommended taking the initiative early in case of power outages due to strong weather.
Julie Hasquet with Chugach Electric in Anchorage said Saturday the utility company has 24/7 operators in case of outages.
“We watch the weather forecast, and absolutely, if there are power outages, we will send crews out into the field to respond,” Hasquet said.
She echoed others, saying it’s best to prepare prior to a storm and not need supplies rather than the other way around.
“With the winds that are forecast for tonight and perhaps into Sunday, people should just be ready that it could be some challenging times, and to be aware and cautious and kind of have your radar up,” Hasquet said.
For the latest weather updates and alerts, download the Alaska’s Weather Source app.
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Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – More than 100 music professionals and music makers from Anchorage and across the state signed up to visit ‘The Nave’ in Spenard on Saturday for the annual Alaska Music Summit.
Organized by MusicAlaska and the Alaska Independent Musicians Initiative, the event began at 10 a.m. and invited anyone with interest or involvement in the music industry.
“The musicians did the work, right,” Marian Call, MusicAlaska program director said. “The DJ’s who are getting people out, the music teachers working at home who have tons of students a week for $80 an hour, that is real activity, real economic activity and real cultural activity that makes Alaska what it is.”
Many of the attendees on Saturday were not just musicians but venue owners, audio engineers, promoters and more, hence why organizers prefer to use the term “music makers.”
The theme for the summit was “Level Up Together” a focus on upgrading professionalism within the musicmaking space. Topics included things like studio production, promotion, stagecraft, music education policy.
“We’re kind of invisible if we don’t stand up for ourselves and say, ‘Hey, we’re doing amazing stuff,‘” Call said.
On Sunday, participants in the summit will be holding “office hours” at the Organic Oasis in Spenard. It is a time for music professionals to network, ask questions and share ideas on music and music making.
“You could add us to the list of Alaskan cultural pride,” Call said. “You could add us to your conception of being Alaskan. That being Alaskan means you wear Carhartts, and you have the great earrings by the local artisan, and you know how to do the hand geography and also you listen to Alaskan music proudly.”
The event runs through Sunday and will also be hosted in February in Juneau and Fairbanks.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.
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