Western Alaska just had the toastiest May on record

This year, Western Alaska had its warmest May on record. It was the fourth warmest May for the state as a whole. Certain conditions aren’t as blistering as last year, but maintain the recent trend of a warming Arctic.
three white quonset huts sit on a dirt road

Donlin Gold slowly restarts drilling program

Donlin Gold has announced plans to restart its drilling program as the state loosens coronavirus health mandates and travel restrictions.

BP Alaska is donating the code for a new online program to track workers’ health

The oil and gas company says it wanted to create a new way to keep tabs on employees’ temperatures and any symptoms that could be consistent with the coronavirus, so it partnered with Resource Data to create a digital hub.
A large cruise ship with a white cabin and a blue hull

What’s the air quality like in Southeast Alaska without cruise ships? Scientists hope to find out this summer

Scientists don't have any baseline data to determine the effects cruise ships have on air quality. With the cancellation of cruise ships in Southeast Alaska this year, scientists will finally be able to get that information.
pipeline

Alyeska ends its cut to North Slope oil production as demand improves

Storage concerns had driven the company to cut oil flow down the trans-Alaska pipeline by as much as 15% earlier this month.
A treed flat area

State agency opens review of Donlin Gold’s pipeline right-of-way

Despite an appeal by mine opponents, the state says it will move ahead with a review.

Environmental watchdogs are raising alarms over Pebble and other projects. But is anyone listening?

A Pebble Mine foe found a video she thought would make headlines. It didn't.

Trans-Alaska pipeline operator increases oil flow, demand creeps back

Demand for oil is starting to creep back as the economy reopens, and oil producers globally have made major cutbacks to production.

Marine heatwaves will cripple salmon, cod and pollock at twice the rate previously predicted, study says

Slight rises in sea temperatures can cause dramatic collapses in the reproduction of some fish and patches of warm water in the Gulf of Alaska can have particularly severe affects for important fish stocks.

Y-K Delta tribes protest Donlin Gold in letter to mining company Novagold

In the letter, ten tribes ask investors to withdraw their support of the project, which they say doesn't have support of the region.

Using space-based radar, researchers develop new method for measuring Arctic lake methane emissions

Methane, which can trap 30 times more heat than carbon dioxide and contribute to global warming, has been hard to study in the Arctic.

Carnival Cruise Line cancels all Alaska 2020 sailings

The news brings the estimated loss of 2020 passengers to about 70% of what was expected.

There are new health rules for fishermen arriving in Bristol Bay, but critics say there are loopholes

The president of the regional health corporation and local tribes say the Dunleavy administration's plan is unrealistic considering the realities of the looming commercial fishing season.

After a warmer than normal April, Utqiagvik sees first record low temperature in over a decade

On Wednesday morning, temperatures in the North Slope hub community of Utqiagvik reached 20 degrees below zero, a record low for April 29th.

‘The first glance at what’s coming’: Oilfield service companies alert state of more than 250 layoffs

Across the country, companies that provide oilfield services and equipment are cutting jobs and bracing for bankruptcy as the pandemic launches the oil and gas industry into a tailspin.

With Asian economy back on its feet, Alaskan geoduck clam fishery set to reopen

But there's a worry about low prices and the reduction of flights to Asia, meaning the clams might not make it to market as fresh as they could.

BP says sale to Hilcorp is still on, but under revised terms

The oil and gas giant says it expects the deal to close in June.
Boats in a sweeping bend in a river

Dunleavy issues mandates for fishery workers as concern from Bristol Bay officials escalates

Workers will have to wear masks when traveling to Bristol Bay and quarantine themselves for two weeks immediately on arrival.

‘Putting the company almost on life support’: Cruise ship cuts devastate Alaska tourism

Alaska had planned for a record-number of cruise ship passengers this year. Then came the pandemic. Now, across cruise lines, at least 360 sailings to Alaska have been called off so far.
A pipeline stretching toward a sunset

Oil prices fell to a historic low Monday. Here’s what that means for Alaska.

While crude prices have continued to plummet in recent weeks, and oil companies have announced spending cuts, Monday’s price meltdown was particularly staggering.