Sexual Assault Resolution Leaves Out Rape Kits, But NPD Says They’ll All Be Tested

Nome City Council removed mention of rape kits from the Resolution in Support of Justice for Alaska Native Victims of Sexual Assault and Other Violent Crimes. The Chief of Police says new state funding will enable all kits to be tested.

Seabirds Washing Up Dead; Scientists Investigating

For the second year in a row, dead seabirds are washing up on beaches throughout the region by the hundreds. The birds appear to be starving, but scientists say the story is more complicated and could be connected to warming seas.

Story49: Delbert Pungowiyi

When Delbert Pungowiyi was a young man in Savoonga, they had “nine months of winter.” This year, ice barely reached the island. In this two-part series, Delbert shares his memories of growing up on St. Lawrence Island and how he became a fierce voice for his community in a time of great change.

Nome Port Commission Seeks Funding for Incinerator, Discusses Fuel Dispersants, Wave Buoy

The incinerator would handle waste from foreign ships — but the Port needs to find a way to pay for it. A new wave buoy will arrive in early July, providing real-time data.

Citizens Seek to Save Leonhard Seppala’s House, and Legacy, in Nome

It’s a small, nondescript wooden building with chipping blue paint and a boarded-up door. But some say it’s a key part of Nome’s heritage, and a new effort is underway to keep it from being demolished.

Story49: The Kobuk Comes to Ambler

The village of Ambler, 45 miles above the Arctic Circle, is the main stop on the Kobuk 440 dogsled race. Volunteers at the checkpoint say it takes the whole village to make it happen.

Nome Port Commission Discusses Coast Guard’s Gold Dredge Regulations

Gold miners hoping for a radical change to regulations may be disappointed by the conversation from last week’s meeting of the Nome Port Commission.

Nome Citizens Seek Reform, Citing ‘Deficiencies in Public Safety’ for Alaska Natives

A group of citizens in Nome is calling for change in the handling of sexual assault cases — and the City Council says it’s listening.

Cleanup Continues for Fuel Spills in Savoonga and Nome

An unknown volume of diesel fuel has spilled in Savoonga, and Nome has seen several leaks in recent weeks. Some of these spills are likely connected to extra snow this winter.

Nic Petit First to Ambler

The sun was just creeping over Bornite Mountain when Nicolas Petit rode into Ambler in first position. It’s the third checkpoint in the Kobuk 440 and where mushers tend to take longer rests.