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University of Kentucky Researchers Study Tick Ecology and Disease Transmission via Wild Mice

University of Kentucky Researchers Study Tick Ecology and Disease Transmission via Wild Mice

University of Kentucky (UK) research students, advised by Hannah Tiffin, Ph.D., assistant Extension professor of veterinary entomology, are conducting a study to gather baseline data on tick species, their host animals, and the impact of various land use types in Kentucky. The project, primarily funded by the UK Student Sustainability Council, focuses on the role of wild mice in tick life cycles. Mice are considered 'tick magnets' due to their abundance and ability to move ticks from wilder areas to human and livestock-interacting environments. They also harbor various pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. The research team employs multiple sampling methods, including tick dragging, trapping and checking wild mice, and utilizing artificial mouse nesting sites. Collected ticks are identified and sent to a lab to determine the presence of disease-causing pathogens.
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Representative Pete Stauber Co-Introduces Alaska's Right to Produce Act to Reverse Biden-Era Oil and Gas Regulations

Representative Pete Stauber Co-Introduces Alaska's Right to Produce Act to Reverse Biden-Era Oil and Gas Regulations

Representative Pete Stauber, a Republican from Minnesota, co-introduced the 'Alaska’s Right to Produce Act' with Representative Mary Peltola, a Democrat from Alaska. This legislation aimed to overturn several regulations implemented during the Biden administration that had restricted or canceled oil and gas leases in Alaska. The bill sought to reinstate canceled drilling leases in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and reverse lease restrictions in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). Despite co-introducing the bill, Representative Peltola later urged her House Democratic colleagues to vote against it, citing concerns about potential adverse effects on Indigenous communities and the Arctic Ocean environment. The bill ultimately passed in the Republican-controlled House but did not advance in the Senate.
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Two Armed Men Charged with Impersonating SWAT Officers at Sandy Beach in Juneau

Two Armed Men Charged with Impersonating SWAT Officers at Sandy Beach in Juneau

Adam Scott Murphy, 28, and Christopher Scott Johnson Jr., 21, have been charged with misdemeanor impersonation after allegedly handcuffing two individuals at Sandy Beach in Juneau, Alaska. The men were reportedly dressed in full SWAT-like tactical gear, including black tactical boots, pants, belts, plate carriers, balaclavas, and what appeared to be ballistic helmets. They were also carrying loaded Glock 40-caliber handguns, pepper spray, and handcuffs. Juneau Police Department officers responded to reports from witnesses who observed the suspicious detentions. Upon arrival, officers located Murphy and Johnson. The city attorney, Emily Wright, stated that the individuals who were 'arrested' might have been willing participants, suggesting the incident could have been a joke or play. The charges are currently based on the circumstances as they are being determined, and the case could be transferred to state prosecutors if more serious charges are deemed appropriate.
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How Do Chameleons Reproduce? The Answer Depends on the Species

How Do Chameleons Reproduce? The Answer Depends on the Species

While most chameleon species are oviparous, all species within the *Bradypodion* genus and many from the *Trioceros* genus are ovoviviparous. This ...
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Bering Strait Region to Host 2030 Inuit Circumpolar Council General Assembly in Nome, Alaska

Bering Strait Region to Host 2030 Inuit Circumpolar Council General Assembly in Nome, Alaska

Kawerak, Inc. and Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) will co-host the 2030 Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) General Assembly in Nome, Alaska. This significant event will bring together approximately 400 attendees, including official delegates, youth representatives, Elders, and observers from the ICC’s four member regions: Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka/Russia. The assembly serves as a crucial platform for the 72 delegates to discuss and vote on policy priorities concerning critical circumpolar issues such as food security, climate change, Arctic sovereignty, and language protection. ICC leadership will also be elected during the General Assembly. This marks the first time Nome has hosted the assembly since 1995.
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Driver Charged with DUI, Assault, and Reckless Driving After Crashing into Anchorage Church at High Speed

Driver Charged with DUI, Assault, and Reckless Driving After Crashing into Anchorage Church at High Speed

Wyatt Baker, 21, has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI), first-degree assault, and reckless driving following an incident where he crashed his truck into the Dimond Boulevard Gospel Hall in Anchorage, Alaska. According to police, Baker was driving at speeds up to 97 mph when he lost control of the vehicle. Charging documents indicate that Baker's blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit. The crash resulted in significant damage to the church's exterior. Both Baker and his passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries, though the passenger was initially presumed dead by officers due to the severity of their condition, with their head pinned between the truck's flat roof and bed. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the truck switching lanes rapidly before the crash. The State of Alaska, represented by Alex Hyatt, emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating it was 'a matter of luck that we are not here on homicide charges.'
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Alaska Gasline Development Corp. to Seek Funding for AKLNG Pipeline in 2027

Alaska Gasline Development Corp. to Seek Funding for AKLNG Pipeline in 2027

Alaska Gasline Development Corp. to Seek Funding for AKLNG Pipeline in 2027
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US Forest Service Faces Scrutiny Over Proposed Clearcutting of Old-Growth Forest in Tongass National Forest

US Forest Service Faces Scrutiny Over Proposed Clearcutting of Old-Growth Forest in Tongass National Forest

The U.S. Forest Service is facing criticism for its proposal to clearcut a 16.2-acre section of old-growth forest, known as Unit 346, on Prince of Wales Island within the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. This specific area is described as one of the last remaining intact old-growth groves on an island where 94% of such forests have already been logged since 1954. The proposed logging is part of a larger plan to cut 1,655 acres across northern Prince of Wales Island. Unit 346 is characterized by ancient spruces and cedars, some over 11 feet wide, with significant ecological value, including active bear and potentially wolf denning structures. Environmental advocates argue that the area's grandeur and ecological importance are comparable to national treasures like Sequoia or Redwood National Parks, making its destruction a significant loss. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project has concluded its public comment period, but new findings regarding the unique nature of Unit 346 are be...
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Alaska Governor's Race Shifts to 'Toss Up' Due to Republican Disunity and Ranked-Choice Voting

Alaska Governor's Race Shifts to 'Toss Up' Due to Republican Disunity and Ranked-Choice Voting

The election-forecasting website Sabato’s Crystal Ball has reclassified Alaska's gubernatorial race from 'Likely Republican' to 'Toss Up.' This significant shift occurred three days after the certification of the state’s primary election. The race now features Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins against Republicans Bernadette Wilson, Dave Bronson, and Candice English. A primary factor cited for this change is Alaska's ranked-choice ballot system, which many Republicans oppose. The Crystal Ball site suggests that 'ballot exhaustion,' where supporters of Republican candidates do not rank other candidates, threatens Republican chances. Additionally, the website notes that the top three primary vote-getters—Kreiss-Tomkins, Wilson, and Bronson—are not proven statewide contenders in a general election, and English is even less known. The last Democrat elected governor in Alaska was Tony Knowles in 1998.
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On This Day: Obama Became the First Sitting President to Visit the American Arctic

On This Day: Obama Became the First Sitting President to Visit the American Arctic

Kotzebue, Alaska, stands out not only as a significant cultural and economic center in the Arctic but also as a pioneering community in the realm o...
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Alaska Primary Election Results Suggest Continued Coalition Majorities in State Legislature for 2027

Alaska Primary Election Results Suggest Continued Coalition Majorities in State Legislature for 2027

Final results from Alaska's August primary election indicate a strong likelihood that existing coalition majorities in both the state House and Senate will continue into 2027, with potential for growth. Alaska is unique as the only U.S. state where both legislative chambers are controlled by coalitions comprising Democrats, independents, and Republicans, necessitating bipartisan negotiation. In the certified primary results, coalition-leaning candidates led in 24 of 40 state House races. The current House coalition includes 21 lawmakers. In the state Senate, where 10 of 20 seats are up for election, coalition members or inclined candidates are leading in seven races, with seven other coalition members not up for re-election this year. This trend suggests a continuation of the current legislative dynamics.
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Felix Gold Advances U.S. Antimony Supply Chain with Successful Ore Processing

Felix Gold Advances U.S. Antimony Supply Chain with Successful Ore Processing

Felix Gold, an ASX-listed explorer, has successfully processed ore from its Treasure Creek Antimony Project in Alaska into antimony metal at a pilot scale. This development supports the company's strategy to establish a dedicated U.S. antimony supply chain. The process employed by Felix Gold bypasses conventional grinding and flotation methods, simplifying the route from ore to metal. The company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Frontier Antimony Refinery, is being developed to convert U.S. ore into antimony metal within the United States. Felix Gold has also been selected to negotiate up to US$18 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, further bolstering its efforts to secure a domestic antimony supply. Executive Director Joe Webb highlighted the significance of this achievement, emphasizing the company's commitment to making metal without the need for a concentrator or flotation.