News

ALGAL HOTBEDS— The map shows algal cyst hotbeds off the northwest Alaska coast.

Harmful algal blooms more frequent in northwest Alaska

By Julia Lerner Warming sea waters are contributing to a massive growth of harmful and toxic algal blooms in the waters of the Bering Sea, putting both marine animals and human lives at risk,...

OATH OF OFFICE— City Clerk Bryant Hammond swears in new Nome Common Council member Scot Henderson, during the regular Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 11.

New member sworn in to serve on Nome Common Council

By Diana Haecker During Monday’s regular meeting, the Nome Common Council swiftly moved through a light agenda without any action items. The main action consisted of swearing in new council member...

Nomeite Lew Tobin, left, discusses a map proposal with Redistricting Board member Budd Simpson, during Monday’s public meeting at Old St. Joe’s.

Redistricting board seeks public comment in Nome

By Julia Lerner Members of Alaska’s redistricting board visited Nome on Monday to hear public testimony regarding their six proposed district maps. “The redistricting board is travelling around the...

Nome mourns first COVID-19 death, case numbers continue to rise

By Julia Lerner More than a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, Nome has seen the first COVID-related death last week. On Wednesday morning, a Nome resident died of COVID-19. The individual...

RESEARCH VESSEL— The research vessel Sikuliaq sits at the Westgold Dock at the Port of Nome on October 5.

Sikuliaq wraps up weeks of Arctic Ocean research

FAIRBANKS (UAF)—A science cruise led by a University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher to investigate the origin of the Arctic Ocean’s Amerasia Basin has come to an end, with the research vessel...

COVID case numbers rise, DHSS activates crisis standards of care

By Julia Lerner As hospitals across the state continue to ration care and turn away patients, COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Nome, Norton Sound and the Bering Strait region. The Norton Sound...

Municipal election results

By Diana Haecker Only 11 minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m., City Clerk Bryant Hammond had preliminary results ready in a largely uncontested municipal election. On Thursday...

YOUNG AVIATOR— Zara Rutherford, 19, of Belgium landed in Nome on Thursday, Oct. 30 in her ultralight aircraft, trying to set a world record as the youngest person to fly around the world solo.

Teenager stops in Nome in attempt to fly solo around the world

By Julia Lerner Nineteen-year-old Zara Rutherford landed her two-seat plane at Nome’s City Field on Friday afternoon as part of her attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Her goal: to be the...

Council extends Emergency Ordinance until January 2022

By Diana Haecker In their regular meeting on Monday, the Nome Common Council unanimously voted to extend an emergency ordinance until January 2022. This marked the second reading of the ordinance,...

COVID cases increase to 72 in the region

By Julia Lerner The state of Alaska sees record-breaking numbers of new COVID-19 cases every day, and the Nome, Norton Sound and Bering Strait region is not immune against the trend. Cases continue...