“It’s getting harder to make our voice heard and protect our right to live off the land and the sea, but if Izembek is safe, that will help.” - Chief Edgar Tall Sr. of the Native Village of Hooper Bay, one of the tribal governments that sued to overturn a land trade intended to enable a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Supporters of various candidates are gathered on the afternoon of Aug. 18, 2026, at the busy intersection of Northern Lights Boulevard and the Seward Highway. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
By James Brooks
The gap between the fifth and sixth-place finishers in Alaska’s 17-way governor race closed to fewer than 300 votes on Thursday as the Alaska Division of Elections published more results from Tuesday’s primary election.
As of noon Thursday, fifth-place finisher Treg Taylor had 9,775 votes and sixth-place finisher Click Bishop had 9,489.
Pacific black brant fly above Izembek Lagoon at Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 27, 2013. (Photo by Kristine Sowl/U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service)
By Yereth Rosen
A federal judge has overturned the land exchange intended to enable the state to build a controversial road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, possibly halting plans for construction to start in the coming weeks.
A veteran waves from a housing unit built exclusively for veterans by an Utah-based nonprofit. (Photo Courtesy of USA Project Valor)
By Robbie Sequeira, Stateline
Veteran homelessness dipped slightly from 2024 to 2025, according to the latest results from the January 2025 point-in-time count.
Twenty-five states recorded increases in veteran homelessness from 2024 to 2025, and 23 recorded decreases. Just two states — Alaska and Massachusetts — saw no change.
COMMENTARY
By Bill Sherwonit
I encountered many other wonders during my days in that Arctic wilderness, but the juxtaposition of springtails and Trump—or more accurately, “no Trump”—reveal, as much as anything I experienced, the marvelous nature of the real world we humans inhabit and are truly part of: the wild, wild Earth.
Do you have questions for candidates?
We'll ask.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Want to do something about climate change? Talk about it | High Country News
In Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, it’s Sullivan and Peltola in front, and House also shows no surprises | James Brooks and Corinne Smith
Thanks for reading The Morning Light. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.