“The limit cannot be ignored.” - Chris Magerkurth, a former engineering specialist with Cessna, reflecting on the minimum speed certain planes can fly in icing conditions for deicing systems to work after a deadly crash in Nome.
The Alaska House of Representatives is seen on Friday, July 31, 2026, during a technical sesison. (James Brooks photo/Alaska Beacon)
By James Brooks
The Alaska Legislature ended the first week of its third special session on the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline with no action.
The session is for lawmakers to consider a property tax break to incentivize the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline, but Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who called the session and set the agenda, has yet to propose legislation for lawmakers to work on.
The empennage, or the tail of the plane, during post-recovery examination of flight 445 in Nome. (NTSB photo)
By Colleen Mondor
The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday released the final report for the February 6, 2025, accident involving Bering Air flight 445 that killed all 10 people on board.
While the NTSB’s report identifies airspeed and load issues as the main causes of the crash, the Alaska aviation community is still reeling over how it could have happened with such a well-trained pilot from a company with an excellent safety record.
Clockwise from top: Dollie Martin, Desiree John, Nellie Manchuak and Lydia Tucker pause for a portrait while repairing a home in Kwigillingok, Alaska, on June 19, 2026. (Katie Baldwin Basile for Northern Journal)
By Katie Baldwin Basile, Northern Journal
This is the second in a series from Bethel-based photojournalist Katie Baldwin Basile that looks at the Western Alaskans whose lives were changed by the storm disaster.
A black rockfish. Though females can live up to 60 years, few older than 30 years are found off the Oregon Coast today. (Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)
By Alex Baumhardt
Off the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, Canada and Alaska, three species of female rockfish have largely disappeared in the last 40 years.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife scientists hope to learn why when they board an Oregon State University trawler Aug. 1 for two weeks — including a two-day journey westward across 322 miles of ocean — to the Cobb Seamount and the edge of the North Pacific Gyre to search for the old females.
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