A small private aircraft has crashed near Willow, seriously injuring the pilot, who is believed to be Ramey Smyth, the well-known Iditarod Sled Dog racer.
The aircraft, an Aeronca 7AC Champion with tail number N84726, went down under unknown circumstances on or near a runway in the Willow area. The crash occurred during an unspecified phase of flight, and no other individuals were aboard, according to initial reports. The plane is registered to Smyth.
Smyth survived the crash but sustained injuries that included broken bones. No fatalities or other injuries were reported.
In his late 40s, Smyth was born and raised in Alaska and is the son of Iditarod mushers Bud Smyth, who raced in the first Iditarod and the late Lolly Medley who raced in the second Iditarod.
Smyth lives in Willow with his wife and family. He has raced the Iditarod 27 times placing in the top 10 a dozen times. He won the Kuskokwim 300 in 1995 and has raced in, and won, many other events throughout the state.
Smyth has said he began mushing “as soon as I could walk” and won the Jr. Iditarod twice before his first Iditarod in 1994.
He is a full time log home builder and owns and operates Smyth Logwork and Construction in Willow.
The extent of damage to the aircraft remains unknown. The National Transportation and Safety Board will likely open an investigation.
On Saturday, the Alaska Legislature met in special session and overrode two of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes. The first and most important of these was upholding the unaffordable, unsustainable increase in the foundation formula for public education next year: 45 votes to override were needed and 45 was what the majority caucuses got.
Analysis of the vote showed every single democrat voted for the unsustainable increase in public education funding. Every single Republican that chose to caucus with them also voted to override.
The 21-member House majority caucus(2 Republicans – Chuck Kopp and Louise Stutes) managed to pick up 7 additional Republicans for the override vote. These included Jeremy Bynum, Julie Coulombe, Bill Elam, David Nelson, Justin Ruffridge, Dan Saddler, and Will Stapp.
In the Senate, the 14-member Majority coalition(5 Republicans – Jesse Bjorkman, Cathy Giessel, Kelly Merrick, Bert Stedman, Gary Stevens) managed to pick up three additional Republicans for the override vote. These included Mike Cronk, James Kaufman and Rob Yundt.
Any single member of the newly formed Republican Override Caucus of 10 votes against the override and it fails to pass.
None of the members of the Republican Override Caucus demanded any accountability from public education for the additional money. Not a single one.
None of them demanded improvements from what is currently the 49th best performing school system in the entire nation. Not a single one.
All of them agreed to shovel more money into a failing system.
Congratulations, guys. You must be very proud.
If it were up to me, I would target all 10 of these putative Republicans for removal from office in the next election (2026 for all House members and few senators, 2028 for the rest). I would do the same thing for the seven Republicans that crossed over to caucus with democrats, handing them legislative power on a silver platter.
Finally, I would target every single democrat possible.
There are opportunities in 2026. First of these are openings in House District 5 (Louise Stutes, who is going to run to replace Gary Stevens (Senate District C). Much easier to pick up an open seat than to bounce an incumbent.
It is not all bad news, as legislative politics on the political left have scoped down to two related issues. The first is destruction of the Permanent Fund dividend. Second, is the growth of the foundation formula. Make that large enough, and there is no way it will ever be rolled back, gobbling up every penny of the PFD to pay for it now and in the future, not unlike like JB Pritzker at a pizza bar. A return to defined benefit pension retirements for government union members is the same idea. If they lock the new spending in, the PFD is gone forever.
Other legislatures in the Lower 48, particularly those in red states, are doing amazing, creative things for their citizens. Not here in Alaska, where the only two ideas are how to destroy the PFD and lock in additional spending to benefit public employee unions.
Oh joy.
Other than that, Alaska Democrats are much the same as Democrats in the Lower 48 — out of airspeed and ideas. You would think the rank-and-file union members with children would want something other for their kids than the current garbage masquerading as public education. Perhaps not, but I am forever hopeful.
Somewhere along the line, we are going to have to get off the dime in this state and our Legislature needs to do something other than figure out how to destroy the PFD.
In case you hadn’t noticed, the political world has changed for Alaska. Resource development is back. ANWR, NPR-A, Cook Inlet are all going to be drilling and producing. Offshore in the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea may not be far behind. Pebble is going to be dug. We may see a natural gas pipeline. The growth of fish farming internationally will continue to grind commfish into so much economic dust. Finally, the Trump administration is coming for the Homeless Industrial Complex so lovingly constructed here in Anchorage over the last decade.
We ought to be in position to take advantage of those changes and start growing the economy of this state rather than participating in increasingly bitter fights over a static to shrinking pie.
The combined Majority Caucuses in both the House and the Senate and the newly formed Republican Override Caucus have told us who and what they are.
It is up to us to listen to them, believe them, and do something about it. Should be a fun ride.
Alex Gimarc lives in Anchorage since retiring from the military in 1997. His interests include science and technology, environment, energy, economics, military affairs, fishing and disabilities policies. His weekly column “Interesting Items” is a summary of news stories with substantive Alaska-themed topics. He was a small business owner and Information Technology professional.
Santos has reached a critical milestone in its Pikka Phase 1 project on Alaska’s North Slope with the safe delivery of major processing modules to Oliktok Point, signaling measurable progress toward first oil production, which is anticipated in 2026.
The modules arrived in late July by barge after a complex and coordinated logistics effort that began at Canada’s Hay River Marine Terminal (see map). From there, the cargo traveled 1,086 miles along the Mackenzie River system to the Arctic community of Tuktoyaktuk, before completing the final 380-mile leg across the Beaufort Sea to Alaska.
Transit route of processing modules by barge from Hay River Marine Terminal to Oliktok, Alaska.
Additional processing modules are still en route from the Pacific Northwest and were expected to arrive soon. Meanwhile, a seawater treatment plant fabricated in Indonesia, was also towed to the site. Once all components are in place, they will be installed, integrated, and commissioned with existing infrastructure to support oil production.
Santos Managing Director and CEO Kevin Gallagher credited the company’s logistics and engineering teams for advancing the project on an accelerated timeline.
“Our highly capable team that delivered early completion of the pipeline in just two winter seasons, followed by a successful river-lift of key processing modules, has created the opportunity for early startup and production from Pikka,” Gallagher said.
Now nearly 90% complete, Pikka Phase 1 is currently drilling its 21st well. The project, located in the Nanushuk formation, is one of the most significant conventional oil discoveries in the US in three decades, with an estimated 400 million barrels of recoverable oil and a planned daily output of up to 80,000 barrels. That would be an over 20% increase in product to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, stemming the decline that has occurred over the past decades.
If you thought the trails and greenbelts around Anchorage were becoming overwhelmed with vagrant homesteaders, welcome to downtown Anchorage, where the views are breathtaking — if you can overlook the human sprawl and excrement on the sidewalks.
Once a hub of commerce and entertainment, the city’s core now resembles a set from a post-apocalyptic docuseries, complete with tents, tarps, and territorial disputes over electrical outlets — all under the overflowing flower baskets provided by the city.
In this exclusive photo series — part of our summer coverage of the new-normal under Mayor Suzanne LaFrance — we take you on a 12-hour tour of a downtown where flower baskets and vagrancy are the key features. But relief may be on the horizon, if you consider 24 government-built sheds to be constructed at Elmore Road and Tudor Road a solution. The question isn’t whether those sheds will be ready. It’s whether the downtown population is willing to trade prime park real estate for a “Crampground” compound far from their favorite haunts.
An encampment is popping up again at Town Square Park after the city cleaned it up.
Bird’s eye view of Town Square Park encampment on Tuesday evening, Aug. 5, as squatters settle in for the night. Borealis Broadband camera screenshot.
Municipal worker picks up litter from Town Square Park before 8 am on Aug. 6, 2025.
Brand new hat, brand new sleeping bag, brand new tent, and a snug spot on the Delaney Park Strip in downtown Anchorage on the evening of Aug. 5, 2025. Our previous coverage has featured similar brand-new tents, likely provided by non-profits with government funds.
Along the Historic City Hall property on 4th Ave. before 8 am on Aug. 6, 2025.
Sleeping it off at 5th Ave. and E Street on Wednesday morning, Aug. 6, 2025.
Watch where you step. Human waste is everywhere in downtown Anchorage. Wednesday morning, Aug. 6, 2025.
Wednesday morning, Aug. 6, 2025 in downtown Anchorage.
Our other coverage of Anchorage vagrancy includes what is happening in the greenbelts:
US Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s standing with Alaska voters has taken a serious hit, according to a new poll conducted by Alaska Survey Research from July 29 to August 1.
As she toys with the idea of running for governor, the poll shows a dramatic downturn in her favorability ratings, especially among moderate and progressive voters, once key components of her support base.
Murkowski’s overall favorable rating now stands at 33%, down 13 percentage points from April. Her unfavorable rating has risen to 60%, up 15 points over the same period. This marks a net favorability swing of negative 28 points, a steep decline in just four months.
Breakdown by Political Affiliation
Moderates: Murkowski’s net favorability among moderate voters dropped from +28 in April to +2, a 26-point fall.
Progressives: The decline was even more pronounced among progressives, where her net favorability plummeted from +54 to -21, a 75-point drop.
Conservatives: Her ratings among conservatives remain largely unchanged at -64, reflecting a long-standing dissatisfaction.
The erosion of support from progressives and moderates raises questions about Murkowski’s political future. Once seen as a centrist who could navigate Alaska’s unique political terrain, she now finds herself isolated from both the left and the right. At age 68, she has two years left in her Senate term. She will be 70 during her next campaign for Senate, but if she decides to run for governor, she’d be 70 during her first year of office. Either way, it’s a big decision.
Much of the recent liberal discontent may stem from Murkowski’s support of the Big Beautiful Bill, a federal package she voted for earlier this summer. While the bill included major infrastructure investments and energy provisions favorable to Alaska, it has drawn sharp criticism from her leftist base voters for what they view as concessions to industry and compromises on climate and social safety net funding.
These latest numbers may complicate that path to governor. With progressives now turning against her and no gains among conservatives, she appears to be politically adrift.
The senior senator has lost support from the very voters who once buoyed her through multiple election cycles, including her write-in campaign against Joe Miller and her campaign being behind the rigging of Alaska elections with ranked-choice voting, so she would not have to face a Republican primary. As political chatter grows around a possible gubernatorial bid, this data suggests that if Murkowski intends to mount any campaign, she’s in a world of hurt with the voters.
The Anchorage School District’s Office of Emergency Management announced it will begin a pilot program this winter that introduces portable metal detectors at select schools.
The initiative is the District’s effort to proactively address growing concerns over campus security. Officials emphasized that the use of the detectors is not intended as a disciplinary tool, but rather a preventative safety measure.
“This is a proactive approach to enhancing school safety,” the District stated in its announcement. “It is not a disciplinary measure, but one that supports the overall safety of our students and staff.”
During the pilot phase, three portable metal detector units will be deployed. Following the initial rollout, ASD plans to rotate the detectors across its campuses. The rotation will be conducted on a random basis, though officials noted that deployments may also occur in response to credible safety threats.
The metal detectors will not be permanent fixtures at any school. Instead, the District is opting for a mobile strategy that can adapt to varying safety needs across the school system.
Further details on how schools will be selected for the pilot and what procedures will be in place for screenings are expected to be shared with families before the rollout begins.
The FBI’s Anchorage Field Office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Esthepen Delossantos Pebenito, a fugitive wanted in connection with a 2019 methamphetamine distribution case in Anchorage.
Pebenito, who also goes by the names “Pepe” and “Stephen Pebenito,” was charged in federal court and a warrant for his arrest was issued on July 22, 2021, by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. He is wanted for the distribution of controlled substances and has remained at large for more than four years.
According to authorities, Pebenito has known ties to Anchorage, as well as to locations in Hawaii, California, Nevada, and the Philippines. He is described as approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, with black hair and tattoos on his abdomen and back.
The FBI warns that Pebenito should be considered armed and dangerous, and an escape risk.
The search for Pebenito is part of the FBI’s broader “Summer Heat” initiative, a national effort aimed at reducing violent crime during the summer months. The strategy involves intensified collaboration with state and local partners, the execution of federal warrants, and the targeting of violent offenders and gangs across the country.
Anyone with information about Pebenito’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
A wanted poster for Pebenito can be viewed at FBI.gov.
US Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska is taking a lead role in efforts to curb the influence of hostile foreign regimes on American higher education. The legislation he introduced earlier in the Senate, known as the Securing Academia from Foreign Entanglements (SAFE) Act, received new momentum today with companion legislation introduced in the US House by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.).
The SAFE Act targets financial entanglements between American universities and foreign countries of concern, prohibiting institutions of higher education from accepting gifts or entering into contracts with those nations. It also mandates greater transparency by requiring universities to disclose all financial ties to “covered nations” to the Department of Education, the FBI, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Sullivan has repeatedly raised alarms about how adversarial nations, notably China, use financial leverage to infiltrate American academic institutions, influence curricula, and compromise research integrity. His legislation aims to close longstanding loopholes in the Higher Education Act of 1965 that have allowed foreign funding to go largely unmonitored.
“Our universities are places of innovation, freedom, and thought leadership,” Sullivan said when introducing the Senate version. “They should never serve as entry points for adversaries seeking to exploit our openness.”
The bill specifically amends current federal law to ban universities from accepting funds or forming agreements with governments deemed a national security threat. It further empowers federal agencies to track and assess foreign influence through mandatory reporting of contracts and donations, actions that have previously gone underreported.
The House introduction by Steube strengthens the bill’s chances of moving forward in the 118th Congress. It comes amid growing bipartisan concern over China’s use of Confucius Institutes and other foreign-backed academic partnerships that critics say pose risks to both free expression and national security. University of Alaska Anchorage had a Confucius Institute established in 2008 in partnership with China’s Northeast Normal University, which focused on Chinese language and cultural education.
If enacted, the SAFE Act would tighten federal oversight over the financial pipelines between foreign governments and US universities.
Sullivan has been a vocal proponent of decoupling American institutions from foreign influence, and the SAFE Act is the latest example of his focus on safeguarding critical sectors — from academia to infrastructure — from external threats.
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor hasn’t officially declared his candidacy for governor, but his actions tell a different story.
On Monday night, Taylor held yet another gathering — this time in a private Wasilla hangar — with no broad public invitation, no official campaign sponsoring it, no host organization listed, no disclaimer made — and RSVP required via a phone number with no name attached.
It’s unclear what role the State of Alaska played in the event, but Taylor used his official title and his family assures us this was not a campaign event.
Yet it wasn’t just an appearance at a conference or symposium. Taylor was the main event at this meet-and-greet. And his topic wasn’t just law and order. Alaska’s top lawman was talking about oil and gas, including the Alaska LNG project. He was talking about Alaska’s economic future. He was talking about things Republican candidates talk about.
AG Taylor has being doing more appearances this year, and the pace of public talks are out of character for both Taylor and for his attorney general predecessors, who generally have kept a low profile.
AG Treg Taylor at the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, where he was the featured speaker July 9, 2025.
The events appear to be strategic pre-campaign opportunities intended to raise Taylor’ profile’s name ID among the donor class. As an attorney and Alaska’s top law officer, Taylor knows just how far he can go legally without breaking the law, but his actions give the appearance of someone laying the groundwork for a campaign, and doing so while holding a sworn office.
A little digging revealed that the RSVP phone number for the Wasilla event traces back to a now-dissolved company, Precision Exploration, linked in Dun & Bradstreet to Dmitry Kudryn, who has a fraud conviction on his record. Must Read Alaska found the press release from the Department of Justice describing his conviction, and writer Craig Medred wrote about Kudryn in this expansive column in 2019:
The sentencing announcement from the US Department of Justice supports what writer Medred described:
Must Read Alaska also found Dmitry Kudryn is a major donor to Republican candidates. In 2022 he donated $10,000 to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s reelection campaign, and he has donated at least $2,500 to Wasilla Sen. Rob Yundt’s campaigns. His political donation record goes back years. His federal contributions to the Donald Trump campaign are impressive:
Screenshot
Thus, Dmitry Kudryn is likely political donor for upcoming statewide elections.
More documentation is below about now-dissolved Precision Exploration.
Screenshot Dun & Bradstreet
Vitaly Kudryn, who is the only name listed in the state records for Precision Exploration, is Dmitry’s brother and doesn’t appear to have any of the troubling court records that Dmitry has. The brothers are Ukrainian-Americans also associated with other businesses in Alaska, such as Crave LLC, which sold electronic accessories, iPhone/iPad cords, external charging batteries, decorative iPhone cases and other related items. That company is currently out of compliance at the Department of Commerce, according to state records.
But the main question remains: Since Monday’s event is one in a series of profile-building events Taylor has had in recent weeks, is AG Taylor running a stealth campaign already, without declaring that he is a candidate for governor?
Other Republicans who are declared candidates include Sen. Shelley Hughes, former Sen. Click Bishop, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, political activist Bernadette Wilson, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, Dr. Matt Heilala, and former Angoon City Council member James Parkin. All are Republican. In addition, Commissioner of Revenue Adam Crum’s last day is Aug. 8, and he is expected to announce for governor shortly thereafter.
