Col. Russell Vander Lugt, who holds a Ph.D in Arctic and Northern history from UAF, now leads the 11th Airborne Division’s Arctic Aviation Command at Fort Wainwright.

Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans developed illnesses from exposure to Agent Orange, an herbicide used to remove dense tree cover during the war.

Alaska smokejumpers are working to control two small fires in the Yukon Training Area about nine miles northeast of Eielson Air Force Base.

Trump recently said the ceasefire with Iran is “on life support,” and thousands of U.S. troops who deployed to the region remain there.

Supporters are doubtful it’ll pass this year, but they’re hoping to generate more conversation about how the program could help Alaska veterans.

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Wing now has a dozen aerial-refueling planes, after four more of the tankers arrived at Eielson Air Force Base earlier this month. [Apr1]. And as KUAC’s Tim Ellis reports, the Air Force also plans to assign an additional 200 active-duty servicemembers to the base.

Critics say the law adds new hurdles to a program that food-insecure veterans depend on.

The Army has quietly scrapped a plan to replace Fort Wainwright’s old coal-fired heat and power plant. Army officials decided in 2022 to replace the nearly 70-year-old facility. But they terminated that plan six months ago to comply with an executive order issued last year by President Donald Trump.

U.S. and allied military service members have begun the second week of a major training exercise in Alaska. The exercise, called Arctic Edge 2026, focuses on training for drone and missile attacks on military installations and key infrastructure. This year’s exercise will extend into Greenland.

UPDATED: The North American Aerospace Defense Command said today that U.S. aircraft intercepted a total of eight Russian military planes Thursday that were flying through international airspace off the western coast of Alaska.