www.alaskabookmarks.com - What's up in Alaska? News and interesting links from The Last Frontier

Conor McGregor vows to return after knee surgery stemming from injury at UFC 329

Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor announced Monday that he will undergo knee surgery following a devastating injury suffered just over a minute into his highly anticipated return at UFC 329, while vowing to compete again to fulfill his promotional obligations on his current UFC contract.The 37-year-old former two-division champion faced Max Holloway on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, marking his first appearance in the Octagon in five years. The bout was stopped just 69 seconds into the opening

Ingrid Andress to embark on ‘Nowhere Else to Go’ tour this fall

Four-time Grammy Award nominee Ingrid Andress will return to the road this fall with her newly announced Nowhere Else to Go Tour, a run of intimate headlining shows that coincides with the next chapter of her career and the buildup to her forthcoming third studio album. The eight-city trek will visit Boise, Salt Lake City, Denver, Fort Collins, Washington, D.C., New York, Boston and Philadelphia.The upcoming concerts will feature a full-band production while spotlighting new music expected to ap

Shania Twain teams with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme on ‘Faded Blue Jeans

Shania Twain has released her latest single, “Faded Blue Jeans,” a collaboration with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme that serves as the newest preview of her upcoming studio album, Little Miss Twain. The song follows previously released tracks including “Dirty Rosie” and “Little Miss Twain” featuring Tanya Tucker, dropping ahead of the album’s July 24 release.The ‘Faded Blue Jeans’ duet continues Twain’s exploration of the musical influences that shaped her early years.

Shania Twain teams with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme on ‘Faded Blue Jeans

Tesla shares video for “Never Alone” ahead of new album ‘Homage’

Veteran hard rock band Tesla has released “Never Alone,” the lone original track from its forthcoming album Homage, which arrives July 17 through Frontiers Music.Homage marks a return to the band’s roots. The Sacramento-based band said that the album is intended as a musical tribute to artists whose work helped shape Tesla’s sound. Alongside “Never Alone,” the collection features versions of songs made famous by Queen, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Bob Seger, Supertramp, James Brown, Lynyrd Skynyrd,

Madonna’s ‘Confessions II’ debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Madonna has added another milestone to her four-decade career as her new album, Confessions IIdebuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 – earning the legendary pop icon her 10th chart-topping album in the United States. According to Billboard data, the album opened with 134,000 equivalent album units during its first tracking week, marking the biggest week for a dance album in 2026 and Madonna’s strongest overall chart performance since Billboard adopted its current album-equivalent metho

See the video for Lola Young’s single “From Down Here”

Lola Young recently dropped her latest single titled “From Down Here,” a reflective, soul-leaning track co-written and co-produced with James Blake. The song was created shortly after the 2026 Grammys, where Young earned Best Pop Solo Performance for her breakout hit “Messy,” following a burst of post-show inspiration.“The day after the Grammys, I had a wave of inspiration hit me, so I got in the studio with the incredible James Blake and made this song,” Young says in a statement. &

Dunleavy administration backs 20,000-acre giveaway to AIDEA

With the clock running down on the Dunleavy administration, the state is rushing through a plan to give away 20,000 acres of state land near Houston to the Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority.Giving the land to AIDEA at no charge—a massive state subsidy—would make a proposed “multi-use industrial and energy development district” more likely to succeed, according to the Dunleavy analysis.There would be space for data centers, a logistics hub, advanced manufacturing pads, gravel p

To vote in Alaska’s primary elections, residents must register by July 19 — here’s how

An early voting site is seen on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, at the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)Alaska’s primary election just over a month away, and the deadline to register to vote in that election is Sunday July 19.Alaska’s primary election is Tuesday August 18, when voters will mark their ballots to choose among candidates for governor, legislators in the Alaska House and Senate, and representatives in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. A sample of the

Judge blasts Trump for using the presidency to ‘manipulate’ courts in IRS case

President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump “acted in bad faith” when he swiftly dropped his tax return lawsuit and directed his Cabinet members to establish a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, a federal judge in Florida ruled Monday.Federal Judge Kathleen Williams of the U.S. District C

Alaska LNG developers’ secrecy deserves scrutiny, not public subsidies

Matt Kissinger and Frank Richards of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. prepare to testify to the House Finance Committee on May 27, 2026, in Anchorage. Richards is AGDC's president and Kissinger is AGDC's venture development manager. The hearing was conducted as part of a special session called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Kissinger and Richards tesified in favor of property-tax concessions sought by Glenfarne, now the majority partner in the Alaska natural gas pipeline project. Dunleavy has argued

Alaska Democrats sue elections officials after they approved candidate who didn’t disclose finances

A summary sheet is seen during ballot review on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the headquarters of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)The Alaska Democratic Party is suing the Alaska Division of Elections, alleging that officials improperly approved a Republican candidate who failed to disclose his personal finances, as required by state law.The candidate in question is Jose Anthony Tagle, the lone challenger to Democratic incumbent Rep. Ted Eischeid in A

SC governor appoints Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister to fulfill his term

Darline Graham Nordone, center, accepted the appointment by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, right, at the Statehouse Monday, July 13, 2026, to serve out the remainder of the term of her late brother, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)COLUMBIA — Darline Graham Nordone will finish out the term of her older brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who adopted and raised her following their parents’ deaths.Gov. Henry McMaster’s appointment Monday come

Wasilla man fatally shot by Alaska Troopers after fleeing conviction for child sexual abuse

<p>58-year-old Phillip T. Phillips was found guilty of multiple sexual abuse of a minor charges </p>

Pink Salmon Showing Up In Small Numbers

Lena Bouchard & Avery Bugni fishing in Port ValdezVALDEZ, Alaska – The sea lions are starting to show up at the salmon hatchery in Valdez and that means that pink salmon are starting to arrive. The pink salmon are a bit late and Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) posted that the numbers of pink salmon returning is low for this time of year, and they expect to continue monitoring fish for cost recovery. Justin Prax of Prospector Outfitters said the first report he got of a pink s

South Carolina US Sen. Lindsey Graham dies after ‘brief and sudden illness’

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks as South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster looks on during a press conference in the governor’s office at the Statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina, on Aug. 9, 2022. (File photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham died on Saturday night of a “brief and sudden illness,” the South Carolina Republican’s office announced early Sunday.“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for

Alaskans can restore reasonable campaign finance limits in August

The August primary election ballot features a campaign finance initiative that will be approved overwhelmingly, but only if Alaskans are informed about it.There is no big ad campaign behind it, so it will be up to individuals and organizations to spread the word about Ballot Measure No. 1.The proposed limits are detailed below.I have my doubts that the value of Ballot Measure No. 1 will be understood with the endless election noise and distractions.Initiative sponsor Bruce Botelho, former Alaska

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy sets state record for most vetoes in a single Legislature

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks to reporters during a news conference on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)Amid a series of disagreements with lawmakers in the state House and Senate, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has set a record for the most vetoes by an Alaska governor during a single two-year Legislature.Through Friday morning, Dunleavy had vetoed 29 of the 115 bills passed by the 34th Alaska Legislature.The previous record, 25 vetoes, was held by Gov. Tony Knowles in th

Alaska Says Assisted Living, Dental and Care Claims Drove a $1.83M Medicaid Fraud Crackdown

Alaska fraud investigators charged 15 defendants in five Medicaid fraud cases involving about $1.83 million in alleged false ...

Alaska just lost 3 Dairy Queens in a single day — and nobody's explaining why

The popular ice cream chain Dairy Queen's franchisees have shuttered at least 46 locations nationwide since early 2025, with ...