When it comes to the drugs industry, Britain is suffering withdrawal symptoms.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Month: September 2025
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Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to a commission established by the United Nations.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Ukraine’s president has a very clear message for Donald Trump – you alone have the power to stop Vladimir Putin, and the time to act is now.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a “clear position” from Donald Trump on a sanctions package for Russia and security guarantees for Ukraine to stop Vladimir Putin and end the war.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
NOTN- Officials issued a flood warning today for the Mendenhall Lake and River after gauges showed that Suicide basin had begun releasing water.
The National Weather Service said flooding is imminent or already occurring near the glacier visitor center, Mendenhall Campground, Skaters Cabin Road, View Drive and possibly downstream of the Back Loop bridge. The warning remains in effect until around 8:00 am to 12:00 pm tomorrow.
Officials from the National Weather Service in Juneau said in an interview that the flood is expected to crest at around 11.5 to 11.9 feet, it’s not expected to be on the same scale as the flood that struck in August.
“This one’s going to come out significantly lower,” said Jeff Garmon with National Weather Service Juneau, “That doesn’t mean there won’t be impacts, but it’s not the same situation we were facing in August.”
Garmon advised residents to monitor updates from the City and Borough of Juneau for any evacuation guidance but said no immediate evacuations were being recommended.
He added that forecasters are continuing to refine projections as new data becomes available.
“We’re working with CBJ right now. We’ll have more information going out on social media.” He said.
This story has been updated as of Tuesday morning to reflect the National Weather Service had warned water from Suicide Basin could crest near 12 feet overnight, but the river actually peaked lower about 9.6 feet around 7:30 p.m. Monday, just shy of the moderate flood stage.
The Flood Warning for the Mendenhall Lake and River has since been cancelled. Levels have been steadily dropping and were already below minor flood stage by 10 p.m.
NOTN- Capital City Fire Rescue Chief Rich Etheridge will retire this fall after more than 15 years leading the department and 34 years in public service.
Etheridge told News of the North the time felt right to “hang up the helmet and put away the ax.”
“It’s just been a roller coaster of a ride,” Etheridge said. “I’ve got to do some amazing stuff, work with some fantastic people, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, and it’s always a new challenge. Prior to this, I used to get bored of jobs after just a couple of years. But every day is something different, something new. there’s challenges at every turn, so it’s been fun. If you like problem solving, it’s definitely a good career.”
Etheridge said he plans to remain in Juneau, spending more time with family and focusing on his woodworking business, Fairweather Woodworks, which started as a hobby for stress relief.
“It went from doing a lot of stuff for friends and neighbors to Hey, can you make this for me?” Etheridge said, “It’s just kind of naturally started growing, and so I’ll probably be doing that a little more full-time in retirement.”
Assistant Chief Sam Russell praised Etheridge’s leadership, saying the chief’s guidance made it easy for others to do their jobs.
“He’s fantastic to work with,” Russell said. “He’s always sort of looking forward to the next thing that needs to be done, and then lets us go to work trying to solve the problems.”
By: James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
A panel of state lawmakers voted 9-2 on Wednesday to approve spending up to $100,000 on a lawsuit against Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
The lawsuit, if filed, would challenge the governor’s decision to press ahead with plans to create a cabinet-level Alaska Department of Agriculture via executive order.
The governor issued an executive order in January, but lawmakers rejected it in a 32-28 vote in March, saying they preferred to create it through legislation instead. Creating the department through legislation, legislative leaders said, would allow lawmakers to debate and structure the department how they wish, instead of relying on the governor’s plans alone.
Dunleavy disagrees with that approach and in August filed a new executive order during a 30-day special session.
The leaders of the House and Senate refused to accept the filing, saying that it was not within the governor’s power to issue an executive order during a special session, or to reintroduce an already-rejected order.
The governor’s office has said that lawmakers’ failure to vote down the new order means that it will take effect and allow the executive branch to create the cabinet-level department at the start of 2026.
Why does the Legislature’s failure to vote on the executive order matter?
Article III, section 23 of the Alaska Constitution says that executive orders automatically take effect “unless disapproved by resolution concurred in by a majority of the members in joint session.”
The question that could be decided in court is whether lawmakers need to take that vote if an order is issued during a special session. Is issuing an order in a special session even legal? And does it matter if the order is identical to one that’s already been issued and voted upon?
Under Article III, section 23 of the Alaska Constitution, the “legislature shall have sixty days of a regular session, or a full session if of shorter duration, to disapprove” executive orders that would make a change to the functions of the executive branch.
For almost two hours on Wednesday, members of the joint House-Senate Legislative Council — a committee that makes decisions for the Legislature when it is out of session — heard about the dispute behind closed doors, then debated it briefly in open session before voting.
“It’s a disagreement between the Legislature and the governor about whether or not the governor has the authority under the Alaska Constitution to introduce an executive order during a special session,” said Emily Nauman, director of Legislative Legal Services, the legal department for Alaska’s legislative branch.
Because the House and Senate’s presiding officers returned the order to the governor without taking action, “the governor is asserting that he will give effect to the executive order because it was not specifically rejected or disapproved by the legislature, thus causing a conflict in the interpretation of the Constitution between the Legislature and executive branch.”
Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, voted in favor of authorizing the Legislature to prepare and, if necessary, file a pre-emptive lawsuit to keep the governor from enacting the executive order.
“It’s just a question, to me, of, we said, ‘No. Don’t you understand what no means?’”
Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, also voted in favor of moving forward with a lawsuit. He said that while there is still time for the governor to back away from his position, “I really see it as our prerogative to protect ourselves procedurally, and for us to do that, I believe we need to file litigation.”
The two votes against Wednesday’s proposal came from Reps. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, and Mike Prax, R-North Pole.
Prax said he feels as if it could set a precedent that could allow lawmakers to disapprove of a future governor’s actions in a “more urgent” situation by simply not taking action.
“We would establish a precedent that the Legislature can do something by doing nothing, and that just does not seem like a very good practice to have established for any organization,” Prax said.
Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, said he doesn’t think that’s a correct interpretation of the lawsuit.
“With great respect to Representative Prax, no one is asserting here that the Legislature may act by inaction. What is before us is the question of whether the second shot at an executive order came in a way that the Constitution allows. I am convinced it did not.”
Kopp said he believes the governor may be prepared to change course on his executive action, and he’s reluctant to approve a lawsuit unless the governor attempts to take action and actually create the department.
“I would like to see us not initiate this until there’s some overt action by the administration that clearly indicates their intent to move unilaterally on this issue outside of the legislative process,” he said.
As of Friday, there was no estimate as to when a lawsuit might be filed.
Under the Alaska Constitution, the executive branch may not sue the legislative branch. Lawsuits by the Legislature against the governor are rare; this would be the fourth against Dunleavy during his two terms in office beginning in 2018.
In 2019, lawmakers sued the governor over a school funding issue. The governor won that case in the Alaska Supreme Court. The following year, legislators sued Dunleavy over their failure to consider some of his appointees during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. The Alaska Supreme Court again ruled in Dunleavy’s favor.
In 2022, lawmakers filed a ‘friendly’ lawsuit against the governor in a dispute over the proper handling of oil and gas tax settlements. That dispute, which dates to the administration of Gov. Bill Walker, has yet to be decided by the Alaska Supreme Court.
By: Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
The U.S. Department of Education has terminated grant funding for universities’ Alaska Native and Native-Hawaiian-serving programs and support services, an act that University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Mike Sfraga said “will have a substantial and negative impact on a large number of Alaskans, including our Alaska Native students.”
Sfraga announced the federal decision in a campus-wide email on Thursday.
Sfraga said the funding cut for UAF is estimated at $2.9 million, and the full effects are still under review. More than 20%, or an estimated 1,450 students at UAF are Indigenous, Sfraga noted.
The full extent of the grant funding freeze across the University of Alaska system is still being analyzed, said Jonathon Taylor, UA director of public affairs, by email on Friday.
UA President Pat Pitney said in an emailed statement on Friday that the university will continue to create a welcoming environment for all students.
“We are evaluating the impact these changes will have on our services to Alaska Native students, and are communicating directly with students, staff, and faculty who may be affected,” Pitney said. “A significant part of UA’s identity is our commitment to Alaska Native culture, language, art, heritage, business, and tribal management and governance; that remains unchanged. We proudly embrace our global leadership in Alaska Native and Indigenous studies, and will continue to sustain a welcoming environment where all – including our Alaska Native and Indigenous students – can thrive and succeed.”
Taylor said the University of Alaska Southeast has at least one grant-funded program on the Sitka campus aimed at improving student services, and university officials are waiting to hear whether it will be eliminated. Taylor said the University of Alaska Anchorage does not have any programs funded by this federal grant.
As of fall 2024, there were 3,254 students enrolled at the University of Alaska that identified as Alaska Native or American Indian, and 266 that identified as Hawaiian Native or Pacific Islander, according to the university, and 19,629 students total across the UA system.
The University of Alaska announcements came after the Trump administration said Wednesday it will withhold an estimated $350 million of congressionally-approved funding for minority serving colleges and universities, saying the money will be allocated elsewhere. The measure continues President Donald Trump’s initiative to eliminate programs that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Sfraga said the federal government is allowing up to a year to close out the programs. UAF has multiple grants which fall under the program, Sfraga said, and most are under the College of Indigenous Studies and the UAF Community and Technical College.
Sfraga said the grant program does not fund student aid, but it does support degree programs and support services like student advising and recruiting, workforce development and student success initiatives across campuses.
University officials report that to date, the Trump administration has cancelled $6.6 million in research grants and almost $45 million has been frozen.
Each year, the university receives an estimated $250 million in federal research funds, Taylor said, adding that “95% of the university’s broad research portfolio remains intact. UA has experienced only minor disruptions as a result of the rapidly shifting policy picture in Washington, D.C., and we are closely monitoring developments as they evolve.”
Reading Time: 3 minutes
We have an update on Erin Bates.
A few weeks ago, the reality star gave birth to her seventh child… and then fell into septic shock.
Thankfully, according to Erin’s husband Chad, the veteran parent appears to now be on a path to recovery.
“After almost three weeks in the hospital, I have never been so thankful to finally head home to our babies,” her spouse posted via Instagram on Saturday, September 13, along with photos of the new mom leaving the hospital with her newborn baby.
“We don’t have all the answers yet, and I still don’t have function in my right leg, but we are choosing to count every blessing—especially the gift of being together again.
“Your prayers have carried us through and mean the world to our family.”
Back in early September, Chad explained that Bate had suffered a “lengthy and severe seizure” after giving birth, elaborating as follows:
“As her husband, it is one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced — to sit by her side and watch her struggle while being so helpless to ease her suffering. I love her more deeply than words can express, and I can’t even imagine life without my best friend.
“The hours have been long and heavy, and I know many hearts are aching to see her this way, along with mine. We hold on to faith that healing is coming, even in the midst of the unknown. Your prayers are felt and we are forever grateful.”
Erin — one of Kelly Jo and Gil Bates‘ 19 kids, who appeared on the family’s reality series back in the day — and welcomed her son Henry on August 25.
“After a long and emotional labor, our miracle arrived. … Henry is doing wonderful, but we would so appreciate your prayers for Erin as she continues to recover from some complications,” read a statement shared via Instagram on August 27.
“We thank the Lord for carrying us through and for the gift of this precious boy.”
Days later, Chad continued with a positive update on the baby’s health, but he revealed Erin remained in the hospital:
“We wanted to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and support you have given on our behalf. It’s been a week since our miracle, Henry came into the world. He is doing well in the NICU and is our bundle of happiness,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
Along with newborn Henry, Bates and her husband share the following children:
Charles Steven IV, 10, Brooklyn Elise, 8, Everly Hope, 7, Holland Grace, 5, Finley Marie, 3, and William Gage, 20 months.
The couple starred for 10 seasons on their family’s aforementioned reality show, which centered on Erin and her 18 siblings.
The series aired on UPtv for 2015 through 2021 and its run was comprised of 185 episodes.
The former reality star suffered numerous miscarriages on her path to becoming a parent.
“Going through a miscarriage is one of the hardest things,” she told People Magazine in 2015. “You build up all these expectations, and you prepare, and you have the date in your mind, and it’s just heartbreaking when that ends. It’s like your world’s been crushed.”
Erin Bates Discharged from Hospital After Major Health Scare was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
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