News

ESPECT THE BEAR— Properly skinning and processing a harvested polar bear is an intergenerational act of respect, tradition and shared responsibility. June 23 was day three of fleshing the hide for Kaitlyn Painter, Charles Kokuluk, Frances Muktoyuk, Caroline Brown, Gabrielle Brown, Yvonne Muktoyuk, Jared Wiggins and Jessica Russell.

Hunter harvests summer polar bear at Woolley Lagoon

By Sarah Manriquez When Jared Wiggins saw a polar bear walking toward him near his camp by Woolley Lagoon last week, he knew what was at stake. “It was either him or me,” Wiggins said. “And it wasn’t...

Anna Ashenfelter raises her arms as she crosses the finish line and is showered in blue powder during the 2025 Color Run on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

Running with Pride: Color Run Paints Nome with Wellness, Community and Joy

By Sarah Manriquez Over 35 Nome residents came together Tuesday evening for a one-mile dash filled with vibrant color, laughter, and a strong message of inclusivity. Hosted by Norton Sound Health...

DEBRIEF— Charlie Lean, left, and participants in Tuesday’s oil spill response drill discuss the lessons learned.

Coast Guard oil spill drill reveals valuable lessons

By Laura Robertson On June 10, an imaginary fishing vessel was approaching the Port of Nome when its engine caught fire. The ship crashed into the rocks with 18 people, 150,000 gallons of fuel oil,...

LET’S DRINK LEMONADE— Lemonade Head buys a cup of shaved ice from Ava and Mabel’s Shave Ice and Tropical Lemonade stand during Mizuktata on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Inspired by a recent family trip to Hawaii, Ava Bahnke, 13, and Mabel Steed, 10, welcome customers with music from Disney’s Moana and flower leis for a taste of summer, Hawaiian-style.

80 young entrepreneurs stir it up at Mizuktata

By Sarah Manriquez Under overcast skies and a cool coastal breeze, music, sweet smells and small-business ambition filled Nome’s neighborhoods as 80 young entrepreneurs took to the streets on...

File photo of the Midnight Sun Parade in 2023.

Nome’s Midnight Sun Festival comes together at the last minute

By Sarah Manriquez The annual Nome Midnight Sun Festival is set to return this weekend, albeit in a less action-packed version compared to previous years. For one, the customary bank robbery at high...

US Coast Guard conducts oil spill drill in Nome

Story and photos by Anna Lionas This week, the United States Coast Guard organized an oil spill response drill in the Nome Harbor, bringing 20 entities together in person and virtually to act out an...

Council passes lean FY 2026 budget

By Diana Haecker The Nome Common Council passed a trimmed-down version of the fiscal year 2026 general operational budget, totaling a tad over $17 million. In work session after work session, the...

Nome Search and Rescue finds missing man

By Anna Lionas After more than 24 hours of searching, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department Search and Rescue team found Dexter Irrigoo, 67, on Monday afternoon at the base of Gold Hill and transported...

State may be on the hook for partial SNAP funding

By Laura Robertson The federal budget bill before Congress, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed the House of Representatives on May 22, including cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition...

The Nome Common Council reduced the contribution to Nome Public Schools from $3.4 million to $2.7 million.

Council sets mill rate at 11.5, reduces contribution to Nome schools

By Diana Haecker In work session after work session, the Nome Common Council is fine combing the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget, trying to balance the budget while keeping services to citizens...