By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living
1. New Storm Threatens Western Alaska as Governor Declares Disaster
A new storm system, the remnants of Typhoon Halong, is bearing down on Western Alaska just days after another powerful storm pummeled the region.
The National Weather Service warns of coastal flooding and high surf through Sunday, prompting emergency alerts from Nome to Shishmaref.
Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster late Thursday, authorizing state assistance and deploying emergency response teams.
“Help is on the way to storm-damaged communities in Northwest Alaska,” Dunleavy said on social media.
According to the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the first storm caused significant erosion, flooding, and infrastructure damage in several communities, including Kotzebue, Shishmaref, and Kivalina.
Kotzebue residents were temporarily ordered to evacuate earlier in the week after storm surge and river flooding threatened homes near the coastline.
The disaster declaration enables state aid for individuals and local governments across the Bering Strait, Northwest Arctic, and Lower Yukon regions, and allows activation of the Alaska National Guard for cleanup and recovery operations.
Flood watches and storm warnings remain in effect as another low-pressure system moves across the Bering Sea this weekend.
(Sources: Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Governor’s Office press release, ready.alaska.gov, National Weather Service Alaska Region.)
2. Wasilla Man Pleads Guilty in Deadly Carfentanil Case
A Wasilla man has pleaded guilty to distributing the synthetic opioid carfentanil, an act that killed a 16-year-old girl and seriously injured another victim, according to a statement released Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
Sean Mobley, 45, admitted to supplying a small amount of what he believed was fentanyl in November 2024. Tests later confirmed it was carfentanil, a drug up to 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
Court filings show one adult victim overdosed but survived; hours later, Mobley gave the same batch to a 16-year-old girl who overdosed and died. He left the victim in a remote area and fled the scene.
Mobley also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of felon in possession of a firearm, stemming from a January 2025 arrest.
He faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison for distribution resulting in death and up to 15 years for the firearm charge. Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2026.
The case was investigated by the DEA Anchorage District Office and the Alaska State Troopers, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison O’Leary.
(Source: U.S. Department of Justice, District of Alaska press release, October 10, 2025.)
3. Congress Rolls Back Federal Land Protections, Clearing Path for Ambler Road
The newest federal move affecting Alaska’s resource development came Thursday, as Congress voted to overturn Biden-era restrictions on land management in Interior Alaska, clearing the way for the long-debated Ambler Road project.
Within hours, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to reissue permits for the 211-mile industrial road linking the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District. The order also authorized a U.S. government purchase of a 10% equity stake in Trilogy Metals, the Canadian firm leading the project, with an option to buy more.
Supporters, including Senator Dan Sullivan, hailed the move as a major step toward U.S. mineral independence and new jobs in rural Alaska.
Opponents, among them Alaska Native organizations and conservation groups, warn that the road could disrupt caribou migration and subsistence hunting grounds.
The Central Yukon Resource Management Plan, which had been delayed for years, will now be reopened for federal review under new directives. Environmental consultations are expected to restart before the end of October.
(Sources: Executive Order from the President, whitehouse.gov; U.S. Senate statement from Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office, sullivan.senate.gov; U.S. Department of the Interior filings, October 2025.)
4. Alaska’s WIC Program Secured Through October Amid Ongoing Shutdown
The Alaska Department of Health confirmed Friday that the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program will remain funded through the end of October, thanks to a $300 million emergency allocation approved by Congress this week.
The assurance comes as the federal government shutdown enters its second week.
Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office said the extension guarantees continued service for about 14,000 Alaskan families relying on nutrition assistance.
In a statement, Murkowski called child nutrition “non-negotiable” and said she is working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to ensure long-term stability.
Without additional funding, WIC programs nationwide could face disruptions by mid-November if the shutdown continues.
(Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service bulletin; Office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski press release, October 10, 2025.)
5. Looking Ahead
- Flood alerts continue across the Bering Strait and Yukon-Kuskokwim regions, with another storm expected to reach Western Alaska Sunday evening.
- The Ambler Road permitting process is expected to accelerate as agencies implement new federal directives.
- Sentencing in the Mobley carfentanil case could set a legal precedent for future synthetic opioid prosecutions in Alaska.
- Lawmakers will reconvene next week to debate ongoing federal budget negotiations, including permanent WIC funding and disaster relief appropriations for Alaska’s western coast.
