Evan Erickson

2 days ago | kyuk.org | Evan Erickson

In May, residents of Bethel began to tap into fiber internet speeds on par with Anchorage for the first time ever as part of the launch of the AIRRAQ network, a partnership between communications provider GCI and Bethel Native Corporation. On June 3, leaders on both the tribal and private sides of AIRRAQ made the launch of the fiber-optic network official in an event held in Bethel at the Association of Village Council Presidents, Regional Housing Authority building.

1 week ago | kyuk.org | Evan Erickson

Aside from a possible brief opening to harvest summer chum salmon, 2025 will be the sixth consecutive year of total salmon fishing closures on the Yukon River. Beginning June 1, the first of a series of rolling salmon fishing closures will go into effect on the lower Yukon. The closures will then work their way upriver, following chinook and summer chum salmon on their journey toward the Canadian border.

2 weeks ago | kyuk.org | Evan Erickson

For the Kuskokwim Bay community of Quinhagak, the memory of seven boaters who went missing while on a seal hunt in fall 2020 is still fresh. They were never found. Warren Jones, who heads the local Native corporation and took part in the search effort, said that community members were spurred to take action by the tragedy. "This was a big push for the search and rescue to get started in Quinhagak," Jones said.

2 weeks ago | kyuk.org | Evan Erickson |MaryCait Dolan |Marycait Dolan |Gabby Salgado

Thousands of rainbow smelts arrived in Bethel yesterday evening on their annual migration up the Kuskokwim River to spawn. But for many, the last stop on their journey was a dipnet, as dozens of residents showed up with the long-handled nets to fill their buckets with the diminutive, iridescent fish. The smelt run marks the beginning of the summer fishing season. It’s a reminder for residents of lower Kuskokwim communities that the arrival of salmon is just around the corner.

2 weeks ago | kyuk.org | Evan Erickson

Bethel police are seeking information about an anonymous caller who threatened violence toward the offices of the Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council (ONC) in the early afternoon hours of Monday, May 19. According to Bethel police, the caller threatened to shoot up the building and claimed that there was a bomb on the premises. The Bethel Police Department and Alaska State Troopers responded to the ONC offices at 117 Alex Hately Drive shortly after being informed of the call.