Published Jan 11, 2023 by alaskabusiness

“We really wanted to make sure this was an inclusive event,” says GCI Chief Marketing Officer Kate Slyker. “Allowing people to sign up in this way means that everyone who wants to can participate regardless of if they have four teammates to join them or not and regardless of their skill level and CS:GO experience. This is intended to be grassroots; we’re happy to include everyone from veteran players to those who are new to esports.”

GCI will donate $10 in the name of every player who registers to either USO Alaska or the UAF Alaska Esports Center. Each player will be asked which of the two causes they would like to support, and GCI will make a donation in their honor, up to $5,000.

“GCI is dedicated to giving Alaska the best esports experience,” Slyker says. “Our 2 gig speeds give players superior speed and in-game connection. We opened this tournament to Alaska residents only as a commitment to the growing esports community here, and we’re really excited to offer the largest prize pool in Alaska gaming history. We hope it will bring the best players from across the state together to compete for top ranking.”

Published Jan 11, 2023 by RSS Feed

Starting with the first bills prefiled in the 33rd Alaska State Legislature, and continuing until it ends in January 2025, the Beacon is aiming to write brief summaries of each bill, resolution and constitutional amendment as it’s introduced. 

HB 9 (Carrick) – A University of Alaska faculty member would be added to the university’s Board of Regents.

HB 10 (Carrick) – The University of Alaska would be required to take steps to reduce the cost of textbooks and course materials.

HB 31 (Story) – The size of higher education scholarships paid by the state’s high school performance scholarship program would increase, and eligibility for the program would grow.

SB 13 (Myers) – The University of Alaska would be required to take steps to reduce the cost of textbooks and course materials.



Published Jan 11, 2023 by Pam Dunklebarger

Invasive species awareness needs to be a year-round effort. However we choose to experience the wonders of winter in the Interior (whether zipping down the trail with our sled dogs or snowmachines, cruising behind the wheel of the plow, or pulling fish out of the ice), we should always be mindful of the potential impacts. Taking just a few moments to pull any aquatic plant fragments off your ice auger before you leave the lake is just one example of a small action with a potentially huge impact. An ounce of prevention this winter may help reduce invasive species problems next summer and beyond.



Published Jan 10, 2023 by Isabelle Ross, KDLG - Dillingham

Last year’s wildfire season was the largest on record in Bristol Bay, following a trend toward bigger and more numerous fires in southwest Alaska.

Bristol Bay experienced its largest wildfire season on record last year, underscoring a trend toward bigger and more numerous fires in southwest Alaska as the climate warms.

“We really have not seen anything like this,” said University of Alaska Fairbanks climate specialist Rick Thoman. “And the Bristol Bay region was the most extreme of all the extremes.”

Fires scorched nearly 650 square miles in the Bristol Bay region last year; more land than has burned in the region in the past 72 years combined.

Thoman doesn’t think next summer will be as extreme as the last one, because too many factors would have to align again. But as the climate warms, he said Alaskans will continue to experience more and bigger wildfires in the future.

Published Jan 10, 2023 by TheRhymeRula 🔱✊🏾

Did you know that Dinosaurs used to roam and nest in the High Arctic? Well, they did and tiny fossils were discovered suggesting that the reptiles stayed there year long without migrating. Paleontologists have slowly gathered young dinosaur bones and not just one species, but many. Moreover, finding these bones from young dinosaurs is a reason for Paleontologists to be elated because those bones are rare. The reason is, young baby Dinosaur bones were rarely preserved due to their size and susceptibility to being victims to carnivorous predators. 

University of Alaska paleontologist Pat Druckenmiller and his colleagues found the fragile remains of baby hadrosaurs, horned dinosaurs, raptors, and tyrannosaurs.

“The discovery of these tiny bones and teeth was no small accomplishment,” Druckenmiller says. Whenever we see depictions of Dinosaurs in the media it usually shows them living in a stone age that was desolate or verdant, but never ones that lived in cold climates. In regards to that, Polar Dinosaurs acclimated to the harsh environment and didn’t find the need to migrate to a warmer region or hibernate.