Alaska

August 15, 2024 4:21 PM

Extreme weather drives travelers to cooler destinations this summer

Florida resident Kathy Pafunda is reading books and perusing maps to plan a Norway getaway next summer, following visits over the last two years to cool-weather destinations Alaska, Utah, Minnesota and Iceland. "We like to escape during the summer months, especially when going outside feels like taking an unpleasant bath," said the retired 69-year-old audiologist, who lives in Tampa. "Florida is hideous right now." Wildfires and heat waves this summer have pushed more travelers to take "coolca...

US protects Alaska lands important to tribes’ hunting, fishing

Large areas of federal land in Alaska will be protected from development to conserve fish and wildlife habitats that are important to native communities' way of life, under two measures announced by the Biden administration on Friday. The steps by the Interior Department are aligned with President Joe Biden's goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters as part of his climate change agenda. In a statement, Interior said it had finalized its rejection of a 211-mile (340 km) road intended to en...