Arctic Oil Lease Sale Fallout: A June 5 federal lease sale in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve drew only two bidders, winning rights for about 72,000 acres out of nearly 689,000 offered, totaling roughly $3.7 million—raising fresh doubts about industry appetite for Arctic drilling and the habitat risks that come with it. Climate & Community Resilience: Fairbanks is moving ahead with a National Science Foundation-funded mural on City Hall, led by Alaska Native artists, meant to reflect Interior place-based knowledge and climate adaptation and biocultural heritage. Wildlife Research in Sitka Sound: Scientists with the Alaska Whale Foundation are studying why gray whales are showing up in greater numbers during the herring spawn, tracking individual whales and potential downstream effects for the ecosystem. Arctic Carbon Update: New research finds Arctic river deltas store far more frozen carbon than previously counted—about 58 billion tons—despite covering only a small share of permafrost terrain. Alaska Policy Watch: Alaska’s legislature sent more than 70 bills to the governor after a final-week push, while many other measures still failed, including proposals like paid parental leave. Public Safety: Searchers recovered the body of a missing Palmer man after a boat capsized on the Little Willow River; authorities say the search for the remaining missing person continues.