Six drown off Greenland coast

Three adults and three children drowned when they were sailing to Upernavik earlier this month. All on board the open boat were seen for the last time when they sailed away from Kangersuatsiaq.

After the party failed to arrive at their destination, a search was launched and soon the family’s empty boat was found drifting around. The bodies of the passengers were found near the boat.

siku circumpolar news

Alaska’s airline subsidy in jeopardy

The subsidy, established when the airline industry was deregulated in 1978, uses U.S. federal money to lower air-travel costs to 34 Alaska communities.

The Essential Air Service program’s aim is to provide a safety-net level of air service to the smallest and most isolated communities.

But the U.S. now plans to overhaul the program, cutting the number of communities eligible and making them bear some of the cost. Changes the Transportation Department is proposing include requiring communities to kick in at least 10 percent of the subsidy.