Typhoon Wipha swept up the east coast of Japan on Wednesday brushing past Tokyo and skirting the Fukushima nuclear power plant, but causing devastation on the island of Izu Oshima where the typhoon triggered landslides and flooding that killed at least 17 people on Wednesday.
The death toll continues to rise as a result of the devastating earthquake that struck the the Philippines on Tuesday. Officials put the current number at 144 dead with hundreds more injured and scores missing. Authorities there say that the numbers will continue to rise as communications are re-established to remote areas of the archipelago.
For the third time this month, Alaska's Governor Parnell has written to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell urging her to open up the Federal Refuges in Alaska to guides and support businesses during the federal shutdown.
The Alaska Congressional Delegation was united today in urging Air Force leadership to strongly consider basing the F-35 at Eielson Air Force Base.