U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred on Jan. 26 dismissed a lawsuit that sought to block Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from appearing on Alaska’s election ballots this fall. Kindred, a Trump appointee, cited technical flaws with the lawsuit and concluded that it failed to state a proper claim, failed to demonstrate that the court had jurisdiction […]
Posted inNews, Southeast News, Environment
Alaska Volcano Observatory fully activates monitoring network over Sitka’s rumbling mountain
Sitka’s Mount Edgecumbe volcano is wired. The Alaska Volcano Observatory announced the completion of a new instrument network intended to measure the activity of a volcano that could be awakening after a period of dormancy. The network includes four seismic stations and four sites that measure the way the ground is deforming as magma moves deep below the […]
Posted inNews, State of Alaska
Alaska plans to send National Guard members to Mexico border in support of the federal government
The deployment could take place later this year, according to mobilization instructions from the U.S. Army The state of Alaska is planning to send members of its National Guard south to the Mexican border, responding to an order from the federal government for assistance securing the international boundary. According to the Alaska National Guard, 20 […]
Posted inKlukwan, Environment & Natural Resources, Timber
University of Alaska looks to privatize thousands of acres in Upper Chilkat Valley
The University of Alaska is looking to gain title to thousands of acres of land in the Upper Chilkat Valley as part of its ongoing land grant initiative, raising questions and concerns among some locals. “We’re always open to hearing discussion, but at first look here, it is another transfer of public lands into private […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: Lumi is born in snowstorm, spelling bee double champion
Kayla and Erik Stevens welcomed their first child, Lumi Andromeda Stevens, on Jan. 25 at 7:16 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds, 1 oz and is 20 or maybe 19 inches long, depending on who is measuring. Lumi, which means snow in Finnish, is a fitting name, as she was born into one of the craziest […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Boarding Schools
Monetary reparations follow Quaker apology to Alaska Native community
An unused U.S. Forest Service building in Kake may soon be a healing center for the community to move forward from generations of trauma after a boarding school harmed members of the Alaska Native population. When Joel Jackson, president of the Organized Village of Kake, saw the building on an access road between Kake and […]
Posted inCommentary
Persily: Story of Alaska’s income tax like a soap opera
Just because few to none of Alaska’s elected officials are talking about bringing back the personal income tax is no reason to ignore its anniversary. OK, maybe it’s weird to celebrate your anniversary with an ex, but it’s different with the state income tax. Whereas you’re unlikely to remarry an ex, Alaskans eventually may reunite […]
Posted inNews, Local News
After high-profile stumbles, manager scores low in assembly evaluations
Haines Borough manager Annette Kreitzer was given low marks on her communication to assembly members in evaluation that were distributed in early January. Kreitzer received an average of 1.1 out of 5 for keeping “the assembly informed about important and/or changing situations,” 1.3 out of 5 in seeking “assembly approval/guidance on controversial issues,” and 1.33 […]
Posted inNews, Local News, Mining
Kensington Mine cuts 20% of pay for some hourly employees, citing financial woes
Kensington Mine recently cut pay by 20% for all of its hourly employees hired before 2016, according to a memo obtained by KTOO. The gold mine is owned by Coeur Alaska and is about 45 miles northwest of Juneau, near Berners Bay. It’s only accessible by air or water. In the memo, which was sent in early […]
Posted inSports
‘We knew they were gonna be tough’: Bears fall to Metlakatla Chiefs
Haines Glacier Bear boys and girls lost four straight games against the Metlakatla Chiefs and Misschiefs over the weekend, but coaches say both squads showed bright spots. “If we would have made 25% more free throws on Saturday, we woulda won,” said girls’ coach Coleman Stanford. The team lost by five points on Saturday. For […]