The owner of the Eskay Creek mine, about 75 air miles east of Wrangell, in British Columbia, is targeting spring 2027 to reopen the gold and silver mine which has been closed since 2008. The entire operation would cover more than 22 square miles and would be operated as an open-pit mine. The project, owned […]
Posted inNews, Education
Alaska’s U.S. senators back effort to waive $100k visa fee for public school employees
Alaska’s Republican U.S. senators are pushing the Trump administration to waive a recently hiked visa fee for all public school employees. The Trump administration raised the fee for highly skilled workers visas, known as the H-1B visa program, from $5,000 to $100,000 per visa in September. That has consequences for Alaska school districts, which have […]
Posted inLocal News, Transportation
From surcharges, to prices at the pump fuel price jumps are squeezing locals
A regional airline announced Monday a temporary fuel surcharge in response to the war in the Middle East impacting jet-fuel prices. Beginning Friday, Alaska Seaplanes and Island Air Express will add a 6% surcharge to customer fares. That surcharge will not apply to freight customers. Company spokesperson Andy Kline said that, to his knowledge, the […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Environment
Subsistence panel told of shifts by U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service leadership is in flux as the agency takes sweeping actions in managing the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest, and making regulatory and administrative changes at all levels, Alaska-based officials reported this week. At the beginning of a four-day federal subsistence Regional Advisory Council meeting in Juneau on Tuesday, Tongass Supervisor Monique Nelson spoke […]
Posted inSports
Haines loses to Ninilchik in 2A boys state championship game 53-38
The tenacious defense of the Haines boys basketball team came to the court for the championship game of the March Madness Alaska 2A Basketball state tournament on Saturday in Anchorage, but the Glacier Bears scored just three points in the first quarter against the also defensive-minded Ninilchik Wolverines, who prevailed 53-38. “I loved everything about […]
Posted inSports
Haines earns state final, Metlakatla falls in semifinals
The #3 seed Haines Glacier Bears won a 42-41 semifinal cliff hanger over #2 Unalakleet and the #4 Metlakatla Chiefs fell 49-32 in a semifinal to #1 Ninilchik at the March Madness Alaska 2A Basketball State Championships on Friday in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. Haines will face Ninilchik at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for the state […]
Posted inEducation, Southeast News
UAS to award honorary degrees to L’uknax.adí, Kiks.ádi clan leaders
Lingít clan leaders L’eiwtú Éesh Herman Davis and Aanyáanáx Ray Wilson will receive honorary doctorates of laws from the University of Alaska Southeast during the May 3 spring commencement ceremony at UAS in Juneau. UAS announced the awards for Davis and Wilson, as well as other distinguished Southeast Alaskans, on Friday. Davis, of Sitka, is […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Alaska officials stonewall state legislators on justification for handing voter data to feds
The head of the Alaska Division of Elections will not share legal advice that led to the state’s decision to send an extended voter list to the U.S. Department of Justice. Director Carol Beecher told state senators Wednesday that she will not waive attorney-client privilege as state lawmakers examine last year’s decision to give the Trump […]
Posted inEconomy, Government & Elections, News
Alaska legislators have few firm facts as they consider a proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline
In a speech to the Alaska Legislature this week, Alaska Rep. Nick Begich III urged state lawmakers to boost the development of a proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. “The federal path is largely cleared, but investors also need state level clarity, fiscal predictability and simplicity,” Begich said. “Scrutinize it carefully, model it thoroughly. But my […]
Posted inNews
Legislators hold breath, budget with war-influenced state revenue update expected Friday
A monumental moment for state leaders is expected Friday with the release of an official forecast of how much extra revenue Alaska’s government may get due to the Iran war. Oil prices have skyrocketed since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, which had legislators on Thursday commenting on the grim reality […]