The public comment period for the Cascade Point Ferry Terminal, which would relocate the docking point for Alaska Marine Highway System vessels far north of the current Auke Bay terminal, has been extended by six weeks until Jan. 9. The extension was made on Friday — the original comment deadline — by the Alaska Department […]
Posted inNews, Business & Commerce
Alaska state utility regulators approve secrecy orders for billionaire’s takeover of GCI
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska has unanimously approved a series of requests for financial secrecy filed by attorneys representing John Malone, the telecom billionaire seeking to take a controlling interest in Alaska’s largest internet firm. The approval means Malone will not be required to publish his personal finances and that the financial condition of three GCI-related subsidiaries will […]
Posted inNews, Environment & Natural Resources
Alaska publishes draft rules for new program intended to bury carbon dioxide, key to gas pipeline
The state of Alaska is close to finalizing rules for a program that would allow companies to bury carbon dioxide deep underground, a process known as sequestration. While sequestration can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by heavy industry, it also would be a boon to the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. Many sources of natural gas on the […]
Posted inNews, Salmon
State biologists forecast a strong but not exceptional 2026 Bristol Bay sockeye run
Fishery biologists expect another strong year for sockeye salmon in southwestern Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, site of the world’s largest runs of the fish, also known as red salmon. Next year’s run is not expected to equal the magnitude of the huge runs in some recent record-breaking and near-record years, however, according to the Alaska Department of […]
Posted inNews, Economy
Decline in working-age population a growing challenge for Alaska
Though several industries in Alaska are shedding jobs, the ones that are hiring share a common problem: Not enough applicants. “Our working-age population has had a pretty significant and consistent decline over the past decade,” said Dan Robinson, chief of research and analysis at the Alaska Department of Labor. The working-age population (ages 15 to […]
Posted inSoutheast News, Environment & Natural Resources, Timber
Petersburg mill wins 5-year Forest Service contract to log at Thomas Bay
The U.S. Forest Service has awarded an unusual timber contract to supply Petersburg’s Alaska Timber and Truss with enough logs from Thomas Bay for several years of operation, while also improving moose and deer habitat. The stewardship project represents a significant milestone for the sawmill and the broader second-growth timber industry in Southeast Alaska. The […]
Posted inNews, Government & Elections
Dunleavy appoints Rauscher and Tilton to Alaska Senate, opening two House vacancies
Gov. Mike Dunleavy has appointed state Reps. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, and Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, to two vacancies in the Alaska Senate. Each nomination will become effective if at least five of the Senate’s nine other Republicans approve them. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said the votes will take place by secret ballot at 10 a.m. […]
Posted inNews
Homeland Security wants state driver’s license data for sweeping citizenship program
The Trump administration wants access to state driver’s license data on millions of U.S. residents as it builds a powerful citizenship verification program amid its clampdown on voter fraud and illegal immigration. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeks access to an obscure computer network used by law enforcement agencies, according to a federal notice, […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: Hot Shots, pot lucks, orcas and more
Five tourists in Haines for bald eagle viewing stopped at 33 Mile Roadhouse for lunch on a snowy Wednesday. They shared eagle stories and were thrilled to share their bear pictures also, but Alison Walters’ visit to Haines was highlighted by a fire department call at the Aspen motel at 5:45 am. She was woken […]
Posted inLocal News
Mayor proposes transferring Tlingit Park to Chilkoot Indian Association
Mayor Tom Morphet is proposing transferring the borough’s Tlingit Park property to the Chilkoot Indian Association. Morphet, who has discussed the idea with CIA tribal administrator Harriet Brouillette, is pitching the transfer as both a return of the land to its rightful owners and also a move to save the borough money. Critics have raised […]