Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska - Juneau
Ed Schoenfeld is Regional News Director for CoastAlaska, a consortium of public radio stations in Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell.
He primarily covers Southeast Alaska regional topics, including the state ferry system, transboundary mining, the Tongass National Forest and Native corporations and issues.
He has also worked as a manager, editor and reporter for the Juneau Empire newspaper and Juneau public radio station KTOO. He’s also reported for commercial station KINY in Juneau and public stations KPFA in Berkley, WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and WUHY in Philadelphia. He’s lived in Alaska since 1979 and is a contributor to Alaska Public Radio Network newscasts, the Northwest (Public Radio) News Network and National Native News. He is a board member of the Alaska Press Club. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he lives in Douglas.
He primarily covers Southeast Alaska regional topics, including the state ferry system, transboundary mining, the Tongass National Forest and Native corporations and issues.
He has also worked as a manager, editor and reporter for the Juneau Empire newspaper and Juneau public radio station KTOO. He’s also reported for commercial station KINY in Juneau and public stations KPFA in Berkley, WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and WUHY in Philadelphia. He’s lived in Alaska since 1979 and is a contributor to Alaska Public Radio Network newscasts, the Northwest (Public Radio) News Network and National Native News. He is a board member of the Alaska Press Club. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he lives in Douglas.
Cruise Traffic Level, But Could Grow Soon
Alaska’s cruise ship season ended last week. It, and other types of tourism, attracted a similar number of visitors as in 2013. But the next few years could be different.
Petersburg Considers Changes to Senior Sales Tax Exemption
If you’re 65 or older, you don’t have to pay Petersburg’s 6 percent sales tax. Municipal Finance Director Jody Tow says that means local government is losing out on a lot of money.
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Art is Big Business in Southeast
What are the arts worth to Southeast Alaska? A new economic study says painting, carving, theater, music and other creative pursuits generate at least $60 million a year in business.
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Cheaper Turboprops Lower Some AK Jet Fares
Cost-cutting on an Alaska Airlines Railbelt route is lowering fares in Southeast. The airline began flying smaller, turboprop planes between Anchorage and Fairbanks earlier this year. They also flew summer routes between Anchorage and Kodiak.
Ferry System Plans For New Route In Southeast
The state ferry system is planning a new route in Southeast Alaska. It’s being done in conjunction with a new, privately run ferry.
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Tribal Groups Disagree on the Stakes of B.C. Mine Projects
Some Alaska tribal organizations say last week’s (Aug. 4th’s) dam break at a British Columbia mine shows what could happen closer to home. The groups say similar dams planned for several near-border mines could damage or destroy fish runs in both countries.
Early Tests Show B.C. Tailings Spill Water ‘Safe’
British Columbia’s Environment Ministrysays water that poured out of a massive mine-tailings pond Aug. 4 appears to be safe. But local emergency officials continue to warn area residents against drinking, bathing or swimming in affected water.
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Is the Mine Tailings Dam Failure in B.C. a Warning for Alaska?
Monday’s tailings-dam break at a British Columbia copper and gold mine could threaten Southeast Alaska salmon fisheries. That’s according to critics, who say similar dams closer to the border could suffer the same fate, polluting Alaska waters.
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KSM Mine Wins Environmental Approval From British Columbia Government
A controversial mine planned for an area northeast of Ketchikan just won environmental approval from the British Columbia government.
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Meetings To Highlight Southeast Transportation Projects
Southeast Alaskans can learn more about regional transportation projects at a series of meetings starting next week.
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Canadian Environmental Officials Give OK to Mine NE of Ketchikan
Canadian environmental officials just gave provisional approval to a controversial mine planned for an area northeast of Ketchikan. Their counterparts in British Columbia have done the same.
Critics Say Canadian Mining Projects Could Damage Regional Fisheries
Canadian investors are putting millions of new dollars into mining projects near the Southeast Alaska border. They include the KSM and Tulsequah Chief prospects, which critics say could damage regional fisheries.
Entrepreneurs Get Second Chance for Awards
Southeast Alaska entrepreneurs are getting a second chance to win $40,000 to develop regional businesses. It's part of a partnership involving a Native corporation and a conservation group that made its first awards last year.
Soboleff Wins Sealaska Board Seat, Nelson Becomes Chairman
The regional Native corporation for Southeast Alaska has a new CEO, a new board chairman and a new board member. Leaders of Juneau-headquartered Sealaska are following a direction set by their predecessors. But they promise some changes, following a recent board election.
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How will Sealaska Solve its Money Problems?
Sealaska holds its annual shareholders’ meeting Saturday near Seattle. A new CEO will take over, as will a new board chairman or woman. And, at least one new board member will be seated.
All will face the challenges of a new economic reality. The Juneau-based regional Native corporation has been losing money and plans for recovery are uncertain.
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B.C. Developers Defend Near-Border Mines
Plans for mines in northwest British Columbia, just across Alaska's border, are being blasted by tribal, fishing and environmental groups in Southeast Alaska. Critics say they’ll pollute rivers that cross the border, damaging or destroying salmon and other fish runs. But what do we hear from the mining side of the story?
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B.C. Mine Developers Defend Near-Border Projects
We’ve heard a lot about mines planned for northwest British Columbia, just across Alaska’s border. Southeast tribal, fishing and environmental groups have blasted those plans. Critics say they’ll pollute rivers that cross the border, damaging or destroying salmon and other fish runs. But we haven’t heard a lot from mine advocates. Now, we have.
Large crowd greets Celebration paddlers
Dozens of paddlers from Yakutat to Metlakatla and places in between landed their canoes on a Juneau beach on their way to the Southeast Native cultural festival Celebration 2014. More than 500 people waded into the water or watched from the shore as the paddlers ended their journey Wednesday afternoon. Hundreds of others lined a nearby causeway or cheered from parks and bridges along the route. We spoke with some of the paddlers and recorded some of the songs and filed this audio post card.
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Critics Question Sealaska Ballot
Four Sealaska board of directors candidates say the regional Native corporation’s balloting process violates a recent court ruling. Sealaska says it’s not a problem. The Alaska Supreme Court decision came in a case involving CIRI, the regional Native corporation for the Cook Inlet area.
AK: A Musical Celebration
Alaskans have had some big anniversaries this year: The ‘64 earthquake and the Exxon Valdez oil spill among them. Acoustic musicians celebrated their own anniversary last month in Juneau: the Alaska Folk Festival’s 40th. The week of concerts attracts hundreds of singers, pickers and strummers and thousands of fans from around the state.
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