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.
Sitka Barge Line Plans Southeast Expansion
A Sitka-based barge line hopes to return to serving Southeast by the end of the year. It depends on a shipping-industry shuffle, where a much larger company is trying to absorb its chief competitor.
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Sealaska Land Bill Scheduled For Congressional Markup
The Sealaska land bill is scheduled for markup during a congressional hearing this week. Representative Don Young’s main legislation would convey about 70,000 acres of Tongass National Forest timberlands to Sealaska.
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A Blimp? Over Juneau?
Most who saw it called it a blimp, but technically, it was an airship. The environmental group Greenpeace inflated the floating billboard at a Douglas Island ballfield Saturday evening, then flew over Gastineau Channel to downtown Juneau and back.
Sealaska Sells One Business, May Buy Another
Sealaska recently sold its Global Logistics business to 20Cubed, a much-larger firm with offices in about 10 countries.
State To Appeal Dismissal Of Roadless Rule Lawsuit
The Parnell administration says it will appeal the dismissal of its lawsuit over the roadless rule in the Tongass National Forest.
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Fourteen Shareholders Run For Sealaska Board Of Directors
Ten Sealaska shareholders are challenging four incumbents for the regional Native corporation’s board of directors. That’s the largest number of independent candidates in five years, although some earlier ballots came close.
Parnell Blocks Fund Transfer From Hoonah Dock To Sitka Pool
Governor Sean Parnell left Southeast Alaska project funding intact when he signed the capital budget Tuesday, but he blocked the transfer of money from one older project to another.
Feds Oppose Smaller Sealaska Land Bill
A new, smaller Sealaska land-selection measure faces opposition from the federal government. The legislation would transfer 3,600 acres of the Tongass National Forest to the Southeast-based regional Native corporation. Sealaska’s timberlands have been logged of much of their harvestable trees. Officials say the acreage will keep timber operations going.
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Yakutat To Celebrate Return Of The Terns
Yakutat is gearing up for an influx of birders. They’re coming to the northern Southeast Alaska community to celebrate the return of the Aleutian tern, a somewhat rare seabird.
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Marine Highway Dropping Discounts To Save Money
Say so long to summer drivers riding the ferry for free. Wave goodbye to the winter roundtrip discount. And printed schedules? Those are on their way out too. They won’t happen for a while. But the changes are some of the ways the Alaska Marine Highway will address a $3.5-million spending cut mandated by the Legislature.
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Southeast Village Native Corporation Looks To Export Cultural Tourism Expertise
A Southeast village Native corporation wants to export its cultural tourism expertise. It’s opened a consulting business to build on more than a dozen years in the business.
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Museums, Attractions Gear Up For More Ships, Passengers
Alaska State Museum Exhibit Curator Jackie Manning is confronted by some imposing figures every time she enters its main gallery. They’re well-armed, well-armored mannequins, displaying years of carving by Sitka Tlingit artist Tommy Joseph.
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Stikine Subsistence Closed To Chinook Harvest
It looks like there won’t be a Chinook subsistence fishery on the Stikine River this year. Officials this week closed the annual opening, scheduled for May 15th to June 20th.
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Southeast Inter-Island Ferry Authority To Run Short On Cash
Southeast’s Inter-Island Ferry Authority will soon be short on cash. The authority sails between Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan.
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Prince of Wales-Ketchikan Ferry Loses State Subsidy
Southeast’s Inter-Island Ferry Authority will soon be short on cash. The authority sails between Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan. Officials say what’s known as the IFA has only about four-fifths of the money it needs for the next budget year, which begins in July.
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Tlingit-Haida Central Council Holding 78th Annual Tribal Assembly
The Tlingit-Haida Central Council holds its 78th Annual Tribal Assembly in Juneau this week.
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Legislature Adjourns Before Acting On Voter ID Bill
The Legislature adjourned Sunday without acting on a bill adding new voter identification requirements. But the measure is poised for action when lawmakers return to the Capitol next January.
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Eclectic Groups Take Stage At Alaska Folk Festival
A dog took the stage during this year’s Alaska Folk Festival. So did a drum-and-pipe band and some Middle-Eastern-style singers and dancers. CoastAlaska’s Ed Schoenfeld assembled this audio post card.
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Small Cruise Lines Grow In Southeast
A Seattle-based tour company is adding another vessel to its Alaska routes. Un-Cruise Adventures is one of several small-ship lines increasing capacity in what appears to be a growing market.
Draft Otter Handicraft Rules Face Scrutiny
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has a new proposal for defining handicrafts made out of sea otter pelts. The agency sets rules for hunting of sea otters and other protected marine mammals.