Local Alder Tested In High School Wood Shop
The Sitka High wood shop is involved in an experiment to learn if young-growth timber can be made into high end furniture and other products. One of three class sections is using locally-harvested and milled alder in their projects; the other two are using traditional hardwoods from the lower forty-eight. Their teacher says his students don’t notice any difference.
‘Strong Women’ Class Takes Student On Journey Of Self Discovery
We all know that growing up can be tough. The pressure to fit in can be overwhelming; so can the feeling of isolation when you don’t. Last year, sixteen-year-old Veronica Nelson took a class at Sitka’s alternative school called “Strong Women,” that took her on a journey of self discovery. KCAW’s Anne Brice has her story. For parents, some of the themes discussed in this piece may be unsuitable for very young listeners.
Assembly Approves Redistricting Plan, Passes on Single Member Districts
The Anchorage Assembly approved a final redistricting plan last night (Tuesday 12/18) and rejected proposals that would have put propositions on the April 2nd ballot to create single member districts for the Anchorage Assembly and School Board. KSKA's Daysha Eaton has more.
Census Bureau Releases Data on American Indians, Alaska Natives
The U.S. Census Bureau has released a long awaited report that includes the latest Census data for the Alaska Native population.
Sitka’s ‘Dream’ Line Increases Regional Cruises
An Allen Marine tour ship rounds a point just off of Sitka Sound, pointing out the sights to a lively group of cruise-ship tourists. It’s a wildlife cruise, and the captain has no trouble finding sea otters.
Assembly Okay’s Transfer of Rumrunner’s Liquor License
The Anchorage Assembly, last night (Tuesday 12/18), approved a resolution allowing sale of the liquor license belonging to Rumrunner's Old Towne Bar & Grill, which closed Sunday, to an Anchorage restaurateur.
Alaska Provisions In Relief Bill Under Scrutiny
Alaska provisions in a relief bill for states affected by Hurricane Sandy are coming under scrutiny. Some senior Republican senators want to strip aid for the fishery disaster.
Sitka Schools: Stability, Calm Important After Conn. Shooting
Friday’s shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut has raised questions for teachers and parents across the country: How do you help children understand what happened, and how do you make them feel safe at their own school?
Alaska Casts Its Electoral College Votes
Alaska joined with the rest of the nation on Monday to cast its Electoral College ballots for U.S. President and Vice President. The state has three electoral votes.
Buccaneer Behind On Payments, Says City Manager
Buccaneer Energy has experienced another setback in its efforts to deploy the Endeavor jack-up rig, which has been docked at the Homer Harbor about four months longer than originally planned. The company was forced to replace the operator of the rig after local workers complained about not being paid.
Petersburg Borough Vote Deadline Today (12/18)
It’s the last day of voting for Petersburg’s mail-in borough election. Ballots have to be postmarked by Tuesday. If the vote passes, the city government would dissolve and become a borough government with taxation and planning authority over an area that’s about 83 times the size of the current city boundaries. It would include the small city of Kupreanof as well as a number of other neighborhoods, residences and businesses for a total population gain of roughly 10 percent. There are some substantial private land holdings, but most of the additional area is uninhabited National Forest land.
State Looks At Southeast Alaska Wolf Control Programs
Southeast game managers are working on new wolf control programs for Southeast Alaska. The state’s Board of Game will hear about the plan when it meets in January in Sitka. The Department of Fish and Game is looking at reducing wolves near Petersburg and Ketchikan to help boost deer numbers. Predator control efforts are underway in other parts of the state but these new programs would be the first of their kind in decades for Southeast.
Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone
As snow falls and Christmas lights glow in Jackson Hole, a holiday season of a different sort settles in just beyond the town, in the great winter world of Yellowstone.
TV: Wednesday, 12/19 at 7:00pm
Final Chen Case Resolved
A Ft. Wainwright based soldier implicated in a hazing case is being discharged from the Army. Lieutenant Daniel L. Schwartz is the last of 8 Stryker Brigade members charged related to physical and verbal abuse that resulted in the suicide of an army private last year in Afghanistan.
Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye Passes Away
Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye died Monday at age 88. His office said he died of respiratory complications. The Democrat was a World War Two hero who became the first Japanese American to serve in Congress. He served 49 years, second only to the late Robert Byrd at 51 years.
Frontline: From Jesus to Christ – The First Christians
FRONTLINE presents the epic story of the rise of Christianity. Drawing upon new and sometimes controversial historical evidence, the series transports viewers back 2,000 years to the time and place where Jesus of Nazareth once lived and preached and challenges familiar assumptions and conventional notions about the origins of Christianity. The first program traces the life of Jesus of Nazareth, exploring the message that helped his ministry grow and the events that led to his crucifixion around 30 C.E. The film then turns to the period that followed Jesus’ death, examining the rise of Christianity and concluding with the first revolt — the bloody and violent siege of Jerusalem and the beginning of a rift between Christianity and Judaism.
TV: Tuesday, 12/18 at 9:00pm
ConocoPhillps Settles With State and Federal Government Over Oil Spills
U.S. and Alaska environmental officials have reached an agreement with ConocoPhillips to settle environmental claims in the state from spills in 2006 and 2007. Both spills were from corroded flow lines in the Kuparuk Unit petroleum facility.
Fairbanks Museum Exhibit Examines Hibernation
Hibernation and the Science of Cold. That’s the focus of a new exhibit that just opened at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks’ Museum of the North tomorrow (Saturday). KUAC’s Emily Schwing stopped by the for a sneak peak.
Boarding Schools Offer New Opportunities For Some Families
This time of year, many students at Alaska’s boarding schools are heading home for winter break. Boarding schools have a long and complicated history for Alaska Natives; some blame them for loss of indigenous languages, and some students suffered abuse at schools.
Rau Offers Lessons In Life, Trolling In ‘As the Gurdy Turns’
A writer and salmon troller has published a new collection of articles written over the course of thirty-five years fishing in Southeast. As the Gurdy Turns is the first book for Ron Rau, who was a frequent contributor to The Alaska Fisherman’s Journal.