Ed Schoenfeld

JUNEAU, ALASKA (2010-01-26) Angoon’s mayor says he’s willing to include other Southeast communities in development of a controversial hydropower project near Petersburg. But he won’t give up a federal permit that gives his town control of the Ruth Lake effort.

That’s despite pressure from legislators and some community members concerned that the effort could jeopardize a hydroproject closer to home.

Look for links before to more information about the hydro projects and the controversy over the permits.

Learn more about the hydro projects:

--Ruth Lake.

--Thayer Lake.

Hear earlier reports on the topic.

--Angoon Wins FERC Drawing, Wrangell Reacts

--Petersburg asks for rehearing of Ruth Lake hydro permit

--Wrangell, Petersburg leaders hope to meet with Angoon officials

Matt Lichtenstein

PETERSBURG-AK (2010-01-26) Alaska may ease commercial vehicle registration rules for fishermen who move gear and small vessels short distances by road. The State Department of Transportation’s proposed rule-change comes in response to concerns from the fishing fleet. Matt lichtenstein reports:

Deanna Garrison

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (2010-01-25) Some Craig City Council members are upset over recent comments by the state senator. They claim Sen. Albert Kookesh suggested that state funding for community projects could be jeopardized if the council opposed Sealaska lands legislation. The Angoon Democrat represents Senate District C, which includes Craig and most of Prince of Wales Island. He also serves as the Sealaska board president.

Deanna Garrison

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (2010-01-21) A legislative audit of the Gravina Access Project finds that although the state had spent more than $56 million on the project by May of last year, access from Ketchikan to its airport has not improved. The audit is also critical of the state’s decision to proceed with construction of a new road on Gravina Island without first deciding whether it will build a bridge to connect to that road.

Ed Schoenfeld

JUNEAU, ALASKA (2010-01-21) State officials have removed a prominent Southeast environmental activist from a cruise-ship science panel. They say it’s partially because of pressure from the tourism industry.

Look for links to earlier reports, additional information and the groups involved below.

Earlier reports:

--Princess, Holland America ships drop Alaska routes
--Disney sending cruise ship to Alaska in 2011
--Cruise lines sue to block head tax
--Small cruise line adds Southeast tours
--Cruise ship pollution violations jump
--Tour groups talk head-tax repeal
--Statewide group pushes cruise-tax change

Links of interest:

Link to the Alaska Cruise Ship Program and news about the science panel
Alaska Alliance for Cruise Travel
Alaska cruise ship initiative information

Tony Gorman

WRANGELL (2010-01-20) Representative Peggy Wilson has a lot on her plate going into this year's legislative session. After working to improve Alaska's health, education, and social services systems, the Wrangell Republican will shift her focus to the transportation system. Wilson's district consists of Wrangell, Petersburg, and Sitka and smaller communities like Port Alexander and Elfin Cove. That list could grow after this year's Census. KSTK's Tony Gorman has more on how Wilson plans to tackle these issues along with bringing more land to the Borough of Wrangell.

Deanna Garrison

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (2010-01-19) The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly Monday night snuffed out a proposal to institute a new borough tobacco tax. Member of the public speaking at the assembly meeting uniformly opposed the proposal to put the tax to a public vote.

Joe Viechnicki

PETERSBURG, AK (2010-01-19) Elected officials from Wrangell and Petersburg hope to visit Angoon to discuss proposed hydro-electric power development in Thomas Bay north of Petersburg. The three communities all sought the same federal permit for a power plant at Ruth Lake one of three proposed hydro sites in the remote mainland bay. Wrangell’s borough assembly and Petersburg’s city council met last week in Petersburg and discussed the possibility of a collaboration between the communities on building Ruth Lake, if Angoon leaders can be convinced to give up the permit for the site.

Tony Gorman

WRANGELL (2010-01-17) January 18th marks the observance of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. There are those who think of the day as a way to honor the civil rights leader's works of peace and equality. To others, it's another day off from work. In Wrangell where there are very few African Americans, locals have overlooked the racial aspects of Dr. King's works and recognized the overall picture. KSTK's Tony Gorman spoke with Wrangellites to see what Dr. King and his holiday means to them and filed this audio postcard.

Tony Gorman

WRANGELL (2010-01-17) The Wrangell Chamber of Commerce is on the edge of ceasing operations due to the lack of funding. The 100 year-old entity has been able to overcome its troubled financial past to sponsor the city's biggest events. KSTK's Tony Gorman has more on the Chamber's current situation.

Ed Schoenfeld

JUNEAU, ALASKA (2010-01-15) Funding for local construction projects is on Senator Albert Kookesh’s list for the legislative session.

The Angoon Democrat’s Senate district includes small to medium Southeast communities from Yakutat to Skagway to Metlakatla. It also includes Prince William Sound and Interior towns from Cordova to Eagle to Marshall.

Look below for links to Kookesh’s legislative website and reports on other Southeast lawmakers’ priorities.

 

 

Link to Sen. Kookesh's legislative website.

Hear reports on other Southeast lawmakers' legislative priorities:
-- Bert Stedman, Sitka Republican

-- Bill Thomas, Haines Republican.

-- Kyle Johansen, Ketchikan Republican

--Peggy Wilson, Wrangell Republican

Matt Lichtenstein

PETERSBURG-AK (2010-01-15) The Alaska Mental Health Trust is taking a major land exchange proposal to Forest Service and Congressional officials in Washington DC later this month. The plan is aimed at resolving conflicts between the trust mandate to make money off its lands and the concerns of neighboring residents in Southeast Alaska. However, as Matt Lichtenstein reports, the uneven acreage in the latest version of the exchange could make it a tough sell.

View detailed map of lands proposed for exchange

(large PDF file, could take several minutes to load in your browser, even with a fast connection. We recommend you right click on the link and choose "save link/target as" to download the file to your computer. Then open it in ADOBE reader offline )

Ed Schoenfeld

JUNEAU, ALASKA (2010-01-14) Funding for energy projects tops Representative Bill Thomas’ priority list for this year’s legislative session.
The Haines Republican’s House district includes small Southeast communities from Yakutat to Metlakatla, including Craig, Kake, Angoon, Hoonah and Gustavus. And some of those towns have the highest power bills in the region.

Look below for links to Thomas’ legislative website and hear reports on other Southeast lawmakers’ priorities.

Link to Bill Thomas' website.

Hear reports on other Southeast lawmakers' legislative priorities:
-- Bert Stedman, Sitka Republican
-- Kyle Johansen, Ketchikan Republican

--Rep. Peggy Wilson Focuses on Transportation and Redistricting during 2010 Session

--Capital projects top Kookesh session list

Maria Dudzak

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (2010-01-14) About 300 people gathered at the Ted Ferry Civic Center Tuesday night to voice their opinions about social issues facing the First City. Organizers are hoping this will be the first in a series of discussions.

Deanna Garrison

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA (2010-01-14) Alaska Airlines is in the process of rolling out new procedures that it says will reduce the need for its flights to overhead Ketchikan. The airline says the changes will allow flights to land more precisely and with lower visibility minimums.