Hope McKenney, Author at KCAW

Sitka Assembly approves budgets for FY2027

The Sitka Assembly on Tuesday (5-12-26) passed the city’s final operating budget and capital improvement plan for Fiscal Year 2027, which starts on July 1.

New report shows Sitka childcare capacity maxed out, city looks for path forward

Sitka’s childcare system has the capacity to serve only about half of the young children who need it. That’s according to a childcare needs assessment that was presented to the Sitka Assembly at its meeting Tuesday night.

Kids learn gun skills and safety with revival of Sitka’s 4-H rifle club

Sitka’s youth rifle club has been dormant for several years after the previous instructor stepped down in 2022. But recently, a local revived the program.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo: ‘glam fairies’ help Mt. Edgecumbe students prep for prom

For the past 14 or so years, volunteers with the “Prom Prince and Princess” program have helped Mt. Edgecumbe students get glammed up for prom. They do hair, nails, and makeup, provide jewelry, shoes, corsages and boutonnieres, and even do alterations on the many donated suits and dresses.

Sitka’s municipal and tribal governments discuss local priorities during semi-annual dinner

Affordability. That was one of the priorities discussed between Sitka’s municipal and tribal governments when they met Wednesday night (4-29-26) for their semi-annual government to government dinner.

Sitka driver injures bicyclist in HPR accident

A Sitka driver without a valid license hit a bike rider Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Halibut Point Road and Peterson Ave.

City denies new public records appeal from former Sitka Assembly candidate

Austin Cranford said he submitted a public records request to the city in February to understand how the city is handling sign-on bonuses and high turnover at the police department. He claims staff’s response included unlawful redactions and denied the existence of some documents.

Mt. Edgecumbe cuts teachers amid ongoing budget and enrollment issues

Mt. Edgecumbe High School is cutting staff for the second year in a row amid ongoing budget and enrollment issues. While last year’s position cuts were mostly refilled at the end of the summer, administrators say they'll only re-hire for the cut positions this year if more students enroll.

‘It was right in front of us the whole time’: scientists identify mysterious ‘golden orb’ discovered off Alaska’s coast

Remember that mysterious golden orb government scientists found at the bottom of the Gulf of Alaska in 2023? Was it an egg? A sponge? Remnants of a space alien? Scientists were baffled. Two-and-a-half years later, they say they’ve figured it out.

Municipal administrator, attorney receive ‘exemplary’ reviews from Sitka Assembly

The Sitka Assembly gave the city’s municipal administrator and attorney both “exemplary” reviews for their work over the past year in a special meeting Tuesday night.