Author: Robert Woolsey

Senate freshmen introduce Medicare amendment

The Rural Community Hospital demonstration program will likely be extended for another five years. If approved by congress this session, it could amount to about $1-million dollars a year for Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. Alaska Senator Mark Begich introduced an amendment to the Medicare Prescription Drug Act this week that would reauthorize the demonstration program in hospitals in twenty states.

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Short sea ferry plans outlined to state board

A proposed short-sea ferry initiative to link rural villages in Southeast Alaska received a lukewarm reception from a state board on Thursday. The initiative pairs Sitka-based Allen Marine with the Juneau-based Tlingit and Haida Central Council. But as Ed Ronco reports from the Marine Transportation Advisory Board meeting in Sitka, members had questions about the long-term viability of a new ferry service.

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Nurnberger: Kyoto a "dark cloud" over COP15

The Alaskans at the UN climate summit straddle an interesting divide: they’re citizens of one of the most heavily industrialized nations, yet their remote lifestyles more closely resemble those of the developing world. This contrast has caught the attention of organizations hoping to shape US climate policy. Among them is the Union of Concerned Scientists. Lisa Nurnberger is the press secretary for the Cambridge-based UCS. She’s also a former news director at KCAW. Robert Woolsey called her at the Copenhagen summit to catch up, and to find out what the UCS hopes to achieve at the conference:

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Hames debate heats up as Assembly approves funds

Senior citizens in Sitka will continue to be exempt from paying sales tax. That’s after last night’s Sitka Assembly meeting, where members shelved a proposal to repeal the exemption and replace it with a rebate system. But the bulk of last night’s meeting centered on Hames Wellness Center, and reconsideration of two failed proposals to extend the Hames lease for another year, and fund it with economic development money.

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Interview: Chris Todd reports from Copenhagen

The United Nations Climate Change Conference gets underway in Copenhagen, Denmark, this week. Among the thousands in the city for the event is KCAW reporter and part-time morning host Chris Todd. In a phone interview from Denmark on Tuesday with KCAW’s Ed Ronco, Todd talked about the conference so far and about the sheer numbers of people who have come to Copenhagen.

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Nutcracker requires huge backstage effort

The Nutcracker performances that took place in Sitka over the weekend involved more than 80 local dancers and performers. But the production also required a huge number of volunteers behind the scenes to build sets, design and stitch together costumes, and keep the production running smoothly. KCAW student reporter Ryan Apathy reports.

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Roundtable discusses heat from the Tongass

The Coast Guard is considering a number of biomass heating projects in Southeast – using wood from local sources as fuel to heat facilities in Sitka and Ketchikan. The plans have been in the works, but were brought up again as part of a larger discussion on whether wood from the Tongass could be part of a more widespread energy industry.

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Post office offers advice on holiday shipping

Nationwide this year, the U.S. Postal Service expects to handle 16.6 billion cards, letters and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. In other words, it’s going to be busy. KCAW’s Ed Ronco visited the Sitka post office and asked for tips on how you can make sure your packages get where they need to be, when they need to be there.

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Assembly rejects Hames lease; will come up again

The yearlong lease for the Hames Athletic and Wellness Center is not a done deal. With one key supporter absent, a minority on the Sitka Assembly opposed to funding the facility was able to delay signing off on the lease for at least another week.

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Alaska Seaplanes Drawing – ends 12/31/22

Alaska Airlines Drawing – ended 4/9/2022

Quiet Drive – ended 4/3/2022

Spring 2023 Quiet Drive – ends 4/2/2023

Allen Marine Drawing – ends 4/6/23

Alaska Seaplanes Drawing – ends 10/8/23

Alaska Airlines Spring 2024– ends 3/24/24