Robert Woolsey, KCAW, Author at KCAW

Alaska’s Education Dept. has proposed a rule change to preserve federal funding. It could cost local schools millions

In what is already a difficult year for school funding in Alaska, a serious threat has emerged from an unlikely source: The state’s Department of Education.

Sitka Trail Works wins national honor for volunteer leadership

A trail-building organization in Sitka has been recognized nationally for its work. The Chief of the US Forest Service, Thomas Schultz, Jr., has handed Sitka Trail Works the agency’s Volunteer Program Leadership Award.

Sitka Assembly advances charter amendment to use hospital funds for athletic facilities

A proposal to amend Sitka’s charter to allow funds dedicated to the former community hospital to be spent on new athletic facilities opened to mixed reviews, when the Sitka Assembly met this week (6-24-25). While there was strong support for upgrading the community’s athletic fields, there was concern that the idea was too vague to win over voters in October.

Sitkans rally in opposition to proposed public lands sale

Around 300 residents turned out in Sitka on Saturday at noon (6-21-25) to rally in opposition to a bill moving in the US Senate that would expedite the sale of over 255-million acres of public lands – the lion's share of it in Alaska (79,491,531 acres), including the Tongass National Forest.

‘Because it’s raining’: Sitka Schools tap $500k in reserves to cover governor’s surprise veto

The Sitka School District is going to ride out an unprecedented fourth veto of education funding by drawing down its reserves. The only alternatives were to trim a half-million dollars from a budget that’s already been cut to the bone, or to lay off five additional teachers.

An iconic portrait exhibit opens in an iconic Sitka bar

A new exhibit of contemporary portraiture is opening in Sitka, but don’t bother looking for it in any of the community’s excellent museums or galleries. This show opens in one of Alaska’s most famous watering holes, Sitka’s Pioneer Bar.

In Kake ruling, Ninth Circuit hands Feds a major win in decades-old dispute over subsistence in Alaska

In a landmark ruling this week (6-2-25), the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision allowing the Federal Subsistence Board to authorize emergency hunts in Alaska.

Sitka’s legislators voted to override the governor’s veto of education funding. But they’re still worried about schools

Sitka's legislators have returned home following adjournment on May 20. Both recently visited KCAW to offer insights into the session, and to reflect on this year's battle to fund education.

Sitka youth wins 70th Sitka Salmon Derby — again!

A nine-year old has won the Sitka Salmon Derby – for the second time in three years. Caleb Gray brought in the biggest fish near the beginning of the five-day event, and no one else ever came close.

A Sitka grocery with a five-generation history goes on the market

One of Sitka’s oldest family businesses is for sale. Sea Mart owners Roger and Mary Hames met with KCAW's Robert Woolsey to discuss their decision to sell their business almost eight decades after Roger's grandparents founded the family's first grocery store.

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