Robert Woolsey, KCAW, Author at KCAW

SE Conference: Legislators argue Dunleavy cuts harming state

Some of Alaska’s newest legislators are concerned that the deep budget cuts being pursued by the Dunleavy administration will starve the state’s economy. First-termers Sen. Jesse Kiehl and Rep. Sara Hannan joined third-term Rep. Dan Ortiz for a half-hour forum at the SE Conference in Sitka.

SE Conference takes aim at Gov. Dunleavy’s cuts to state ferries

Over three-hundred members of the Southeast Conference packed Sitka’s Harrigan Centennial Hall Wednesday morning to pour over ideas for economic growth in Southeast, and to air grievances against a governor whom they feel doesn’t understand the people or the region.

Motivation high, cash low for a new marine service center in Sitka

With the impending closure of Sitka’s only boat yard, there’s motivation to build a large boat haul out at the community’s industrial park, but not enough money to do anything about it.

Sitka: An unlikely player in the national food scene

A leading food systems researcher and author has identified seven unlikely cities that are changing the way Americans eat. One of them is... guess where?

JKT on the PFD, the governor, and a recall effort ‘hurtling down the tracks’

Sitka Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins says that if a recall election were held tomorrow, Mike Dunleavy would not be Alaska’s governor any more. In a presentation to the Sitka Chamber, Kreiss-Tomkins discussed the Permanent Fund, the governor's potential recall, and the governor's apparent efforts to stack the Board of Fish.

As school opens, Sitka enrollment over projections

Enrollment in Sitka’s schools is over projections, and could mean more money for the district if numbers stay up through next month.

School board candidates back inclusivity, solidarity in Chamber election forum

Sitka School Board candidates Cass Pook and Paul Rioux met in a Chamber election forum this week (9-4-19).

Four years after deadly landslides, Sitka has a warning system

Four years after a cluster of landslides -- one of them deadly -- struck the community, Sitka has a landslide warning system. Although it’s still a prototype, the system combines relatively simple sensor technology with the power of human social networks. Nothing quite like it has ever been done before.

Hames Center to manage Sitka’s Community Schools program

Sitka’s Community Schools is open again, under the management of the non-profit Hames Center. The Sitka School Board earlier this month (8-7-19) approved a one-year contract with Hames, with the option to renew for four additional years.

Sitka Schools cuts IT tech, to save money for teachers

Superintendent Mary Wegner notified five new teachers on Wednesday (8-14-19) that they’ll be receiving contracts, and can start work with the rest of the staff on Thursday. But she’ll also be giving the district’s IT technician his layoff notice, effective at the end of the month.