Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

In governor’s budget, plans to sell Mt. Edgecumbe pool

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy wants to sell the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Aquatics Center -- before the brand new $26 million dollar facility has even opened to the public. The pool, which serves the state-run Mt. Edgecumbe boarding school in Sitka, is among numerous cuts proposed by the governor in his budget earlier this month.

Hospital suspends major surgeries this month

Sitka Community Hospital is suspending all scheduled and emergency surgeries at the end of this month. The new policy will go into effect on February 28, the same day the city will unveil the draft of their hospital sale agreement to the public.

Judge denies STA’s request for injunction

A Juneau judge has denied Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s request for an injunction that would have required the Alaska Department of Fish and Game develop new procedures in the weeks leading up to the Sitka Sac Roe Herring Fishery.

Judge to rule ‘quickly’ following herring hearing

Superior court judge Daniel Schally on Tuesday (2-19-19) heard oral arguments on a request for an injunction brought by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. If granted, the injunction could force the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to change policies and delay the fishery, which is only weeks away.

Sitkans share their love, on-air

Did you miss us when we read your Sitka Love Note? Listen here! Our celebration of local love aired from 8-10 p.m. on Thursday February 14. We read over forty 'Sitka Love Notes' and played numerous song dedications, from Elton John to John Legend.

Kreiss-Tomkins: proposed budget could cause ‘economic shock’

District 35 Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is worried that the steep budget cuts Governor Mike Dunleavy is proposing could lead to major economic downturn in the state.

Assembly takes step toward hatchery water deal

The Sitka Assembly is moving forward with a plan to offer more water to an expanding local hatchery. The proposal has been met with opposition from some Sitkans concerned about energy costs, but others say the economic benefits for trollers are invaluable.

Utility director wary of Sitka granting hatchery more free water

A Sitka hatchery is negotiating with the city over a new water agreement to expand its operations. But Sitka’s utility director says he’s worried the deal could drive up electric rates.

Microplastics found in local mollusks

Fisheries biologist Helen Dangel and fellow researchers have spent the past year collecting samples of two species- butter clams and blue mussels- looking for microplastics in the mollusks.

Assembly directs staff to budget 3 percent cut to enterprise funds

After reviewing a proposed budget that would include some rate increases, some assembly members want to see cuts to the enterprise funds. At a special meeting of the Sitka Assembly last Thursday night (1/31/19), assembly members directed city staff to draft a budget cutting 3 percent from all enterprise funds.