Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

U.S. Census Director Robert Santos visits Sitka, addresses undercount concerns

The head of the U.S. Census Bureau, Robert Santos, visited Sitka on October 17, on his way to the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. He met with officials from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to hear concerns about how systemic undercounting has impacted federal funding formulas for the Tribe.

Listen: Lieutenant Gov. candidate Heidi Drygas on the campaign trail

Former Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas was in Sitka for the Alaska Travel Industry Association conference this week. Drygas is running on a ticket with former Governor Bill Walker, and if elected would serve as Lieutenant Governor.

Assembly seeking applicants for Dave Miller’s replacement

Retired fire chief Dave Miller said he was stepping down from his assembly seat after one year due to health reasons. The assembly formally accepted Miller’s resignation at its October 11 meeting. Then it had a difficult task: Deciding how to replace him.

Incumbent Thor Christianson to serve another term on Sitka Assembly

Incumbent Thor Christianson will be serving another term as a Sitka assembly member. KCAW’s Katherine Rose spoke to Christianson the morning after election day, when the first round of votes had been tallied. Listen to their conversation here:

October 11, 2022: What’s on the agenda when the Sitka Assembly meets tonight?

Sitka’s mayor and new assembly members will be sworn in and outgoing members will be recognized when the assembly meets tonight (10-11-22).

Final vote count on Friday confirms winners in Sitka’s municipal election

City Clerk Sara Peterson and election workers counted 845 ballots on Friday (10-7-22) afternoon, and absentee and early votes aligned closely with Tuesday night’s results, confirming the winners of each race, and giving some of them slightly bigger leads.

Assembly member Dave Miller to resign from seat

Assembly member Dave Miller is stepping down at next week’s assembly meeting, citing health issues.

A Curious approach to vending makes ‘cents’ in Sitka

Following a couple of slow COVID years, Sitka businesses got a long awaited boost this summer. While the surge in cruise tourism revived some traditional enterprises, it also inspired new businesses, from food carts to sustainable snorkeling. One Sitkan’s entrepreneurial spirit took her in a “curious” direction, however, managing a distinctively offbeat vending machine.

Sitka’s unofficial 2022 municipal election returns

Sitka voters made their preferences known for mayor, assembly, and school board Tuesday. And although over 800 early and absentee ballots have yet to be counted some races’ winners can be cautiously called.

Polls open until 8 for Sitka’s municipal election

Sitkans will began casting their ballots at 7:00 this morning (10-4-22) in the local municipal election at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Ten candidates are vying for six open seats on Sitka’s assembly and school board. And there are two important ballot propositions.