Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

Sitkans protest Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade

A small group of demonstrators gathered at Sitka's roundabout at noon, following the Supreme Court's decision, holding signs that read, "Bans off our bodies" and "Protect our right to choose."

Sitka’s water scores second place in national taste competition

Sitka’s drinking water is officially “prize winning” on a national level. The city’s tap water, locally sourced from Blue Lake, won second place last week (6-14-22) at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) taste test competition.

In Japan, marketers spawn new strategies to sell herring eggs

Herring season wrapped up earlier this spring in Sitka Sound with the largest commercial harvest in the history of the sac roe fishery. Herring management nevertheless continues to be controversial, and – many would argue – weighted heavily toward market demand in Asia. But what exactly is that market? Earlier this year, KCAW spoke with a Japanese anthropologist studying the history of herring in his home country, and how the market is changing along with the tastes and habits of the Japanese themselves.

City raises Lincoln Street closure threshold to 4000 cruise passengers

Since the beginning of the summer cruise season, the city has been closing the street to through traffic on days when 3,000 or more cruise passengers are in town. Beginning next week, the threshold will increase to 4,000.

Sitka reported 28 new COVID cases last week

Twenty-seven Sitkans and one non-resident tested positive for the coronavirus last week in Sitka, as reported by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

Cannabis tax ballot question progresses toward final vote

The Sitka Assembly is one step closer to putting a marijuana tax question out to the voters, but it will be a slightly lower tax than previously advertised.

Coast Guard aids stranded boaters west of Yakutat

A Coast Guard crew from Valdez came to the aid of stranded boaters on Tuesday (6-14-22), about 80 miles west of Yakutat.

SEARHC hospital construction crew to process gravel on-site

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium kicked off construction of its long-planned hospital expansion earlier this month on Japonski Island. At the Sitka Assembly meeting on Tuesday (6-14-22), SEARHC secured short-term permission to crush its own rock for gravel fill at the construction site.

City admin pens letter in opposition to state land sale

The city of Sitka is coming out strongly against a proposed land sale of Alaska Mental Health Trust land to a buyer in Montana.

June 14, 2022: Preview of tonight’s assembly agenda

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium broke ground on its new hospital earlier this month on Japonski Island. Now it's requesting a permit to operate a rock crusher to make gravel fill at the hospital construction site, rather than trucking blasted rock from out the road.