Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

Sewage leak prompts emergency repairs for aging Brady Lift Station

An estimated 11,000 gallons of sewage spilled onto the beach and into the Sitka Channel when the aging Brady Lift Station developed a leak in April.

In step with libraries across the country, Sitka Public Library eliminates late fines

When a child receives their first library card, they often learn two things. First--the card is a window to the rest of the world, to endless knowledge and adventure found in the pages of books. The second? If you return those books late, you’ll be charged a fee. That’s no longer the case at the Sitka Public Library.

June 8, 2021: What’s on the agenda when the Sitka Assembly meets tonight?

When the Sitka Assembly meets tonight (6-8-21) it will consider a proposal to change the library users policy, eliminating late fines.

COVID alert level lingers at ‘moderate’ as 3 more Sitkans test positive

Three more people tested positive for the coronavirus last week, keeping Sitka’s COVID alert level at moderate.

Sitka vigil a chance to mourn, reflect on history of residential schools

Communities across the United States where residential schools were once located are reckoning with their own history this week, following the discovery of a mass burial site at a former residential school for Indigenous children in Canada. At 7 p.m. on Sunday (6-6-21), Sitkans will gather for a candlelight vigil to remember the 215 children and acknowledge local history on the Sheldon Jackson campus.

As parents return to work, childcare providers want a more sustainable model

Sitka’s childcare system was already in crisis, long before the pandemic hit and radically shifted everything. Now, as Alaska’s vaccination rates improve and more parents go back to work, they may not have a place to send their children.

Sitka’s COVID alert level still moderate, with 5 new cases last week

Sitka saw a small uptick in coronavirus cases last week, and the city’s COVID alert level remains “moderate.”

Assembly approves final budget for FY22

After a process that spanned months, the Sitka Assembly set its final budget for next year. When the group met on Tuesday (5-25-21), it approved a general fund budget of just over $29 million dollars for fiscal year ‘22.

After feds pave way for cruising this summer, Assembly gives green light to accept ships

This week, federal legislation paved the way for cruising this summer. Now, Southeast Alaska communities must quickly prepare to receive cruise ships as early as July.When the Sitka Assembly met last night (5-25-21), it gave the city administrator authority to enter into port agreements with cruise companies that plan to visit Sitka this summer. But first, the ships must meet certain criteria required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.