Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

Sitka’s COVID-19 case count reaches 37

Local health officials announced Sitka’s thirty-seventh confirmed coronavirus case today (8-4-20). The woman in her twenties was tested on August 3. She was exhibiting symptoms at the time of testing.

Sitka health officials announce one new COVID-19 case

Pictured: COVID-19 screeners at Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport on June 13, 2020. Beginning on...

City aims to support local businesses with CARES Act funds

The city has set aside $5 million in coronavirus relief funding for business and non-profit grants. Applications for the grants went live over the weekend. How much a business qualifies for depends on its previous annual revenue. Even though there’s only one application, there are separate sets of questions for businesses and nonprofits.

Assembly votes to ‘highly encourage’ mask wearing

Just two weeks after a resolution “ordering” mask wearing in public failed at the assembly table, a resolution with more lenient language passed. Sitka’s local government now “highly encourages”-- but still does not require-- mask wearing in public.

Assembly approves COVID-19 relief budget

When the Sitka Assembly met on Tuesday (7-28-20), it approved a final CARES Act spending plan for the city, and most of the budget was unanimously approved.

Steve Lee makes second bid for Sitka Assembly seat

A second Sitkan has filed to run for one of two open assembly seats. Steve Lee threw his hat in the ring on Monday (7-27-20). Lee made an unsuccessful bid for the office last year, but he says he’s learned some lessons since then and hopes his campaign will be stronger as a result.

Officials announce three new COVID-19 cases in Sitka

The state saw a huge uptick in coronavirus numbers over the weekend, the largest jump it's seen since the pandemic began. And today (7-27-20), local health officials announced three new coronavirus cases in Sitka.

Applications due soon for utility, moorage subsidies

Over the last month, the City of Sitka and Sitka Tribe of Alaska have already received thousands of applications for federal CARES Act funding. The utility department has received over 1500 applications for its subsidy program, which will dole out $1000 per household utility account and $3000 subsidy for each business experiencing economic hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Leo Jimmy files for Sitka Assembly seat

The first candidate has filed to run for one of two open seats on the Sitka Assembly. Leo Jimmy has been working to get a treatment center in Sitka, and now he’s shifting his energy to local politics.

Gary Paxton sets sights on another term as Sitka’s mayor

Gary Paxton is wrapping up his two year term as Sitka’s mayor. In those two years, a lot has happened: The city finalized its sale of Sitka Community Hospital to SEARHC, went through a dramatic public administrator firing, saw major budget cuts from the state, and now is in the throes of a pandemic.