Both Haines and Skagway sent representatives to last month’s Alaska Municipal League Conference. Held in Anchorage, the conference brings together municipal leaders from across the state to promote local government and exchange ideas. KHNS’ Melinda Munson spoke with two Upper Lynn Canal participants who shared highlights from the gathering.

Snow slammed the Upper Lynn Canal in late December, marking one of the area’s snowiest periods in more than two decades. As Avery Ellfeldt reports for the Alaska Desk, avalanche professionals are now warning locals and visitors alike to stay out of risky terrain until conditions improve.

A fishing boat moored in the Haines Small Boat Harbor sank last week. The boat was refloated and no one was injured. It’s the second boat in the past month to sink in the harbor. KHNS’ Melinda Munson reports.

Haines and Skagway have suffered through weeks of bitterly cold temperatures and feet of snow. Snowfall in Haines has been so heavy that residents are worried about roof loads. As KHNS’ Melinda Munson reports, community members are caring for each other in these extreme conditions with shovels and the Internet.

As upper Lynn Canal residents unfreeze pipes, dig out vehicles and shovel their way into the new year, here’s a look back at KHNS’ most talked about stories of 2025.

The Skagway Borough Assembly declined to accept a new report, funded by the borough, that would have changed how the municipality distributes commercial passenger vessel excise tax, or CPV funds. They chose to stick with a different, older method, that they say more accurately reflects cruise ship passenger cost to the community. KHNS’ Melinda Munson […]

The Haines Borough has scheduled a town hall in January to discuss the possibility of public-private partnerships to fund large projects. And specifically, the meeting will address community questions regarding a proposal from American Cruise Lines to enter into a 20 plus year agreement which would grant “priority docking” to the company in exchange for […]

Earlier this month, Skagway’s tourism director announced this year’s winner of the municipality’s Tourism Best Management Practices award. The winner is a business that cycles through each season, supporting fitness and the community’s youth. KHNS’ Melinda Munson has the details.

The state is in the early stages of crafting a new plan to guide decisions about Southeast Alaska transit for the next two decades.  During two virtual open houses this week, residents raised a long list of specific projects and broader issues. As Avery Ellfeldt reports for the Alaska Desk, many comments revolved around more […]

A nearly five-hour Haines Borough Assembly meeting stretched past 10 p.m. Tuesday night as members wrestled with the contentious issue of helicopter skiing data collection and an emergency funding request from the Chilkat Valley Preschool. The assembly also received welcome news about federal disaster funding. KHNS’ Brandon Wilks reports.