At its last meeting, the Haines borough assembly discussed whether to reissue a permit to a gravel pit on Lutak road. The Assembly voted against, and the matter may be headed for the courts. And The Haines borough is considering requesting that nonprofits collect sales tax on some of their transactions. The assembly received strong […]

Today in the news, the third episode in Molly McClusky’s series on Skagway Housing. Today, Molly tackles who (or what) is considered “Essential” in a small rural community, and the difficulty for them to maintain secure housing in order to provide essential services.  

The state of Alaska is rescuing the Haines borough from financial hot waters. But, that assistance is contingent on the borough’s continued efforts to resolve the original shortfall. And, the draft winter ferry schedule is out.   

The Haines borough is seeking to hire dispatchers. Staffing is down, but the current dispatchers are putting in extra hours to make sure no emergency goes unanswered. And, the Southeast State Fair announced the headliners of this year’s event.

Bad cell phone service, increased family leave, ocean floor mapping and environmental contaminants were all discussed at Skagway’s last assembly meeting. The session was brief but the topics were diverse.

The commercial fishing season has started in the Lynn Canal. The catch was high, the prices similar to last year’s. The fish are healthy. Biologists expect strong runs this year, but, it could be a difficult year for the industry.  

The Skagway Shuffle: Episode 2

Approximately two weeks after a vehicle fire on the Klondike Highway, the Skagway Fire Department was called to a structure fire. There were no injuries and the fire was contained. And, it’s not a jewelry store. It’s not a restaurant. You’ll never guess the newest business headed to Skagway’s Historic District.

Carbon Credits are a new way of getting revenue from forests by leaving trees in the ground. The state of Alaska is setting up its own program, and the Haines state forest could be included. But, as KHNS’s Alain d’Epremesnil reports, the local timber harvest plan will have to be updated to accommodate the new […]

Like many Alaska towns, Skagway has been dealing with a housing shortage for years. Unlike other towns, Skagway has little room for expansion and the number of housing units available doesn’t change much year over year, even as the ships get bigger, and more seasonal employees are needed to serve them. Recent changes have residents […]