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News Stories
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Skagway School ninth grader prepares for poetry competition, stifles nerves
Skagway School will send a veteran contender to the state’s Poetry Out Loud finals in early March. Freshman Mina Yee will compete for the second time, with a one in eight chance of winning. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson interviewed the performer. “I like the lady...
It’s cookie time for a new Haines Girl Scout troop
The Haines Borough has suffered a decade-long drought of Girl Scouts, which ended this winter when three local moms started a new troop. And, as KHNS’s Jenn Shelton reports, their Daisies are poised to let a truckload of Girl Scout cookies rain down on the valley...
Haines Assembly Members vote unanimously on Lutak Dock after MARAD review but questions still remain
Lutak Dock conversations dominated Tuesday’s Haines Borough Assembly meeting. Last week the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration delivered a review of the project. It gave the borough two options on how to move the project forward. Both...
Hospice of Haines hosts Taking Care Winter Series
Hospice of Haines hosted a winter series called Taking Care. It included over a dozen events – Movie Nights, TaiChi for caregivers, Forest Healing Therapy and the Death Cafe. At the second to last series event on Sunday, community members discussed how to age, die...
MARAD will not pay for the $10 million worth of steel purchased towards Lutak Dock reconstruction project
The U.S. Maritime Administration has found that millions of dollars in steel purchased by Turnagain Marine Construction for the Haines Lutak Dock project are not eligible for reimbursement. In a review, the federal agency determined that the steel was purchased before...
Skagway will foot the bill for broken float dock – for now
Skagway’s Ore Dock Redevelopment Project had a tight deadline to replace the aging Ore Dock before the start of the 2024 cruise ship season. With the demise of the replacement float dock, meant to be delivered two weeks ago, the assembly met to discuss the new plan....
Planning and Zoning forwards ideas to assembly to improve housing despite criticism
Skagway’s Planning and Zoning Commission spent 2.5 hours across two meetings creating recommendations for the assembly to increase housing inventory. Residents voiced concerns about the process. The assembly has yet to address the recommendations. Skagway’s...
Haines and Skagway start uphill climb for proposed trail system to connect the two boroughs
A board member from Haines Huts and Trails participated in Skagway’s last Parks and Recreation Committee meeting as the idea of a hut traverse between the communities was broached. If the plan came to fruition, the average hiker could make the trip in three days. ...
Winter king salmon fishing in Haines
Sportfishermen and women have been lucky this February, catching king salmon in and around Portage Cove near downtown Haines. The chinook “shore huggers” are not part of a salmon run, but instead hang out locally as part of a historical winter rearing. The older,...
Skagway housing task force builds momentum
Housing dominated much of Skagway’s last assembly meeting as three members were appointed to the ad hoc housing committee. Assembly member Orion Hanson tried to get approval for staff to draft a RFP for high density housing at the former clinic site, to include senior...
Newscasts
Newscast – December 28 2023
Haines elected officials recently learned that the contractor in charge of rebuilding the Lutak dock has purchased $10M worth of steel for the project. This commitment to a design that newly elected leaders had expressed interest in changing surprised and angered...
Newscast – December 27, 2023
A report on Skagway’s last Borough Assembly Meeting. And, the Department of Transportation has sent a notice that the Haines highway will be closed Wednesday at 9PM and through the night.
Newscast – December 26 2023
A rockslide shut down the Highway 15 miles from Haines on Saturday evening. One car was destroyed, but no one was injured. And, the Arctic has been warming much faster in recent decades, and this year, parts of northern Alaska experienced its warmest July on record....
Newscast 12-22-23
Today we have another Skagway wrap-up from Reporter Melinda Munson, stories include Skagway Robotics Team hosting it’s first competition, and Skagway’s second Marijuana dispensary clears another hurdle.
Newscast – December 21 2023
The newly elected leaders of the Haines borough have shown an interest in a different design for the Lutak dock rebuilding project. Recent communications from the contractor indicate the company is committed to the current design, and may charge the borough in the...
Newscast – December 20 2023
A Juneau pharmacy closes, slowing down Skagway prescription process And, the Skagway borough assembly is meeting on Thursday. We spoke with mayor Sam Bass about the meeting agenda.
Newscast – December 19 2023
Traffic on the Haines highway has been limited due to weather for the last week. Canadian crews have been busy clearing the snow, enough so that some convoys have been able to follow a pilot car through the pass on some days. On Saturday, multiple cars in the convoy...
Newscast – December 18 2023
The Haines Chamber of Commerce recently recruited a new director and assistant to the director. The new leadership is energized to build connections between consumers and local Haines businesses.
Newscast 121523
Today we have updates from Melinda Munson in Skagway, reporting on the borough representatives that went to Anchorage for the Alaska Municipal League conference, and Jamie Bricker’s Cultural Host Training class was a resounding success.
Newscast – December 14 2023
The last Haines assembly meeting agenda was well packed. To cover all items, the assembly continued its meeting on the following day, and still went on late into the evening. The Lutak dock figured prominently in the discussion. And, the Haines Glacier Bear Wrestling...
Newscast – December 13 2023
The Haines Borough Assembly heard an appeal to a permit issued for a rock quarry and a gravel pit at two sites on Lutak Road. At the end of a long meeting, the assembly decided that the company will have to reapply and make its case again in front of the planning...
Newscast – December 12 2023
Three Haines assembly members and the mayor traveled last week to Anchorage to join the Alaska Municipal League. The annual conference is an opportunity for local leaders from throughout the state to learn, network, and strategize. We spoke with the borough leaders...
Newscast – December 11 2023
Southeast is experiencing heavy rains. Forecasters warn that other municipalities could face flooding. And, the Haines snow dragon marched along with the fire truck on main street in Haines this weekend for the holiday parade. Firefighter offered candy, but the...
Newscast – December 8 2023
Late last month, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan announced that the Federal Transit Administration would be awarding $131 million in additional funding to support the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Newscast – December 7 2023
The Skagway borough assembly is meeting this week. We caught up with mayor Sam Bass to ask him about the main agenda items, and a report on the Marine Highway Ad Hoc Committee meeting he attended on wednesday.
Newscast – December 6 2023
It has been three years since landslides took the lives of two Haines residents and wreaked havoc in town. All residents were affected in one way or another. The recent deadly landslide in Wrangell can trigger that past trauma. We spoke with the mental health...
Newscast – December 5 2023
The Hospice of Haines is offering a year-round version of its fall grief support group. Once a month, anyone grieving for any reason is invited to gather at the senior village. We spoke with group facilitator Jenn Hughes. And, now is a good time to don a swimsuit,...
Newscast – December 4, 2023
A snowstorm is coming to the upper Lynn Canal. And, a local fund in Haines has made a large contribution towards rebuilding the community’s school playground. The project is a commemoration of the life of a victim of the 2020 landslide in Haines. The donation should...
Newscast 120123
It’s the KHNS news for Friday, December 1st, with a weekly wrap-up from Skagway Freelance Reporter Melinda Munson. Thanks for joining us. Coming up, an interview with the new Dahl Memorial Clinic Executive Director, and a sharp new test of strength and accuracy comes...
Newscast -November 30 2023
The Haines High School has lined up a series of presentations to help students learn about future job opportunities. The speakers come from ten different industries, and they are sharing their experiences and advice with young people who will soon enter the job market.
Newscast – February 2 2023
The Haines Port and Harbor Advisory Committee reviewed the latest Lutak dock design.
Newscast – February 1 2023
A high number of teachers are leaving the Haines school system this year.
Newscast – January 31 2023
The Haines Friend’s of Recycling is looking for a way to process the community’s plastic waste closer to home. And they think a small mobile unit could do the trick.
Newscast January 30 2023
Lingít Master Carver Wayne Price is returning to the University of Alaska Southeast as part of its Northwest Coast Arts program, and River Talks returns in Haines! The popular winter storytelling event resumed last Thursday.
Newscast – January 26 2023
The Haines Volunteer Fire Department turned in its annual report to the borough. 911 calls are up and volunteer numbers are down, and the department is working on increasing participation.
Newscast – January 25 2023
The Haines Borough Assembly voted on Tuesday night to overturn a decision by the planning commission. The Commission had issued a permit to Chilkat River Adventure for a heliport at its property at 24 miles on the Haines Highway.
Newscast – January 24 2023
The Alaska Legislature returned to Juneau for a new session last week. Senator Jesse Kiehl and Representative Andi Story spent their weekend traveling to Skagway to speak with their constituents
Newscast – January 23 2023
The federal government has designated the Chilkoot trail as a National Historic Trail, and the annual Alcan 200 snowmachine race was canceled this weekend because of snowy roads. Race officials considered time restrictions and safety, and decided to hold the...
Newscast – January 19 2023
Skagway’s Public Safety Committee met Wednesday evening to discuss the recent loss of two community members to apparent opioid overdoses. Officials shared resources that could help people facing addiction and those who care for them.
Newscast – January 18 2023
Fifteen people and their stuffed animals gathered in a room at the Haines High School last Saturday for a class offered through the local animal shelter. And they learned some important techniques for keeping their pets safe in an emergency.
Newscast – January 16, 2023
Skagway police investigate the deaths of two men this weekend and suspect Fentanyl poisoning as the cause of both.
Newscast – January, 13, 2023
Skagway’s White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad will resume service to Canada this summer; Skagway looks to receive a fire truck with better ladder capabilities.
Newscast – January 12 2023
A Haines couple is on a mission to alleviate the shipping pains often experienced by Alaskans. They have started Deliver2Alaska, a business that aims to deliver packages in the simplest and cheapest way.
Newscast – January 11 2023
The Haines borough assembly voted on Tuesday night to reconsider a controversial permit for a helicopter guide service. The conditional use permit had been issued last month during a charged meeting of the Planning Commission. Five separate appeals were filed. ...
Newscast – January 6, 2023
The Lutak Dock redesign in Haines moves forward; Skagway offers utility assistance to residents.
Newscast – January 5, 2023
A former Haines man arrested on Felony theft charges awaits trial at Lemon Creek; A Skagway-based dog-walking couple gains internet fame.
Newscast – January 4, 2023
Skagway's tribal government is monitoring the town's air quality; A Haines radio pioneer has died.
Newscast – December 23, 2022
The Haines Long Term Recovery Group to shut its doors; A look at Skagway’s only full-service restaurant open this winter.
Newscast – December 22, 2022
Skagway extends the health clinic’s executive director’s contract; The Haines Glacier Bears Basketball teams are off to strong starts.
Newscast – December 20, 2022
Skagway will send a sales tax increase to voters in the spring; New mountain goat hunting regulations are being debated for the upper Lynn Canal.