Newscasts
Skagway’s railroad workers are voting on whether to authorize a strike. The workers’ union says it’s seeking wages that keep up with inflation, affordable healthcare and no job cuts. As KTOO’s Katie Anastas reports, the dispute is playing out in the middle of a busy post-pandemic tourist season. And, the Haines borough is appealing the numbers of the 2020 census. Officials hope to avoid missing out on federal funding opportunities. And, phone service is bad.

Two new writers are filling the pages of the Chilkat valley news. Nakeshia Diop and Lex Treinen both arrived in recent weeks and hit the ground running. Treinen will take over as editor, and Diop reporter. We stopped by the newspaper’s office to chat with them.

Haines has no veterinary care at all. But that could soon change. A veterinarian is coming to Haines for a week. Trail breaker Vet Services will establish a connection with pet owners, and hope to provide continued care online and through bi annual visits to the town And the Haines planning commission recently voted to endorse pursuing a Safe Street grant. The federal program provides funds for municipalities to assess their safety needs and construct safety features on roadways.

With the warm weather of spring and summer comes the scramble to recycle the assortment of junk that Haines residents have accumulated over the past year and the nonprofit Haines Friends of Recycling is meeting that annual need.

This week was the first opener of the commercial salmon fishing season. The runs in Lynn Canal are predicted to be strong, but the prices are low. And, the king troll fishery in southeast will be open, afer all. And, the Haines Volunteer Fire Department was called in to extinguish a burning vehicle on Tuesday night.

The Haines Borough started an effort to come up with a plan for the next decade. Consultants with the firm Agnew-Beck are in town and have initiated the dialogue to rewrite the borough’s comprehensive plan. The document will guide borough policy, and residents eagerly contributed to the conversation.

An author who has spent her career salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska has published a new collection of essays, at a time when the industry itself is at risk.
Tele Aadsen’s book is titled What Water Holds, and it is both a memoir of a life spent fishing, and a celebration of the marine environment that makes that life possible.
Aadsen recently spoke with KCAW’s Robert Woolsey.

Today in the news Skagway’s local government is discussing how to handle the transit of bulk minerals in the future. The assembly is currently working on a resolution requiring a sealed container system, but assembly members are open to other technologies that would allow for an environmentally responsible way to handle the materials. And, thousands of cyclists had a great day on Saturday.
