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KTOO Public Media

@ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social

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KTOO brings you news, arts and public affairs from Alaska’s capital city along with stories from our media partners around Southeast and the rest of the state.

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KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 10d

Federal funding for public media may have ended, but you can still show your support for KTOO by visiting ktoo.org/donate or buying yourself or your loved ones some KTOO swag in our shop!

KTOO Public Media | Official Merchandise | Bonfire

Celebrate 50 years with KTOO with just a small selection of our favorite artwork from over the years.

www.bonfire.com

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

The results paint a similar picture compared to the first round results shared earlier this week. More voters appear to be in favor of Propositions 1 and 2, but oppose Proposition 3.

Juneau voters continue to favor affordability measures, oppose seasonal sales tax in updated results

Nano Brooks continues to grow his lead over Juneau Assembly incumbent Wade Bryson.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Hauser said in his letter he doesn’t have career plans following his resignation but looks forward to being able to make it to dinner with his family more often.

Frank Hauser announces resignation as Juneau School District superintendent

In an announcement Friday, Hauser said he will resign at the end of June next year.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

The proposal spurred hundreds of written public comments against the change last summer. Several Alaska district officials and parents testified when the regulation was considered in June and again at Thursday’s meeting.

Alaska Board of Education takes no action on funding regulation change after public outcry

The Department of Education and Early Development, or DEED, backtracked on its initial recommendation to the board to change the state regulation that defines what counts as local contribution.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Several Southeast tribes have passed resolutions calling for cleaner fuel, including the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, the Organized Village of Kake, the Organized Village of Kasaan and the Ketchikan Indian Community.

Alaskans say cleaner fuels could solve cruise ship scrubber pollution

Scrubbers filter heavy fuel oil exhaust, but environmental advocates say they transfer air pollution into Alaska’s waters. Some Juneau residents want to see that change.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Initial forecasts overestimated tide levels by one to two feet, which was good for low-lying communities like Kotzebue and Shishmaref.

(From KNOM - Nome)

With second storm incoming, governor declares disaster in western Alaska

State emergency officials are deploying response teams and have requested help from the Alaska National Guard and State Defense Force.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

The incident left one officer with bent glasses and a red mark on his face. Another officer was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital for an evaluation of his injuries.

Grand jury indicts Juneau man for allegedly assaulting police officers

If convicted, he faces up to five years of prison time for each of the charges.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Lingít elder Ldaan.aat Laurie Cropley and elder-in-training Yuxgitsiy George Holly are leading dawn prayers at the annual Elders and Youth conference in Anchorage next week.

Tongass Voices: Ldaan.aat Laurie Cropley and Yuxgitsiy George Holly on making space for tribal values

Lingít elder Ldaan.aat Laurie Cropley and elder-in-training Yuxgitsiy George Holly are leading dawn prayers at the annual Elders and Youth conference in Anchorage next week.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

For the organization that oversees commercial fisheries in federal waters off Alaska, the most significant impact of the federal government shutdown might materialize in December.

(From @alaskabeacon.com)

Government shutdown creates uncertainty for fisheries management in waters off Alaska

Managers and advocates worry about getting adequate information in time to set the 2026 harvest levels for Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska groundfish.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

When asked what he thought of sending military troops to fight crime in Chicago and Portland, Sullivan expressed no reservation about the Chicago deployment, then just getting underway.

(From @alaskapublic.org)

Sullivan endorses Trump's deployment of military to Chicago

Sen. Sullivan says the crime rate justifies sending in the troops. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, on the other hand, considers it inappropriate.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Flooding had already begun by Wednesday afternoon, and the Weather Service forecast said water could rise as high as 10 feet above the high tide line.

(From KOTZ - Kotzebue)

Kotzebue issues mandatory evacuation order ahead of flooding from coastal storm

Water could rise as much as 10 feet above the high tide line, according to the National Weather Service.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 2d

The program supports more than 170 routes in 34 states and Puerto Rico with grants that total nearly $600 million a year, according to an October report from the Transportation Department.

(From @alaskapublic.org)

Rural airline subsidies will continue into early November despite shutdown, feds say

The U.S. Transportation Department says it has secured funding to continue the Essential Air Service program, subsidizing routes to 65 Alaska communities, through Nov. 2.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

The lack of interest so far might be because a lot more work needs to be done to make the land buildable, and that work could be expensive.

Juneau upzoned land for denser housing throughout the borough. Will anything get built?

The hope was that by allowing for denser housing in those areas, it would entice private developers to build units there. But so far, nobody’s biting.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

The campus is getting rid of out-of-state tuition for all undergraduate students as part of the Alaska Unlocked program. Out-of-state students made up 12% of the entire student population last fall.

University of Alaska Southeast offers in-state tuition for all undergraduate students next fall

The move is part of efforts to improve student enrollment at the university system’s smallest campus.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

Some locals have expressed support for the idea, noting that the state ferry system is unreliable and that a road could open up access for recreation and other purposes. But others are opposed, for a long list of reasons.

(From KHNS - Haines)

Concerns flare in Haines that a road to Juneau would be a 'road to resources'

A DOT spokesperson said finding ways to partner with industry is an important part of the process, adding that the potential project is not purely a "road to a ferry terminal."

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

The Taku River runs through the traditional homelands of the T’aaḵu Kwáan. Butch Laiti, president of the Douglas Indian Association, said the tribe isn’t willing to gamble with the health of the river.

Juneau residents voice opposition to proposed New Polaris gold mine in British Columbia

Tribal members and conservation groups say they don’t want to see a legacy of mining pollution continue in the Taku River.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

The document, released this week by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, does not say why those senators were identified in particular and it does not say whether any investigative leads resulted from the records.

(From @alaskabeacon.com)

FBI searched Alaska Sen. Sullivan's phone logs during Jan. 6 insurrection investigation

The logs cover several days during and around the insurrection, when rioters stormed the Capitol after President Donald Trump falsely claimed to have won reelection in 2020.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 3d

Early results show that most residents don’t want to implement a new seasonal sales tax system in Juneau next year, but are in favor of the two measures that aim to reduce the tax burden on individual residents. But that outcome could still change.

Preliminary results show Juneau voters in favor of affordability measures, against seasonal tax

The results shared Tuesday night could change. More updated preliminary results will be shared by the city in the coming weeks. Results won’t be certified by election officials until Oct. 21.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

Fish and Game set the cap at 9.3 million pounds. That’s a low number compared to historic levels. In 1991, crabbers harvested more than 320 million pounds of snow crab.

(From KUCB - Unalaska)

Alaska crab fishery shows signs of recovery after massive crash

Bering Sea crabbers will see a boost in catch limits this season, after years of cancellations and small harvests due to low snow and king crab stocks.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

Registered voters have until 8 p.m. tonight to return their ballots. Initial results will be released later this evening, but that will only include ballots returned before Election Day.

Tax-focused ballot propositions drive many Juneau voters to the polls this Election Day

This year’s ballot features three propositions, four candidates running for three open seats on the Assembly and four candidates running for three seats on the school board. One write-in candidate…

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

Still deciding between candidates and ballot measures? Use our candidate comparison tool to figure out who best represents your views and watch a video breaking down this year's ballot propositions. Return your ballot by 8 p.m. tonight!

2025 Juneau Municipal Election - KTOO

The latest news and information about the Oct. 7 municipal election in Juneau. For more information, including where and how to vote in the by-mail election, visit the city election website. Do you…

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

After a six-week trial and about three days of deliberation at a Kent, Washington courthouse, jurors found Peninsula Aviation Services, Inc. liable for the death of David Oltman of Washington.

(From KUCB - Unalaska)

Six years after fatal Unalaska plane crash, jury finds PenAir liable for nearly $17 million

A Washington state jury awarded $16.9 million to the family of a man who died in a 2019 airplane crash on Unalaska's runway.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

Former Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum committed to investing $50 million in state dollars in the fund shortly before his resignation took effect, according to his successor.

(From @alaskapublic.org)

Alaska lawmakers question use of state savings for $50 million private equity investment

Former Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum committed to investing $50 million in state savings in a private equity fund before he resigned, according to his successor.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 4d

Most students at Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa. at Kalé are too young to vote in Juneau's municipal election, so they voted in mock elections last week instead.

Juneau high school students vote in annual mock elections. How will they stack up against final results?

Election Day is Tuesday, although Juneau voters have been casting ballots since last month. The city’s high school students also cast votes in mock elections to learn more about how they work.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 5d

The action removes a major hurdle for the project, but developers would still need to overcome lawsuits and opposition from environmental and tribal groups.

(From @alaskabeacon.com)

Trump approves appeal for Ambler Road project, reversing Biden administration’s rejection

The proposed road, being developed by Alaska’s state-owned investment bank, would open access to a mining region in northwest Alaska.

KTOO Public Media @ktoopublicmedia.bsky.social · 5d

Deputy City Clerk Andi Hirsh said as of Saturday, about 4,600 ballots had been returned.

Tuesday is the last day to vote in Juneau’s municipal election

The city has ballot drop boxes in different locations all across town. Voters can also mail their ballots back or go to a vote center.