KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT The 2014 Legislative Session is still more than a month away, but the Kodiak City Council is already gearing up for what will most likely be another tight-budgeted year. Tuesday night the council heard from its lobbyist, Ray Gillespie, about what the next year of spending might look like for Alaska. “The revenues are down significantly in the …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak held its annual membership meeting on Sunday afternoon, electing two members to the tribal council. Frank Peterson with 97 votes and Sophie Frets with 93 were sworn in following the meeting. Jonathan Sholl and Iver Malutin were also candidates. New officers for the tribe were appointed by the council on Sunday as well. …

Jay Barrett/KMXT When Kodiak High School students arrived at school this (Wednesday) morning, they were welcomed by the acrid smell of soot. According to an announcement by the school district central office, a boiler backfired before classes and the smell was picked up by the building’s air handlers and piped throughout the building. Maintenance personnel replaced the air filters and …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT It was a moment almost seven years in the making. Yesterday morning the new Kodiak Public Library opened its doors to eager book worms and began its first day of regular operations at the new location on Signal Hill. Director Katie Baxter said the wave of visitors throughout the day was steady, which was nice after an eventful …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT December might sound like an odd time to talk about gardening, but the topic was one of many during last night’s city council work session. Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District is hoping to start a community garden sometime in the next year, and would like to use city land to do so. Last night District Manager Joe …

Children in Port Lions, Alaska, receive gifts from Santa and elf Erin Simone as part of on going outreach from the Coast Guard to the remote villages of Kodiak Island Dec. 2, 2013. The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Spouses’ Association have provided services such as eye exams and holiday cheer to the remote communities of Kodiak Island and more …

Liz Ruskin/APRN and Jay Barrett/KMXT Alaska Senator Mark Begich is trying to head off any surprise holiday announcement from the Food and Drug Administration regarding genetically modified salmon. It was the day after Christmas last year when the FDA officially announced its initial ruling in favor of genetically-modified salmon. Begich says it’s like they were trying to slip something by …

Jay Barrett/KMXT An Air Station Kodiak helicopter crew and support personnel are scheduled to head off for Cold Bay on Saturday, in preparation for the Opilio crabbing season. It’s a move the Coast Guard does seasonally to respond to maritime emergencies quicker. It’s a return trip for the Jayhawk crews, who spent most of October and November in Cold Bay …