KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Jay Barrett/KMXT This week Alaska Senator Mark Begich introduced a bill that seeks to stem the tide of mislabeled seafood in the American marketplace. He says such actions hurts Alaska fishermen and cheats consumers. He said his bill gives government agencies, such as NOAA Fisheries and the FDA better tools to deal with the huge pirate fishing industry. Begich says …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT It’s been just over a week since the House Finance Committee released a $9.7 billion operating budget for Alaska, and Kodiak’s Representative Alan Austerman said the budget should hit the House Floor sometime this week. Austerman is the co-chairman of the finance committee and said the proposed budget, which includes cuts in almost every department, will see some …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Alaskans are making a strong presence at the annual Boston Seafood Show going on this week. Stopping by to check in with them for a second year is Alaska’s junior senator, Mark Begich. He took a few minutes yesterday to also check in with KMXT, live from the convention floor. As of lunchtime Monday, Begich had yet to …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT On Thursday the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly unanimously passed a resolution expressing support for renaming the state airport to be called the Benny Benson Kodiak State Airport. In addition to designing the Alaska Flag, Benny Benson spent much of his life in the aviation industry in Kodiak. Benson died in 1972 and 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Several items that may change the way you subsistence hunt or trap here in Kodiak will be on the agenda for the Kodiak/Aleutians Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meeting in two weeks. In addition, other issues related to subsistence in the region will be discussed. The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. on March 26th and 27th, at the Kodiak …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Things got a little tense after the second executive session held at last Thursday’s Kodiak Island Borough Assembly meeting. A third private session behind closed doors was brought out into the open, at the request of Assemblyman Mel Stephens, who was the subject of the executive session. The session was schedule to hear from the borough’s attorney about …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT On Thursday, the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly voted in favor of its Federal Capital Improvement Program list. Borough Manager Bud Cassidy said the list was a lot smaller than in years past.

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Kodiak’s two governing bodies will be off island this week. Both the Borough Assembly and City Council will make the annual pilgrimage to the state capitol and help advocate for various local projects and municipal needs. Borough Mayor Jerome Selby said the trip helps ensure Kodiak is on the mind decision makers in Juneau.