Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Last week KMXT told you about a collision between a humpback whale and the state ferry Kennicott. The incident sent a team of scientists to Kodiak to perform a necropsy – a full body, internal examination of the carcass. Veterinarians determined the mammal died from a massive trauma and had injuries similar to those of whales that have …

Marina Cummiskey/KMXT Hi, I’m Marina Cummiskey, an intern here at KMXT as part of the station’s summer archiving project. This week I listened to an Alaska Fisheries Report, produced in November of 1993 by Laine Welch. One of the stories on the reel was about a way to put Alaskan by-catch to good use. “It’s no secret that the amount …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Threats made toward some Borough Assembly members in recent days prompted a small police presence during last night’s borough work session. The presence consisted of a single officer, not dressed in uniform, who only identified themselves as a member of law enforcement when directly asked by Assemblyman Mel Stephens. Upon learning that an officer was indeed present, Stephens …

The necropsy crew poses in front of the beached humpback whale on Puffin Island earlier this week. Back row, from left to right: Nia Pristas, Glenn McKenney, Nesie Smith, Julie Matweyou and Dana Wright of the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, Brent Pristas and Joe Sekerak from NOAA and Lei Guo from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Front row: …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A minor renovation at the Baranov Museum will allow for more art work to be put on display. Museum Director Tiffany Brunson said the museum received a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation via Museums Alaska to improve art storage in the historic Erskine House. “So Don Corwin, a local carpenter and who does great work for us always, …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Election season is here and tomorrow the filing period for a number of elected borough and city positions will open up. Two three-year city council seats are up for grabs this year. The terms for Councilmen Randy Bishop and Terry Haines are set to expire and nominations petitions to fill those spots are available from now until August …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT A referendum to repeal an ordinance passed by the Kodiak Borough Assembly earlier this month will not make it on the October municipal election ballot. A letter to the repeal’s backers from Borough Clerk Nova Javier said the petition application was rejected by the borough’s attorney because needed paperwork was not provided and the ordinance itself isn’t actually …

Last week KMXT told you about California-based writer, explorer and Wilderness Systems sponsored kayaker Daniel Fox, who spent six weeks kayaking around the Kodiak Archipelago. Today on Talk of the Rock, we’ll hear the full conversation with Fox, including a discussion about his website, the Wild Image Project and his Minute of Nature video series. Fox’s work focuses on inspiring …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT The Baranov Museum has welcomed a new face to its staff these days. Last week Jill Lipka began work as the new curator of education, replacing Sarah Harrington, who left the museum earlier this month. Lipka comes from an extensive background in museums and art, including five years with the Alutiiq Museum and most recently an art administrator …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among children, and Alaska has a higher percentage of car seat and booster seat misuse than the national average. “The national average is about 85 percent. In Alaska, statistically, we see a misuse rate of anywhere from 88 to 94 percent.” That’s Sara Penisten, a registered nurse and state …