Election day Oct. 3, with competitive races for City Council, City Mayor, Kodiak Island Borough School Board, Borough Assembly, and Borough Mayor.  KMXT held forums for the City Mayor, City Council, School Board, and Borough Assembly last week and recordings are available on our website. City of Kodiak Two candidates are running for City Mayor: Pat Branson (incumbent) and Alan …

A humpback whale was found dead near Kodiak Island on Sept. 25. Federal and tribal workers brought the corpse to a nearby island the next day to try to determine the cause of death. It’s the first whale necropsy in Alaska this year and biologists hope it could help explain why local humpback populations seem to be shrinking.  Matt Van …

Tension was high as fishers were eager to share their questions, stories, and even demands for controlling bycatch, which is the incidental harvest of a non-targeted species.   Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang said the goal is to hear fishers’ ideas about what regulations could help curb bycatch.  “People are passionate about bycatch, they want tools to address bycatch,” he …

Kodiak Harvest Food Co-op, a locally owned grocery store, raised $770 for the Kodiak Middle School’s agriculture program, according to a press release from their board of directors. The co-op raised the money through a silent dessert auction held during the co-op’s annual meeting.  KHFC project director Rob Stauffer presents KMS STEAM teacher Amanda Johnson with the donation. (Courtesy of …

Karluk, a remote village of just 24 residents, will have a school for the first time in five years starting next month.  The village, then, had 24 year-round residents – just two of whom are kids. But schools need at least 10 students to qualify for state funding. In an effort to reopen the school, the Karluk Tribal Council posted …

The Okeanos Explorer, an exploratory vessel operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, discovered an unidentifiable, golden orb deep in the Gulf of Alaska late last month. The orb ended up making national headlines for stumping the ship’s scientists.  The attention came as a surprise, said expedition coordinator Sam Candio. “I’m not even sure that that was the most …

Monday was the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attacks in United States history and a harrowing day for emergency services. Memorials were held all over the country, but one in Kodiak served a dual purpose – to christen a new fire truck.  Ellis’ kids helped pour the first water into the truck’s tanks, September 11, 2023. (Brian Venua/KMXT) The …

The gathering was hosted by the Kodiak Community Foundation and the Kodiak Arts Council. It’s the group’s second Downtown Block Party. Laura Arboleda is the board chair of the foundation. She said participation just about tripled this year.  “Last year we had about ten local nonprofits sign up and maybe six or seven showed up,” Arboleda said. “This year – …

A de Havilland Beaver operated by Alaska’s Enchanted Lake Lodge Inc. and a Bell 206L-4 helicopter operated by Maritime Helicopters collided in mid-air over Katmai National Park during Labor Day Weekend. The plane’s pilot and passengers reported no injuries, but the helicopter’s pilot was injured in the crash.  The accident took place at about 4:30 p.m. on Monday, near Lake …

Some areas in Alaska have entirely wild salmon runs. But there’s also 28 hatcheries around the state. Two of those facilities are based in Kodiak, including one near the mouth of Pillar Creek, just outside of town.  It all starts with egg takes. Hatchery staff and volunteers take four wheelers or fly out to remote lakes to catch fish that …