KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Kodiak’s commercial salmon fishery is set to kick off on Thursday. Kodiak Commercial Fisheries Management Biologist James Jackson said there will be a series of salmon openers starting at noon. “We’re going to open up the majority of the Northwest Kodiak District, also the areas around the hatchery for there’s some early chum production that guys like to …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT As the Kodiak Borough Assembly looks toward finalizing the borough’s FY 2015 budget, it’s deciding how to allocate nonprofit funding. During Thursday’s work session the assembly reviewed a recommendation from the nonprofit funding committee – a recommendation that didn’t include a number of funding requests from local organizations. Assemblywoman Carol Austerman said the budget for nonprofit support in …

In 1911 and 1912, W.J. Erskine set out to answer and important, and potentially lucrative, question: Did Kodiak have enough halibut to support a fishery? One volcanic eruption, one dead engineer, and over 100,000 lbs. of halibut later, Erskine had an answer. But how was the halibut to reach San Francisco consumers? And could they be enticed to eat frozen …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Every couple of years the new president of the Alaska Bar Association swings through Kodiak to meet with the attorneys in town and to hear about their concerns. Current Bar President Geoffry Wildridge of Fairbanks visited Kodiak recently, but it wasn’t his first time here. Wildridge worked for Alaska Legal Services here in the late 70s and early …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Last week Governor Sean Parnell signed budget bills totaling $12.8 billion for next year. That compares to roughly $13.2 billion for the current year. Within those bills was the capital budget, which included more than $36 million for the Kodiak Island Borough to put toward various capital improvement projects around the archipelago. Topping the list was $15 million …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT More than two dozen people packed the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly chambers for the assembly’s work session last night. The main draw was arguably a presentation by Robert Deal, a research forester and ecosystem services team leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The assembly asked for Deal to present his thoughts on potential forest management, …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Kodiak High School’s track and field team wrapped up its regular season last weekend at the state meet in Anchorage. While Alaska School Activities Association competition is done, more than a dozen of Kodiak’s athletes, in addition to 100 more competitors from around the state, will take part in a post-season track meet here in Kodiak this weekend. …

Coming up this week, the feds have firmed up their position on the Western Steller sea lions, as the first kings hit the Kuskokwim, communities have decided how to divvy up federal disaster funds, and a former Kodiak biologist releases the definitive guide to king crab. We had help from KUCB’s Lauren Rosenthal in Unalaska, KYUK’s Charles Enoch and Ben …