KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT It’s no question that many things are more expensive when you live on an island, including necessities for young parents. Emily Arnick works with the Cama’i Home Visiting Program through the Kodiak Area Native Association and estimates the average supply of diapers for one child per year costs $1,296 in Kodiak. She said a minimum wage job only …

Jay Barrett/KMXT The Kodiak Island Borough School Board has a new set of officers following the municipal elections three weeks ago. Katie Oliver is now the body’s president, with new school board member Rick Kniaziowski assuming the vice presidential role. Debra Kirk is the board’s clerk and first-year member Todd Hailey is the treasurer. Norm Wooten is the only board …

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT Composting in Kodiak took one step closer toward reality Thursday night when the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly approved a land transfer to the city. The city hopes to build a Class A composting facility south of the landfill on 2.36 acres of borough land. Lesser quality Class B composting is already being made at the landfill. During Thursday’s …

Rosemarie Alexander/KTOO and Jay Barrett/KMXT The U.S. Coast Guard says a 59-foot longliner that burned Sunday in the Bering Sea has likely sunk. A Jayhawk helicopter crew Monday flew over the area where the Western Venture was last seen, about 70 miles west of Adak, according to Coast Guard spokeswoman Sara Mooers in Kodiak. “We had good search conditions with …

Jay Barrett/KMXT We’ve had a number of stories this year about how changes are coming to the G.E.D., or General Education Development, test in January. Adelia Myrick, the adult basic education coordinator at Kodiak College told KMXT the 2014 test will likely be longer, more challenging and more expensive. “I’m all for improving the level of education but I do …

Jay Barrett/KMXT Sea cucumber fishermen are plying Kodiak Island waters these days. The season had its fourth fishing period open Monday in four of the six local districts. The season opened by regulation on October 1st. Fish and Game in Kodiak reports 24 divers on seven boats are participating this season. The guideline harvest level, or GHL, is 140,000 pounds …

Jay Barrett/KMXT One of the prime movers in the Alaska Statehood movement before that became a reality in 1959 was taking commercial salmon fishing decisions out of the hands of the federal government, which was largely influenced by the powerful Seattle seafood processors. Their use of fish traps had slaughtered so many salmon the fisheries around the state had become …

The Tustumena arrives in Kodiak on Monday after 11 months in Seward Ship’s Dry Dock. Brianna Gibbs/photo Brianna Gibbs/KMXT After 11 months the M/V Tustumena is back in service. The ship was in Seward Ship’s Dry Dock since November, but as KMXT’s Brianna Gibbs reports, it’s back in action and pulled in to Kodiak early Monday afternoon.