Brian Venua
Senior ReporterBorn and raised in Dillingham, Brian Venua attended Gonzaga University before graduating and ultimately returning to Alaska. He moved to Kodiak and joined KMXT in 2022. Venua has since won awards for the newsroom as both a writer and photojournalist, with work focused on strengthening community, breaking down complex topics, and sharing stories of and for the people of the Kodiak Archipelago.
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This week we hear about O'Reilly Auto Parts planning to open a store in Kodiak, the Alutiiq Museum held its annual meeting, the USDA is looking to work with more producers on the island, KEA has a new CEO, KIBSD held its convocation to hype up the school year, and the school in Chiniak has a new teacher this year. -
Teresa Hedges taught at KIBSD for about 20 years before she retired. Now she's back and working with kids in Chiniak, on the eastern end of Kodiak's road system. -
“It’s really our celebration of the start of the school year,” said KIBSD Superintendent Cyndy Mika. “It’s our way to realize that we are a collective group of people with one purpose and one goal – and that’s educating our students.” -
This week we hear about municipal issues at the Alaska Municipal League's Summer Legislative Session, a UAA Chancellor's Award of Excellence going to Nancy Castro, pink salmon issues across the Gulf of Alaska, and an update on the Bering Sea snow crab crash.
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The award recognizes Castro's efforts to help students pay for tuition, connect with the community. A Kodiak College press release called Castro "a champion for educational access." -
"Almost every school system in nearly every community is at the point where everybody has some basic needs that are being challenged," said Association of Alaska School Boards Executive Director Lon Garrison on education funding in the state. -
The Alaska Municipal League comprises of borough, city, and village officials from across the state and hosted a session in the Kodiak Marketplace downtown. -
This week we hear about U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski visited Kodiak to speak for the Alaska Municipal League, Kodiak Fire Department responded to an ammonia leak, a Coast Guard death sparked conversations about mental health on base, and we hear what it's like inside the Alutiiq Museum.
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U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski visited Kodiak for just a few hours to speak at the Alaska Municipal League's Summer Legislative Session to share updates about transportation and projects with fisheries. -
A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was reported dead in late June. The investigation is ongoing, but his death sparked a new wave of conversations about mental health on the base.
