For the last ten years, since the 2015-2016 session, state Senator Gary Stevens of Kodiak has been trying to raise the minimum age in Alaska to smoke tobacco and e-cigarettes from 19 to 21.

The Near Island Development Plan of 2017 lays out three paths: minimal, moderate or maximum development. The city council never picked one of those paths; it has not passed a formal resolution yet.

The City Council discussed the Second Floor Restaurant’s license renewal for the year 2024 through the end of 2025 during a work session on Jan. 16. The eatery is located upstairs in the same building as Peking and is owned by the same person, Sook C. Yun who is also known as Sung Kim.

The City of Kodiak and Kodiak Island Borough announced on Wednesday, Jan. 8, that Richard Gonzalez will be the main point of contact for local, state and federal partners during emergency response on the island.

Kodiak's Gary Stevens is set up to once again serve as senate president and Louise Stutes is slated to chair the House's powerful rules committee. Each visited KMXT to share their priorities ahead of the next Alaska Legislative Session, which starts Jan. 21.

Kodiak has few abandoned buildings, but one of them could be torn down in the next year. A half-century old facility, made with toxic materials, sat empty before the local borough assembly made the decision.

The City of Kodiak was well represented during this month’s Alaska Municipal League awards ceremony. City staff and certain local projects received awards as part of the group’s annual local government conference in Anchorage from Dec. 9 – 13.

Gov. Dunleavy released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 at a press conference on Dec. 12, which would give the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute $10 million spread out over three years. That’s after he vetoed similar funding included in last fiscal year’s budget.

The Kodiak City Council has yet to make a final decision on the name for its park and recreation center. That’s several months after receiving a recommendation to change the name from Baranof Park to Wamwik, which means “a place to play” in Alutiiq.

A property tax exemption court case, currently being appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court, between the Kodiak Area Native Association and the Kodiak Island Borough could set precedent for other communities around the state.