Democratic candidate for governor Les Gara recently campaigned in Juneau. The candidate sat down to talk about why he’s running, the state’s finances and how he thinks the new ranked choice voting system will play out.
Jeremy Hsieh
Local News Reporter, KTOO
I dig into questions about the forces and institutions that shape Juneau, big and small, delightful and outrageous. What stirs you up about how Juneau is built and how the city works?
Federal relief put Juneau’s budget in the black. Now, what to do with the surplus?
The city manager has proposed a project list that includes initial funding for a new city hall, extra money for escalating renovation costs at the Augustus Brown Pool, planning for a multi-use path through the Lemon Creek area and planning for a second road crossing to Douglas Island.
Amid war in Ukraine, Juneau Assembly decides to maintain sister city relationship with Vladivostok
The Juneau Assembly was one vote short of suspending the sister city relationship. But Mayor Beth Weldon will be sending a letter to her counterpart in Vladivostok that conveys the Assembly’s condemnation of Putin and the war, and its support for Ukraine.
Newscast – Monday, April 4, 2022
In this newscast: Wearing masks is now optional in Juneau schools; State lawmakers may finally overhaul Alaska’s alcohol laws this year; 51 candidates file to finish out Congressman Don Young’s term; Some Alaska Native tribes are getting behind U.S. Supreme nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson; Interior Secretary Deb Haaland plans to visit Alaska this month
USDA announces $8.7M in grants for sustainability projects in Southeast Alaska
Southeast Alaska is getting special attention in part because the Biden administration wants to reinstitute the Roadless Rule in the Tongass and end large-scale, old-growth logging.
Goldbelt is interested in financing Eaglecrest’s gondola and other expansion plans
City officials said Goldbelt Inc. is willing to put in up to $10 million for a slice of the gondola ticket sales. The particulars of a deal with Goldbelt would have to be negotiated.
Newscast – Friday, March 25, 2022
In this newscast: The Alaska Supreme Court says a new Senate district’s boundaries are an “unconstitutional political gerrymander”; Juneau officials are making a Lemon Creek multi-use path a priority; Goldbelt Inc. wants to help Eaglecrest Ski Area pay for its gondola project and expand summer operations; Officials in Haines and Skagway are raising questions about how a proposed mine will get its ore out of the Chilkat Valley; Kodiak’s Coast Guard base is getting a huge influx of federal infrastructure money; Democrat Elvi Gray-Jackson decides to end her run for U.S. Senate; Plans for a Alaska service for the late Rep. Don Young are set; Clear skies are lining up with a moderate aurora forecast this weekend
Newscast – Thursday, March 24, 2022
In this newscast: The Juneau Police Department creates a missing persons web page; Researchers present findings and recommendations on managing landslide risk in Haines; Federal investigators release documents in their investigation of fatal sightseeing plane crash near Ketchikan in 2021; Alaska’s congressional delegation calls for a permanent ban on Russian seafood imports; The Anchorage Assembly will get a 12th member after redrawing district maps
Juneau’s main system for managing COVID-19 is shutting down
For residents, the shut down of Juneau’s Emergency Operations Center means there will be no more city mandates about masking and crowd sizes.
Newscast – Wednesday, March 23, 2022
In this newscast: The main system Juneau officials have used to manage the COVID-19 pandemic is set to end next month; State officials lay out the timeline for special elections to fill Congressman Don Young’s vacant seat; The Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Yup’ik Immersion School in Bethel is expanding; Anchorage officials are negotiating a contract to build a large homeless shelter; Microgrants for tools to grow, hunt and store food are available for to address food insecurity