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Skagway school district releases draft plan of COVID-19 precautions
June 29, 2020 19:02The Skagway School District has released the first draft of its plan for reopening school this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the State of Alaska created the Smart Start framework for schools to create their own plan for re-opening safely. Under the framework, health precautions are divided into three different risk levels: […]
KHNS Membership Drive Incentive Gifts
June 29, 2020 18:3740th Anniversary KHNS Swag! John Hagen Art Print available with $50+ individual membership. Ceramic Travel Mug (18 oz) in teal, cocoa, or olive OR Navy KHNS T-shirt with $85+ family membership. Need both? Up your pledge to $180+! Make your gift to KHNS here https://khns.org/ & pick up your incentive gifts THIS WEEK (7/29-7/3) at our […]
Haines Borough Assembly approves Lutak Dock lease with Alaska Marine Lines
June 29, 2020 18:12The Haines Borough Assembly approved an agreement last night to lease land at the Lutak Dock to Alaska Marine Lines, or AML. Under the proposed lease, AML would construct a roll on roll off ramp to improve safety during freight deliveries. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Lutak Dock back in 1953. Everything […]
Haines police chief drops out in final hiring round to be Unalaska’s chief
June 27, 2020 01:09Haines police chief says he’s no longer seeking work elsewhere. Police Chief Heath Scott had been in the running to lead Unalaska’s public safety department. But said Friday he’s withdrawn his application. Scott declined to talk on tape. But he told KHNS he’d applied for the Aleutian Islands job because of uncertainty in the Haines […]
Skagway distributes nearly a million dollars in relief money to residents
June 27, 2020 01:08The municipality of Skagway put nearly a million dollars in the mail on Friday, June 26. Skagway is divvying up its federal pandemic relief funds between every man, woman and child in the community. The port town stakes its economy on the seasonal cruise ship industry. COVID-19 virtually cancelled it. That left many of Skagway’s […]
Newscast – June 26, 2020
June 27, 2020 01:03Haines and Skagway lead the state in unemployment numbers; the Municipality of Skagway distributes nearly a million dollars in relief money to residents; Haines police chief drops out in final hiring round to be Unalaska’s chief.
Haines Police shoot and kill bear in residential area
June 26, 2020 18:06A Haines Borough Police Officer shot and killed a female bear in a residential area early Tuesday morning. The night before, residents had reported a large bear in the Skyline Estates area of Haines. One man said he tried to scare the bear off his property, but it would not leave. According to Haines Police […]
Newscast – June 25, 2020
June 26, 2020 01:44Haines Emergency Operations Center raises concerns about an individual who broke quarantine after exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case; Skagway School District releases a draft of its plan to re-open school in the fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic; A group of residents in Sitka call for the removal of a statue of Alexander Baranov.
Haines EOC raises concerns about quarantine observation, but borough has no rule on the books
June 26, 2020 01:12The Haines Emergency Operations Center said that an individual put the community at risk–by not quarantining after being exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. It has since clarified the statement. When the EOC posted on social media Wednesday that an individual in Haines quote “refused” to quarantine it sparked public concern. “I wasn’t […]
Klukwan man sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexual abuse
June 25, 2020 21:34A 73-year-old Klukwan man was handed a lengthy prison sentence last week for sexually abusing a young family member in 2013. Haines Borough Police arrested Donald Hotch Sr. in 2017 on charges of sexual abuse of a minor. He pled guilty and was convicted of two felony charges. Judge Philip Pallenberg sentenced Hotch to 35 […]
Newscast – June 24, 2020
June 25, 2020 06:48A Klukwan man is sentenced to 35 years in prison; Constantine Metal Resources announces a quiet summer season at the Palmer Project; the Haines Borough Assembly approved spending for the first tranche of federal relief funds; two proposals may go to ballot in Haines.
No exploratory drilling at the Palmer Project this year, says Constantine Metal Resources
June 25, 2020 06:44Progress has slowed down on a mine project in the advanced stages of exploration north of Haines. Constantine Metal Resources announced a belated and quiet work season this summer. Drillers are usually on the mountain at the Palmer Project twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week by mid-summer. But this year the Canadian […]
Local business relief a priority in Haines’ spending plan for CARES Act money
June 25, 2020 01:47The Haines Borough Assembly approved a spending plan that prioritizes businesses for its first installation of CARES Act funding. Most of the initial 2 million dollar payment will go to a support program for local businesses and to backfill the municipal budget. Borough Clerk Alekka Fullerton said the municipality incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars […]
Newscast – June 23, 2020
June 24, 2020 01:28Haines Borough Police shoot and kill a bear; Haines Sheldon Museum avoids layoffs after receiving a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities; Haines Borough reaches agreement with Alaska Marine Lines to construct a new ramp at the Lutak Dock.
Fourth of July festivities are still on the books in Haines and Skagway
June 24, 2020 00:37There will be Fourth of July parades in both Haines and Skagway, but they’ll be a little different this year. An all-volunteer committee stepped-up to make the parade and adjacent events happen in Skagway. The municipality usually has several thousand out of town guests who enjoy the festivities. This year will be a […]
Federal grant saves jobs at the Haines Sheldon Museum
June 24, 2020 00:37An influx of federal relief money means the Haines Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center can keep its employees for now. “It was such a relief,” said Museum Director Helen Alten. She said deep funding cuts from the municipality meant she would have to lay off up to three staff members and reduce her own hours, […]
Newscast- June 23, 2020
June 23, 2020 01:01Three non-resident cases of COVID-19 reported in Haines; the Haines Borough may allocate funding to test asymptomatic individuals for COVID-19; Fourth of July parades are scheduled in Haines and Skagway; AMHS announces new coronavirus restrictions.
Haines Borough looks at options for expanding COVID-19 testing
June 23, 2020 00:58The Haines Borough is discussing options for expanding the availability of COVID-19 testing locally. As KHNS’ Henry Leasia reports, the Haines Borough Assembly will consider allocating $100,000 in federal funds towards the effort. In most cases Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) does not offer COVID-19 tests to patients who don’t exhibit symptoms of the […]
Three non-resident cases of COVID-19 reported in Haines
June 23, 2020 00:57The state reported three non-resident cases of COVID-19 in the Haines Borough on Monday. Those cases are all located at the Excursion Inlet OBI seafood processing plant. There have been five total cases in Haines. One case has recovered.
Newscast – June 19, 2020
June 20, 2020 01:00Second case of COVID-19 confirmed in Haines; ADEC approves Delta Western’s clean up plan for a fuel spill that occurred last month; Skagway increases step pay increases for municipal employees.
Haines confirms second case of COVID-19
June 20, 2020 00:37The Haines Emergency Operations Center confirmed a second person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the borough. Borough Clerk Alekka Fullerton posted the announcement online on Thursday evening. Another Haines resident has a confirmed positive case of coronavirus. The news of the second case comes within 24-hours of the first patient’s recovery. “We’re sort of […]
Skagway Assembly increases salary ceiling for municipal employees
June 20, 2020 00:34Municipal employees in Skagway have the potential to earn more money, new rules will go into effect at the Dyea Campground, and more municipal meetings are deemed essential. The Skagway Borough Assembly passed three resolutions at its Thursday meeting. One of them was to increase the amount of money municipal employees can potentially make. Skagway […]
Three plundering bears to be killed in Haines
June 19, 2020 19:41The state department of Fish and Game decided to euthanize three bears in Haines. The sow and two cubs eluded law enforcement and Alaska Department of Fish and Game over the weekend. State biologists visited Haines over the weekend with a death warrant for a sow and two cubs who have a track record of […]
Newscast – June 18, 2020
June 19, 2020 00:12The only confirmed case of COVID-19 has recovered; Alaska Department of Fish and Game gave Haines police the green light to shoot three bears.
Mine critics say economic claims won’t pan out at the Palmer Project
June 18, 2020 17:04Critics of a controversial mineral exploration project north of Haines say the proposed mine isn’t viable. A new report says Constantine’s Palmer Project relies on selling a mineral that other mines bury as waste. Constantine’s Palmer Project promises to be a diverse metals mine with copper, gold, zinc and silver. But its viability also rests […]
Newscast – June 17, 2020
June 18, 2020 01:50A new report questions the economics of Constantine’s Palmer Project; The Haines Borough develops a grant for businesses and nonprofits that have suffered economic losses related to COVID-19.
Haines businesses grapple with COVID-19 health precautions
June 17, 2020 19:18Last month the state lifted COVID-19 restrictions on businesses. Since then, there has been an increase in the number of new coronavirus cases across Alaska, including the first confirmed case in Haines. Now it is up to business owners to decide what kind of health precautions are necessary when interacting with customers. When the COVID-19 […]
U.S. and Canada border restrictions will remain in place until July 21
June 17, 2020 17:44Canada and the U.S. have extended restrictions for crossing the border on Tuesday. All non-essential travel between the countries will be prohibited until at least July 21. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the move is important to curb the spread of COVID-19. “This is an important decision that will keep people in both of […]
Newscast – June 16, 2020
June 17, 2020 01:04The U.S. and Canada extend their mutual border closure through July 21st; Haines business owners grapple with developing their own health precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newscast – June 15, 2020
June 16, 2020 01:07U.S. Coast Guard rescues a stranded rafter from the Klehini river; Gustavus has its first confirmed COVID-19 case; Native artists lose an opportunity to sell their goods after Celebration is cancelled in Juneau to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Pack rafter rescued on the Klehini River north of Haines
June 16, 2020 00:20Two pack rafters were stranded on the Klehini River over the weekend. Both were uninjured. Coast Guard rescued a stranded pack rafter who capsized on the Klehini River north of Haines on Sunday. A Sitka-based helicopter landed on the sandbar where the 42-year old woman and her male companion were stuck overnight. Coast Guard flew […]
Haines Emergency Operations Center Town Hall: COVID-19 risks and mitigation
June 12, 2020 16:33The Haines EOC hosted a town hall meeting June 10 to discuss COVID-19 risk and mitigation. After 40 minutes of discussion and some questions from residents, power outages disconnected the participants. The EOC has rescheduled the town hall for June 17 in order to take questions and comments. Below is a recording of the discussion […]
Newscast – June 11, 2020
June 12, 2020 01:23Haines EOC hosts town hall regarding COVID-19 risk and mitigation; Haines Borough security measures block emails from residents trying to contact elected representatives.
Haines Borough ratchets up online security, inadvertently blocks citizen correspondence
June 12, 2020 01:14The Haines Borough tightened its online security in response to an increase in online scams since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That ended up locking citizen emails out of the system during budget discussions. Dawn Drotos worked until the wee hours of the morning preparing information for the Haines Borough Assembly, but she couldn’t […]
Haines Borough Assembly asks cruise ships to not visit Haines until further notice
June 12, 2020 00:38The Haines Borough Assembly voted to ask cruise lines to suspend visits to Haines until further notice. The decision comes after the community discovered its first confirmed case of COVID-19 this week. The local Emergency Operations Center, a group that was created to guide the community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, recommended putting a pause […]
Haines borough assembly passes budget with last minute cuts to the museum and police department
June 11, 2020 18:09The Haines Borough Assembly approved the final municipal budget for the coming fiscal year, but not before making a few last minute amendments. At a meeting Tuesday, the assembly reversed course on proposed budget cuts to local community centers and reduced funding for the police department and the museum. In recent years, the borough has […]
Regional restrictions loosen, but King salmon still off-limits in Haines, Skagway
June 11, 2020 01:04Out of state sport fishermen are staying home due to COVID-19 concerns. That means most of Southeast Alaska will see an increase in bag limits. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will loosen the restrictions on sport king salmon in Southeast Alaska this month. But the Haines and Skagway area is still off-limits. From […]
Newscast – June 10, 2020
June 11, 2020 00:58The Haines Borough suspends summer cruise ships and passes the FY20 budget; King salmon are still off limits in the Upper Lynn Canal as regional restrictions loosen.
State officials work to track and contain COVID-19 in Haines
June 10, 2020 01:11Officials confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Haines on Monday. Now it’s up to public health nurses to track and contain the deadly virus. When state public health nurse Elaine Hickey found out there was a confirmed positive coronavirus case in Haines, her first task was to call the patient. “We go through a […]
Newscast – June 9, 2020
June 10, 2020 01:11State officials begin tracing the origins of the first COVID-19 case in Haines; Haines Emergency Operations Center seeks feedback on local health precautions; AMHS employees from the Tustumena test positive for COVID-19.
Newscast – June 8, 2020
June 09, 2020 00:47Haines has its first case of COVID 19; the Haines Borough Assembly may pass a budget at its next meeting.
Haines confirms first case of COVID-19
June 08, 2020 20:01Haines has its first confirmed case of COVID-19. That’s according to Borough Clerk Alekka Fullerton who says a local man tested positive on Sunday and is currently isolating at home. “It’s gone from a theoretical risk to a real risk,” she said. “We are just asking people to remember to wear masks, wash their hands, […]
Newscast – June 5, 2020
June 06, 2020 00:41Skagway lifts 14 day quarantine requirement for travelers and approves relief checks for residents; Haines Borough School District prepares health precautions for the coming school year; Juneau International Airport begins screening the health of travelers arriving in Alaska.
Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan, green groups make case against mine development in appeals court
June 06, 2020 00:26A federal appeals court is weighing the question: at what point can regulators put the brakes on a proposed mine? T hat question came up in a legal fight between a coalition of tribes and environmentalists challenging a controversial mine development near Haines. Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan and a coalition of green groups lost […]
Skagway lifts its 2-week quarantine requirement for travelers, approves a plan to distribute stimulus checks to its residents
June 06, 2020 00:25Skagway residents followed Thursday night’s assembly meeting closely. Dozens wrote, called, or attended to weigh in on health, safety, and millions of dollars in relief money. The Skagway Borough Assembly unanimously approved the 6-month budget and ended a two-week self quarantine requirement for people arriving in Skagway. The municipality will now follow state health guidelines […]
Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan, green groups, make case against mine development in appeals court
June 06, 2020 00:08A federal appeals court is weighing the question: at what point can regulators put the brakes on a proposed mine? T hat question came up in a legal fight between a coalition of tribes and environmentalists challenging a controversial mine development near Haines. Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan and a coalition of green groups lost […]
Property owners in Skagway struggle to find summer renters for the first time in years
June 05, 2020 17:22For the first time in years, there are plenty of summer housing options available for renters in Skagway. The loss of tourism due to the pandemic means many seasonal workers will not return this summer, and their apartments are all empty. Nils Davis and his partner Skipper Stovall own and operate a car rental company […]
Newscast – June 4, 2020
June 05, 2020 01:05Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan and a coalition of green groups take their lawsuit against mine development to appeals court; summer rentals in Skagway sit vacant because summer workers haven’t come.
Fire burns horse stable at the Southeast Alaska State Fair grounds
June 04, 2020 01:40A structure fire broke out at the Southeast Alaska State Fair grounds Wednesday morning. Nobody was harmed, but one of the stables behind the hockey rink was destroyed. Liam Cassidy says Wednesday morning he began burning some brush that had recently been cleared at the fairgrounds. He contacted the fire department before starting the burn. […]
Newscast – June 3, 2020
June 04, 2020 01:20Fire burns stable at Southeast Alaska State Fair grounds; Fish and Game asks Haines residents to keep their distance from moose calves; Federal judge to rule on timber sale on Prince of Wales Island.