Podcasts about ketchikan

Celebrate Great Outdoors Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's Quiltripping Travel" Podcast. Travel expert, photographer and host Rose Palmer joins producer Lisa D. Smith from France — where she's in between trips — to share her unforgettable experience aboard Windstar's brand-new Star Seeker on its inaugural Alaska cruise.  Unlike the big-ship experience, the Star Seeker's small size unlocked a side of Southeast Alaska most travelers never see. Rose takes us deep into Misty Fjords National Monument by zodiac, up close to the Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm, and through the authentic streets of Wrangell — one of Alaska's last truly uncrowded towns. She shares wildlife encounters including humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and even a mother black bear and her cubs in Ketchikan. Along the way, Rose explores the Tongass National Forest — one of Earth's last great coastal temperate rainforests — and reflects on why slow travel is the only way to truly experience Alaska's wild, pristine beauty.

Embark on a breathtaking journey to Alaska with this week’s comprehensive Disney Cruise Line trip report! Lake sits down with guest Areeka to dive into her family's spectacular 7-night Alaskan sailing aboard the beautiful Disney Wonder. Areeka shares the ultimate guide to managing a multi-generational itinerary, traveling alongside her husband, their two-year-old son, and her father-in-law. From packing tips and port logistics to booking unforgettable excursions, this episode is packed with essential Disney Cruise Line advice for anyone planning a bucket-list vacation. Discover what makes an Alaskan voyage with Disney truly stand out from the crowd and why a test sailing might be your family’s best planning secret. Main Segment TopicsThe “Test Cruise” Strategy: Booking a short 3-night voyage on the Disney Wish beforehand to test the waters with a toddler and secure Silver Castaway Club booking perks.Cruising with a Toddler & Grandparent: Navigating a 7-night destination sailing with a two-year-old and a father-in-law on his first major cruise.Vancouver Pre-Cruise Logistics: Arranging evening flights, dealing with local taxi rules, and planning structured down-time prior to embarkation.Stateroom Flow and Entertainment: How the layout of the Disney Wonder kept the family effortlessly connected to standard shipboard activities.Onboard Toddler Dining Survival: Balancing early morning dining needs, visiting Cabanas at dawn, and orchestrating smooth rotations through main dining rooms. Episode SummaryDeparture Port: The family flew out a couple of days early to explore and set sail directly out of Vancouver, Canada.Ports of Call:Dawes Glacier / Endicott Arm: A scenic day enjoying glacier views from the ship, drawing design comparisons to past destinations like Iceland.Skagway, Alaska: Visited the historic town for local shopping and dining, followed by an evening excursion on the White Pass RailroadJuneau, Alaska: The primary capital port, experiencing the Sled-Dog Summer Camp and walking the town. Ketchikan, Alaska: Explored regional culture highlighted by attending a local lumberjack show and sampling native pastries.Want to be on the show? Fill out this form, and we'll be in contact with you real soon!https://dclpodcast.com/want-to-be-on-the-show/Support our show via Patreon:http://www.patreon.com/dclpodcastUse Christy's Travel Services:https://dclpodcast.com/book-with-christy/Follow the DCL Podcast via:http://www.facebook.com/dclpodcasthttp://www.instagram.com/dcl_podcastFollow Lake at:https://www.instagram.com/mouse.genhttps://www.youtube.com/@MouseGenFollow Christy at:http://www.packyourpixiedust.comhttps://www.instagram.com/packyourpixiedust

Photo courtesy Navajo Nation Council Over the last year, the Navajo Nation Council has been investigating what happened to the $24 million in COVID relief allocated for ZenniHome, a failed housing initiative. A week-long public hearing on the matter got off to a slow start Monday when subpoenaed witnesses failed to show up on the advice of the tribe's justice department. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports. Those witnesses included Navajo President Buu Nygren, but the tribe’s Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a same-day memo advising all government employees to not attend or testify. “The Department of Justice is not here to hinder the process and our main emphasis is that we protect the attorney-client relationship.” Acting Deputy Attorney General JoAnn Jayne says the best way to do so is in executive session. “We can advise you as to what can be disclosed and what cannot be disclosed, and so the sooner that we do that, you know, then the legislative branch can move on.” Budget and Finance Committee Vice Chair Carl Slater questions whether the DOJ is operating in good faith. “It's very difficult to ascertain – between the politically appointed leadership of the department and the rank and file employees – what the position of the department is with respect to trying to quash this whole endeavor.” Meanwhile, Nygren himself has filed several motions to stay the public proceedings. Tlingit Master Carver Israel Shotridge, left, was known to work with family members like nephew Robert Jackson. (Courtesy Sue Shotridge) If you have spent time in Ketchikan, Alaska, you have likely seen the work of Israel Shotridge. The Tlingit Master Carver passed away in Washington state in April at the age of 75. Shotridge is being remembered for his artistry, gentleness and love of family. KRBD's Hunter Morrison spoke with two of Shotridge's loved ones about his life and legacy, and has this story. Shotridge's Tlingit name Kinstaádaál (The Bear That is Standing up) is also the name of a song he wrote for and sang with his mother, Esther Shea. They were members of the Bear Clan of the Tongass Tribe. Born Howard Jackson in 1951, Shotridge was raised in Ketchikan and later changed his name. Growing up, he excelled in school and sports, but Shotridge's passion was for the arts. Willard Jackson, his older brother, says Shotridge liked to draw at a young age. “Creativity for him came easy, but he was good at it.” After going to college in Seattle, Wash., Shotridge returned to Ketchikan and eventually began carving. His first major project was to carve a replica of the 55-foot Chief Johnson totem pole. It was the first pole in over 50 years to be carved and raised in Ketchikan, and still stands downtown today. Shotridge also met his wife Sue around that time. “He was friendly to everybody, and I just fell in love with him. He was fun to be around. We laughed. We both had the same interest in the culture, it was a fun journey.” In addition to his totem work, Shotridge carved bentwood boxes, masks, and other ceremonial pieces. In the 1990s, Shotridge and his wife moved to Washington state, where they opened their shop The Shotridge Collection, but art was not Shotridge's only interest. He had a love for music and was also a family man who loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. His wife says this, his art, and cultural preservation, will be Shotridge's lasting legacy. “He was the humblest and most modest artist that I ever knew.” Willard says Shotridge's carvings, and legacy, can be found all around the globe. “You can’t go through town or anywhere else without seeing his artwork. It’s there. And every time I see it, I know it’s his.” His wife plans to return Shotridge's ashes to Southeast Alaska next year for a canoe journey from Wrangell to Ketchikan. She says Shotridge wanted to do that, but never had the chance when he was alive. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — Columbia River tribes weigh in on future dredging plans

Liz just returned from a trip to Alaska with a bunch of Clear 99 listeners, and our travel partner Collette Travel. She shared several highlights on the radio, but for those interested in a few more details, she dug into the trip a little more here! (:00) You were gone how long!? (1:40) Trip overview (2:16) Fairbanks (2:34) Boat ride through Alaskan Channel (5:50) Denali National Park (9:20) Train ride through Alaskan wilderness (11:00) Talkeetna (11:45) Anchorage, animal sanctuary (12:53) The cruise begins (16:19) Skagway, mushers camp (21:50) Juneau, favorite port (23:25) Ketchikan (26:00) Traveling with Collette (32:12) Thoughts on group travel (34:34) Where she shared some pics & videos (35:26) Future Clear 99/Collette trips (36:40) Wrap-up (38:08) The Morning Sip - "Liz Checks In From Alaska" Collette Travel on Instagram - @GoCollette Liz on TikTok & Instagram - @LizzyLedger Scotty on TikTok & Instagram - @MyUncleScotty45 Clear 99 on Instagram - @Clear993 www.Clear99.com

Jenn Donahue PhD is an entrepreneur, civil engineer, author, and retired US Navy Captain whose company JL Donahue Engineering works on large scale, high profile geotechnical projects for clients ranging from PG&E and Duke Energy to the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Over her military career, Jenn has built a bridge across the Euphrates River in the midst of the Iraq war, commanded an 800-personnel Battalion in Afghanistan, and constructed combat outposts in the middle of deserts filled with insurgents. Jenn has designed the seismic plans for a bridge over the Panama Canal and built roads by drilling and blasting in Ketchikan. She's the author of The Warrior Framework and the founder of Dare to Rise.

Text us your questions to answer on a future episode (if you want me to contact you, please include your email)Adam Minshall, long term resident of Ketchikan returns to the podcast to talk about his favorite hikes in town.Save 10% on any of Adam's tours with code: MarcoGet Jennie's Inside Passage without a Cruise workshop (save 10% with code: PODCAST)Join the Alaska Planning Club on Patreon and ask me anything!Sign up for Jennie's email list (and get the free packing list)Follow Jennie on InstagramSupport the show

This week's host, Moe Roddy Wieneke, is joined by Kat Hartman & Sarah Kerley of the all-women Team Hell 'n' Ready to chat the Race to Alaska (R2AK). The R2AK is an annual 750-mile adventure race from Port Townsend, WA up the Inside Passage to Ketchikan, AK. Any form of boat is allowed, as long as it has no motors. Hear why it doesn't matter what age you started sailing at, the most intimidating aspects of the R2AK, the unpredictable weather during the race, how to stay ahead of the Grim Sweeper, and the important role humor plays during an endurance race. Learn more at R2AK.com

Ketchikan says goodbye to two elementary schools. Plus, a cruise line is teaming up with an international whale advocacy organization to host a marine mammal observer on board a ship.

Feliks Banel's guests on this very special ENCORE BROADCAST of CASCADE OF HISTORY are singer/songwriter Jon Pontrello and retired Seattle Times journalist (and maritime lyricist) Jack Broom. Jon performs several of his original songs of the sea on this episode, including a tribute to Peter Bevis, the late Seattle artist who brought home the old streamline ferry KALAKALA from Ketchikan in 1998. Jon also performs "Roll On, Kalakala" - a song based on "Roll On, Columbia" for which Jack Broom wrote special lyrics in 1998. Both Jon and Jack share the story of that song and how it was lost and then found, and how Jack wrote new lyrics to reflect the ultimately sad fate of the old ferry. We also hear get a live report from roving correspondent Ken Zick setting the record straight regarding Merchant's Café, before Jon plays a few more songs, and we listen to an old recording of "Ballad of the Cathlamet," another song for which Jack Broom wrote the lyrics. Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory Links to additional info related to this episode include: Jon Pontrello's website: https://jonpontrello.com/ Jack Broom's page at The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/author/jack-broom/ Merchant's Café website: https://merchantscafeandsaloon.com/ This LIVE broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was originally presented at 8pm Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, January 12, 2025 via SPACE 101.1 FM and streaming live via www.space101fm.org. The radio station is located at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. The encore broadcast was presented on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

How a local woman works to keep Filipino cultural traditions alive in Ketchikan. There are now two people named Dan Sullivan who are running for Senate.

A new Native art market opens in downtown Ketchikan.Petersburg residents give trash from the landfill a new life.

Daniel Buitrago, Brandon Fifield & Chad Aurentz welcome special guest Patrick Mackey of Mackey Brothers Mushing  @mackeybrothersmushing to share some stories and shed some light on growing up in the world of dog mushing!   Don't shit on Costco, Gas & Goes at Courtney's Gas Station, stealing dad's truck, Kodiak Brown bear harvest with Casey Harver of Big Timber Lodge on Raspberry Island , the YouTube conundrum, Krud Kutter, “This Day in Alaska History” brought to you by Northern Waste, captain cooks arrival to Alaska in 1778, two steamer collide near Ketchikan in 1917, Shout out to Pairmore & Young and our boy to Jake Boll, PETA can never get it right, champions of the Iditarod, the Mackey lineage, King vs. Mackey, dog musing rich, is technology ready to catchup with dog mushing, dog mushing is ready for a come-up, the connection with the dog, “Zoro” and his 300 B's, building a winning team, control the throttle, beaver mitts & Canadian Goose, vote for Jordan Anderson (Sculptures by Jordan Anderson @treepersonalities) for ‘The People's Artist” award presented by Johnny Depp & Artforum Magazine visit peoplesartist.org, The Yukon Quest summits (Rosebud, Eagle & Eureka), carving pow in a dog sled, Trivia brought to you by Connoisseur Crude, Captain James Cook's death in Hawaii 1779, Norman Vaughn's 1990 Iditarod finish at the age of 87, the late great Lance Mackey 4 Iditarod wins in a row from 2007-1010 and wining the 1000 miles Yukon Quest and Iditarod races in back to back seasons, “Rapid Fire” brought to you by Alaska Gun Co. casing statement and big thanks to the Mackey boys for coming in!   Visit our Website - www.alaskawildproject.com Follow us on Instagram - www.instagram.com/alaskawildproject Watch on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@alaskawildproject $upport the show on Patreon - www.patreon.com/alaskawildproject

Photo: U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola addresses a crowd during a meet and greet in Petersburg on May 26, 2026. Peltola is running for U.S. Senate. (Taylor Heckart/KFSK) Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) visited Petersburg, Alaska Tuesday in her campaign to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Peltola addressed a group of more than fifty people at Petersburg's Alaska Native Brotherhood John Hanson Sr. Hall as part of a one-hour meet and greet. She encouraged residents to get out and vote this year. “So many of the things that we are working on in Alaska just become political footballs for people in the lower 48 or some administration, and we’re better than that. We’re bigger than that. We are going to put our foot down and not be used as a political football.” During her speech, Peltola emphasized supporting elders, children, and addressing affordability. Peltola's campaign told KFSK she was not available for questions from local media during her visit. Local assembly member James Valentine says Peltola made time to talk to local leaders about a wide range of issues before the event. Valentine says he spoke with her about outmigration in the region. “Me, as a younger assembly member and a young, I guess, community leader, I asked her, and just more of stating, just my concerns about the younger generation retention in Southeast Alaska, and then she’s from Western Alaska, and I know she feels the same way.” That same day, Peltola also hosted a meet and greet in Wrangell, Alaska on a neighboring island. This week, she visited other Southeast Alaska communities including Ketchikan and Sitka – and she will be in Haines on Friday. The Senate primary takes place in August, and the general election is in November. This story was provided by KFSK's Taylor Heckart. An aerial view of the Yukon River as it breaks up downstream of Beaver, Alaska on May 10, 2026. (Courtesy U.S. National Weather Service Alaska) The thick winter ice of the Yukon River has washed out to the Bering Sea, signaling the end of breakup season on the Yukon Delta. Last week, communities along the Yukon River experienced ice jam related flooding. For some, it was among the most severe breakup impacts in recent memory. The communities of Holy Cross and Pilot Station saw water enter homes and in some cases, cover airport runways, but as of Tuesday evening, significant ice jams close to the mouth of the Yukon gave way and the water began to recede. Mike Ottenweller is a meteorologist with the Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center. He has been part of the River Watch team doing daily aerial surveys, tracking the Yukon River's breakup. “We watched the very last little bit of the ice run that was at one point 40 miles long, and maybe even if you go back a couple weeks, 90 miles long at some points, but we watched that clear out to the coastal areas and past those last villages and making its way out to the Bering Sea.” Overall, he says this year's Yukon River breakup trended toward dynamic and was about five days later than average, which was expected coming out of this year's frigid winter. Laura Havameister with the State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says though the flooding is receding, the recovery process is still ongoing. She points to Alukanuk, which experienced flooding on some roadways. “We could not make it into town, unfortunately, just because of that flooding. So we’re working with the city manager and with the SAR team to really understand those, those inundation areas.” From shuttling the team from the airstrip to providing on-the-ground updates, Havameister with the state says the community aspect of the operation is a powerful one. The team concluded their aerial surveys for the 2026 Yukon River breakup on Tuesday. This story was provided by KYUK's Samantha Watson. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, May 29, 2026 — The Menu: Dawn Butterfly Café, camas restoration, and the Indigenous food pyramid

The Ketchikan school district now has more time to pay off their debt to the boroughSome worry that proposed mines in British Columbia have a lack of tribal consultation and will cause pollution in salmon-bearing streams

I recap my five-night Alaska cruise on the Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic, highlighting Vancouver sightseeing, onboard experiences like Glacier Viewing Day and Frozen-themed activities, and a relaxed food-and-drink crawl in Ketchikan. I also compare the Magic and Wonder ships, praising Magic's shows and waterslide while giving Wonder the edge in service and food.   Links: Ultimate Alaskan cruise packing list 10 Tips for Disney Alaskan cruise Small World Vacations Disney Cruise Line Request How to do embarkation day on Disney Cruise Line How to do disembarkation on Disney Cruise Line Disney Cruise Line primer Broadway Star Series on Disney Cruise Line Ultimate Disney Cruise Packing List Guide to DCL internet   Leave me a message (including trip report submissions) Please use the SpeakPipe link below to leave us a message with your first name, location, and trip info. Be sure to include your exact trip dates, who is in your party, where you will stay, and anything unique about the trip. You can do that using your computer or phone at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo   Subscribe to get new episodes There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep to Go (if you're used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone) Subscribe in iTunes  (and please leave a review!) Subscribe to the podcast   Follow on social media Instagram Facebook Pinterest YouTube   Ways to support us Become a Patron Get a quote request for a future trip from Small World Vacations Subscribe to the WDW Prep School weekly newsletter Podcast Episode Finder Visit the site Things we recommend   Affiliate Links: Amazon DVC Rentals Quicksilver Tours and Transportation Small World Vacations Designer Park Co - Use code "WDWPrep" to save 10%

Sunday Service at Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, AK Acts 2:1-4

The city of Ketchikan gets feedback on establishing downtown restrooms. Alaska Airlines considers adding a direct flight from Juneau to Portland.

People are struggling to keep up with Ketchikan's rising utility rates.Career and technical education expands in Sitka's schools

Two people are dead after a structure fire in Ketchikan. Plus, gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins talks about education funding and the state ferry system, and Petersburg's first MRI machine now has state approval to start operating.

Sunday Service at Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, AK  A word from Lenard Nance starting in Psalm 23

Two people in Ketchikan are dead after a home catches fire, and a firefighter is treated at the hospital.Plus, firefighters battle flames on the Kenai Peninsula in the area a large fire hit about a decade ago, with officials saying Saturday that there's now minimal fire activity. Meteorologist Bailey Brain tells us strong winds continue to build across Southcentral through the weekend with the next round of wet weather arriving in southern parts of the state. And an education center opens near the Turnagain Arm. It's designed for research and monitoring Cook Inlet’s marine life, including beluga whales.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board is on a tight timeline to find new revenue streams because of a multimillion dollar budget shortfall. Plus, Tracy Day, a Tlingit woman who disappearing in Juneau in 2019, is remembered by her daughter, and high schoolers from across Southeast Alaska visit Ketchikan for a music festival.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: A bill that seeks to make it easier for Alaskans to repair consumer electronics cleared the state Senate yesterday and is on its way to the House. The Unalaska City School District students and staff have launched a chess club. And hundreds of highschoolers from across Southeast Alaska flocked to Ketchikan last month for the annual Region Five Music Festival.Photo: The Haines High School Band catches the ferry for the Region Five Music Festival. (Photo by Matt Davis)

Sunday Service at Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, AK  Matthew 7:24-27

The City of Ketchikan meets with cruise line representatives to share updates and air grievances. Plus, a Juneau reporter questions police about the disappearance of Tlingit woman Tracy Day, after a judge wouldn't let the family.

A lawsuit is filed against the old state ferry MalaspinaInternet outages hit Ketchikan.

Family members of Ketchikan-born Tlingit carver Israel Shotridge talk about his life and legacy. Plus, Petersburg's local tribe unveils a new killer whale canoe.

Actor Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in “Dances with Wolves”, has been sentenced in Nevada to 37 years to life in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. A jury found him guilty on 13 charges, mostly involving sexual abuse. Prosecutors say he used his position as a Lakota spiritual leader to gain trust and manipulate victims over many years. One woman, who was 14 when the abuse began, told the court her childhood was taken from her. Chasing Horse was arrested in 2023 and has denied the charges. Tongass National Forest Deputy Supervisor Barb Miranda talks about the Tongass Forest Plan Revision agenda to Wrangell, Alaska residents at the Nolan Center on April 21, 2027. (Photo: Colette Czarnecki / KSTK) U.S. Forest Service (USFS) personnel have been visiting Southeast Alaska communities to understand how residents want the Tongass National Forest used. The federal agency is doing a comprehensive revision of the Tongass National Forest plan, which will guide long-term management. They are focusing on tribal, subsistence, recreation, tourism, and timber aspects. Tongass National Forest Deputy Supervisor Barb Miranda with USFS visited Wrangell last week and gave a brief presentation to community members. “Down in the lower 48, the towns and wild places are surrounded by civilization. Here it’s the opposite — we have our communities surrounded by this wild place that provides so much for our food, for our subsistence and for our economies.” Miranda says the plan aims to balance ecological preservation and community needs. Towards the back of the room were activities where people could write down their thoughts and take a survey. Community members highlighted the importance of balancing commercial activities like logging and recreation with subsistence needs. Albert Rinehart is the tribal administrator for the Wrangell Cooperative Association. He just finished an activity that had him identify the greatest subsistence harvest in a certain area of the Tongass. “Subsistence is important to a lot of our smaller communities, rural communities. If we’re gonna be doing any planning, it should be to help those habitats prosper and have our subsistence game be available.” The current comprehensive plan for the Tongass was revised in 1997 and was last amended in 2016. The deadline for Southeast communities to comment is May 6. USFS plans to release a draft of the environmental impact statement in November with a 90-day comment period following. Additionally, they plan to release the final draft of the statement in the summer of 2027, and the final plan in January of 2028. This story was provided by KSTK's Collete Czarnecki Perseverance Lake in Ketchikan, Alaska. (Photo: Leila Kheiry) The Federal Subsistence Board (FSB) voted last week to uphold Ketchikan's rural designation. That is after two tribal organizations on Prince of Wales (POW) Island submitted requests for reconsideration to the federal Office of Subsistence Management (OSM) last July. FSB voted in 2025 to reclassify Ketchikan from a non-rural status, allowing all residents to hunt and fish on federally managed lands and waters that were previously closed to them. That designation was challenged by Craig's tribe and Native corporation. They said the board failed to “fully consider the unintended consequences” of allowing new subsistence hunters from Ketchikan to access POW's deer population. The Ketchikan Indian Community was in favor of the rural designation, and worked for years to get rights to federally regulated subsistence activities. The tribe argued that the rural designation allows its tribal citizens to exercise traditional subsistence practices. The vote to sustain Ketchikan's rural designation came in the final hours of the board's four-day wildlife regulatory meeting in Anchorage. The vote also followed an executive session on April 23 to discuss the requests for reconsideration. This story was provided by KRBD's Hunter Morrison Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, April 29, 2026 — The Menu: Traditional diet success and the first Indigenous ‘Chopped' champion

The Federal Subsistence Board denies a request to reconsider Ketchikan's rural status. The city selects a new manager.

Sunday Service at Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, AK James 5:19-20

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District's approved budget includes a cut of over 50 staff members and the closure of two elementary schools. Plus, two tribal groups on Prince of Wales Island are asking the Federal Subsistence Board to reverse Ketchikan's rural designation, and Petersburg's Borough Assembly approves a highly anticipated lease agreement with American Cruise Lines.

Sunday Service at Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, AK  Matthew 7:21-23

Sunday Service at Clover Pass Community in Ketchikan, AK Matthew 7:15-20 

Ketchikan's borough assembly approves a hotly debated KIC healing center rezone. After a Sitka student reported a sexual assault, the school was required, under Title IX, to conduct a thorough investigation – and there were holes in its process.

Ketchikan's new movie theater gets ready to open its doors.The Borough Assembly looks at their comprehensive trail plan.

The Forest Service invites local input on the Tongass management plan. Ketchikan and Wrangell partner to make a Southeast Alaska Maritime Industrial Corridor.

The mayor of Ketchikan gives his annual State of the City address. And, after a Sitka doctor is convicted of assaulting patients, a former Ketchikan colleague comes forward.

A labor union representing Ketchikan shipyard workers files three charges against the yard's new operator. Plus,a rainbow pride Ravenstail robe is danced for the first time, and a library event in Sitka highlights stories from Alaska fisherman.

Ketchikan is expected to see over 1.6 million cruise ship passengers this summer. Plus, the Alaska Board of Fisheries votes down three proposals to limit hatchery production of pink and chum salmon, and a 90-year-old murder investigation is the subject of a new history exhibit in Petersburg.

Photo: The microgrid at Blue Lake Rancheria generates renewable energy and provides about $150,000 in annual electricity savings. (Courtesy Schatz Energy Resource Center) Microgrids can be a lifeline in remote areas prone to power outages, according to local and tribal leaders in Humboldt County in California. Leaders spoke at an event on energy security in an era of wildfire, drought, and sea-level rise — linked to climate change. Suzanne Potter has more. Dr. Arne Jacobson, director of the Schatz Energy Research Center at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt says microgrids often involve solar panels plus battery storage. “During normal operation, they’re connected to the regional grid, and they can export power and generate revenue. And during a regional grid outage, they operate in “island mode” and can provide resilience energy services.” Microgrids have gained popularity in recent years as utilities have had to shut off power intermittently during wildfires and high wind events. Jacobson adds that the Willow Creek and Hoopa substations and their associated circuits in the Humboldt area are frequently on the top 10 list of least reliable circuits in the state. Beth Burks, who directs the Redwood Coastal Energy Authority, says its microgrid serves as backup power to the airport, and kept it online for 15 hours in December 2022, when an earthquake knocked out power. “We’re all familiar with how important it is to keep the airport going. We do emergency medical transport out of there, and the Coast Guard serves 250 miles of search-and-rescue territory. And again, we can keep them going when we go into ‘islanding.'” “Islanding” is the term for a system that can kick in and power a local area when the main utility grid goes down. Heidi Moore-Guynup with the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe says its microgrid saved the day during the 2022 blackout, keeping several tribal buildings running so they could provide ice, gas, medical care, and lodging. “We want to be known as the safe place to go, the islands in times of despair. We are a very small rural community, but we are engaged in technological advances that can help rural global energy access.” Ketchikan-based artist Savannah LeCornu was selected as this year's poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau, Alaska. (Courtesy Jason Baldwin) Ketchikan, Alaska-based artist Savannah LeCornu was recently selected as this year's poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau. The annual spring event seeks art submissions from Alaska creatives for festival merchandise, including its promotional poster. KRBD's Hunter Morrison sat down with LeCornu to discuss how the opportunity will help expand representation of Indigenous artists throughout Alaska. Hunter Morrison: Can you tell me a little bit about what inspires your work as an artist? Savannah LeCornu: I'm an Indigenous artist. I’m part of three different tribes. I’m Tsimshian, Haida and Nez Perce. So a lot of my inspiration comes from the art styles of my tribes, as well as my family, surroundings, environment, friends, that kind of thing. HM: Can you tell me a little bit more about what mediums of art you specialize in? SL: Yeah. So mainly I draw and I paint. I do a lot of traditional drawing, but I also do digital drawing as well. So, working with Procreate on my iPad. And then I also do painting, mainly acrylic, but I have done watercolor here and there. HM: You were selected as this year’s poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival. Do you have a design yet for that poster? Or, do you have ideas of what that design might look like? SL: I don’t know how secret they are with it. I will say my inspirations were some of my favorite musicians in Alaska, as well as the northern lights. HM: How will this opportunity expand not only your work as an artist, but expand the celebration of Indigenous people and Indigenous art? SL: Wow, what a great question. What I’m hoping for with being the artist for this year’s folk fest is that my art gets started to be seen more widely throughout Alaska. I will say it’s not my most obvious Indigenous design. I will say all of my art inherently becomes Indigenous because I am Indigenous, but at the same time, there’s no form line in it. There’s no traditional Native art in it for this design. But I still hope that means that people look into my own art and see more of what I do, and that people just explore more of it. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, March 26, 2026 — Native Bookshelf: Unsettling Territory and Sons of Gunshooter

One year has passed since Ketchikan's non-fatal Wolfe Point rockslide. Plus, a Pulitzer prize winning comic artist spends two weeks in Sitka teaching high school students how to analyze and create their own comics.

Ketchikan lost a contest that offered free construction of a tunnel to Gravina. The commanding officer of a Ketchikan-based cutter was temporarily relieved yesterday.

A Ketchikan jeweler will have to pay $60-thousand to the state and restitution to customers for selling fake gold. Plus, a look at ways Alaskans without insurance can seek affordable healthcare, and youth from across the state present films they made highlighting the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues.

In this newscast: The state of Alaska is delaying construction on the first phase of a controversial ferry terminal proposed to connect Juneau and Haines, due to a permitting issue; Alaska youth and advocates are calling on lawmakers to create a statewide fund for suicide prevention by charging a small fee on Alaskans' monthly phone bills; The Juneau School District's teachers union voted to authorize a strike earlier this week amid ongoing contract negotiations; The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council has had new leadership for a few months now, and that has come with some changes; The state ferry Lituya will soon begin daily ferry service between Ketchikan and Annette Bay.

The state ferry Lituya will soon begin 7-day-a-week ferry service between Ketchikan and Annette Bay. Plus, Alaska Seaplanes announces it will implement a temporary fuel surcharge due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. And, this winter in Juneau differs from a trend that climate change has caused winter in Alaska's largest cities to warm more dramatically than other major U.S. cities.

Over 50 community members speak out about the proposed healing center north of Ketchikan. The Sitka school board asks for community input on how to trim over a million dollar deficit.

The U.S. Coast Guard identifies two people who died while working on a freight barge near Ketchikan. Plus, a proposal that would make it easier for out-of-state nurses to practice in Alaska is facing fierce pushback in the Legislature, and a bill meant to protect Alaskans from contaminated drinking water has its first committee hearing.

Send a textThe Alaska State House Representative for Ketchikan is Jeremy Bynum. We discuss his childhood growing up in a devout Pentecostal household, his escape to the Air Force, and his struggles being accepted as a newcomer to Ketchikan. We also talk about the drama of the Juneau Capitol, specifically his fraught relationship with my chief of staff Kyle Johansen (a previous Representative of Ketchikan) and the heated rhetoric around recent attempts to draw from the legislative savings account. We address a podcast episode from last week with Rep. Zack Fields of downtown Anchorage where inappropriate language was used to describe the House Minority.

A second funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. As KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) sought to create a safeguard for tribes getting caught up in immigration crackdowns. Rep. Grijalva has been regularly meeting with tribal leaders from across southern Arizona, like the Pascua Yaqui, Tohono O'odham, and Gila River. She says they are all telling her the same thing. “DHS must consult with tribes. They're not doing it now. This administration doesn't honor sovereignty.” Grijalva proposed an amendment to the funding bill that would have required U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to consult with tribes before conducting immigration enforcement on their land, but her effort to attach that requirement to a DHS funding bill failed. “They're all concerned with the presence of ICE and how they are profiling their members because, you know, they might look like working people who have darker skin.” Meanwhile, Kristi Noem has been ousted by President Donald Trump as DHS secretary. He named U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee/R-OK) as her replacement. “Removing Noem doesn't root out the lawlessness at ICE. Maybe leadership style might be different, but the end goal is still the same.” Ketchikan-based artist Savannah LeCornu was selected as this year's poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau, Alaska. (Courtesy Jason Baldwin) Ketchikan, Alaska-based artist Savannah LeCornu was recently selected as this year's poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau. The annual spring event seeks art submissions from Alaska creatives for festival merchandise, including its promotional poster. KRBD's Hunter Morrison sat down with LeCornu to discuss how the opportunity will help expand representation of Indigenous artists throughout Alaska. Hunter Morrison: Can you tell me a little bit about what inspires your work as an artist? Savannah LeCornu: I'm an Indigenous artist. I’m part of three different tribes. I’m Tsimshian, Haida and Nez Perce. So a lot of my inspiration comes from the art styles of my tribes, as well as my family, surroundings, environment, friends, that kind of thing. HM: Can you tell me a little bit more about what mediums of art you specialize in? SL: Yeah. So mainly I draw and I paint. I do a lot of traditional drawing, but I also do digital drawing as well. So, working with Procreate on my iPad. And then I also do painting, mainly acrylic, but I have done watercolor here and there. HM: You were selected as this year’s poster artist for the Alaska Folk Festival. Do you have a design yet for that poster? Or, do you have ideas of what that design might look like? SL: I don’t know how secret they are with it. I will say my inspirations were some of my favorite musicians in Alaska, as well as the northern lights. HM: How will this opportunity expand not only your work as an artist, but expand the celebration of Indigenous people and Indigenous art? SL: Wow, what a great question. What I’m hoping for with being the artist for this year’s folk fest is that my art gets started to be seen more widely throughout Alaska. I will say it’s not my most obvious Indigenous design. I will say all of my art inherently becomes Indigenous because I am Indigenous, but at the same time, there’s no form line in it. There’s no traditional Native art in it for this design. But I still hope that means that people look into my own art and see more of what I do, and that people just explore more of it. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – Elections watchers prepare for Midterm complications

Brennen Schulz is a commercial fisherman and fishing guide who grew up in Ketchikan. In this episode we talk about the transition from gear fishing to fly fishing, flies, proper hook sets, conservation and the life of being a guide.  Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska. Thanks to the sponsors: Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.) Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.) Backcountry Hunters and Anglers