Raven Radio - KCAW, Sitka

02/13/2025

An internal investigation emailed to the Sitka Assembly over the weekend revealed that six shelter pets were euthanized by gunshot in September, confirming rumors that led to public outcry late last year.

Four cats and two dogs were euthanized by the Sitka Police Department following a break-down of shelter operations last summer that left police supervising the facility without an animal control officer or volunteers. These details were included in an internal investigation emailed to the Sitka Asse...

02/06/2025

The Sitka High School Barkadas Club is providing a space for students – and community members – to celebrate Filipino heritage in Sitka.

02/04/2025

Alaskans testified overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that would boost per-student funding at a meeting of the House Education Committee on January 29. House Bill 69 was introduced in January by Sitka independent Representative Rebecca Himschoot and would raise state funding for schools by about 30 percent over three years.

Alaskans testified overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that would boost per-student funding at a meeting of the House Education Committee on January 29.

02/03/2025

The Sitka Assembly will invite a Kodiak-based company to bid on the operation of a new, publicly-funded marine haulout. When the group met last week, it approved the invitation for Highmark Marine to bid on the contract.

The Sitka Assembly will invite a Kodiak-based company to bid on the operation of a new, publicly-funded marine haulout. When the group met on Tuesday (1-28-25) it approved the invitation for Highmark Marine to bid on the haulout contract, but continued to hear pushback from industry folks who want i...

02/03/2025

Did you miss the “SHEARWATER” episode of Encounters on KCAW today? Listen back here:
https://www.kcaw.org/wp-content/uploads/Programming/Sunday%20130%20to%20230.mp3?1738543882

HEY EVERYBODY! HERE'S YOUR SUNDAY REMINDER: If you are craving a little escape from winter, join Richard Nelson and a colony of thousands of short-tailed shearwaters in Tasmania, the island state south of mainland Australia. Some of these birds will spend their summers off the coast of Alaska—learn about the place of their birth, their prodigious migration and the surprising company they keep. It’s the “SHEARWATER” episode, TODAY, FEB. 2nd at 2 pm AKST on Raven Radio, or stream at www.kcaw.org, with Encounters fans from all over. See ya there!

01/31/2025

Big-name performers are making their way to Southeast Alaska for a two-stop musical tour this weekend. Portugal. The Man, Ya Tseen, and Samantha Crain will perform in Juneau on Friday and in Sitka on Saturday.

01/29/2025

A creek 45 miles northeast of Sitka is getting a makeover this summer. The U.S. Forest Service approved the Muri Creek Stream Restoration Project earlier this month.

A creek 45 miles northeast of Sitka is getting a makeover this summer. The U.S. Forest Service approved the Muri Creek Stream Restoration Project earlier this month. Muri Creek is nestled next to a remote bay on Chichagof Island, about three-and-a-half miles from Tenakee Springs. Marty Becker is the...

01/23/2025

Thousands of Alaska’s public-sector employees have been waiting for their retirement contributions to be processed since a hacking attempt last November pushed state systems offline. The delay has affected teachers and government workers in Sitka and across the state.

Thousands of Alaska’s public-sector employees have been waiting for their retirement contributions to be processed since a hacking attempt last November pushed state systems offline.

01/22/2025

The nation is still mourning the loss of late President Jimmy Carter, who died in late December at the age of 100. Now, one Sitkan who has a special connection with the former president is organizing a tribute in his memory.

The nation is still mourning the loss of late President Jimmy Carter, who died earlier this month at the age of 100. Now, one Sitkan who has a special connection with the former president is organizing a tribute in his memory.

01/17/2025

Tune in for the "Cold" episode of Encounters this Sunday at 2 p.m. on Raven Radio! ❄️☃️

CALLING ENCOUNTERS FANS! THIS SUNDAY, Jan. 19th, at 2 PM AKST, join host Richard Nelson in the heart of winter, tromping through deep snow in the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. IT'S THE "COLD" EPISODE! Follow the tracks of animals, learn about human and animal adaptations to deep cold, and discover the rich beauty and unique challenges that await anyone venturing out into this frozen world of the north. Listen on Raven Radio or stream at www.kcaw.org with fans from all over. See ya there!

01/16/2025

Sitka’s land trust cottages use a state-of-the-art model to create
affordability, and now a high school construction class is using
old-world skills to improve the neighborhood. Students are building
storage sheds for every home using locally-sourced lumber.

https://www.kcaw.org/2025/01/16/postcard-student-built-sheds-bring-local-lumber-into-sitkas-affordable-housing-neighborhood/

01/16/2025

The Sitka Assembly won’t sell water rights to a company in Florida, yet. At its regular meeting on Tuesday (1-14-25), the assembly postponed a vote on a contract with Global Hydration LLC, in order to give another company with water rights time to make good on its contract.

The Sitka Assembly won’t sell water rights to a company in Florida, yet. At its regular meeting on Tuesday (1-14-25), the assembly postponed a vote on a contract with Global Hydration LLC, in order to give another company with water rights time to make good on its contract.

01/15/2025

January signals the beginning of the municipal budget cycle. The Sitka Assembly meets more often this time of year, reviewing resource proposals for the general fund, considering where to set rates for the city’s enterprise funds, and deciding how much funding to direct toward local schools.

The process typically wraps up in May when the assembly passes its final budgets. There's always some uncertainty in the process – unanticipated expenses always come up – and there’s no way to know exactly how much money the city will bring in in sales tax revenue. But this year there’s another unknown: the assembly is worried about the financial impact of a possible ballot initiative to limit cruise tourism.

This year there’s a new unknown in the city's budget process: the assembly is worried about the financial impact of a possible ballot initiative to limit cruise tourism.

01/14/2025

Keilani Stockton and Timothy Benolken, of Craig, welcomed their child
Wilder David Benolken at 12:15 p.m. on January 9 — the first baby
born in Sitka in the New Year.

https://www.kcaw.org/2025/01/14/wilder-david-benolken-is-sitkas-first-baby-of-2025/

01/10/2025

December 2024 in Sitka was the warmest on record, with average temperatures of 42.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

December in Sitka was the warmest on record, with average temperatures of 42.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

01/08/2025

Firefighters quickly extinguished a potentially dangerous wildfire in
Sitka National Historical Park Monday evening (1-6-25). The cause of
the blaze is unknown, but winds in excess of 40 mph contributed to the
hazard.

https://www.kcaw.org/2025/01/08/high-winds-fuel-dangerous-tree-fire-in-sitka-national-historical-park/

01/07/2025

A Sitka man is celebrating the 35th anniversary of an Arctic trek that
almost defies belief. Beginning in 1989, Keith Nyitray did a 10-month
solo, unsupported hike across 1,500 miles of Alaska’s Brooks Range.

https://www.kcaw.org/2025/01/07/35-years-later-keith-nyitrays-arctic-trek-is-still-mind-boggling/

01/04/2025

We met our year-end fundraising goal! So, we decided to throw a little party. There are so many reasons to love Raven Radio. Our New Year's party animals are happy to share just some.