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Turnout was noticeably lower at this month’s Haines Borough Planning and Zoning meeting compared to June. But the session put a spotlight on simmering divisions over housing policies, mounting frustration with meeting procedures and revealed a serious fraud scheme affecting local residents. KHNS’ Brandon Wilks reports.

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, or DEED, is proposing changes that would limit how local governments can contribute to their schools. Skagway’s school superintendent says that while these changes wouldn’t harm his district in the short term, they are an overreach that will undermine public education. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson has the […]

A fire Monday morning in Skagway displaced multiple seasonal workers but no one was injured. A representative for the building’s owner says the building will remain vacant until it is repaired. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson has the details of the early morning blaze.

It’s been three weeks since the Alaska Department of Fish and Game seized dozens of animals from a wildlife facility outside Haines. But a number were left behind. And as Avery Ellfeldt reports for the Alaska Desk, the owner is now calling on the state to return to his property and retrieve them.

As the upcoming school year approaches, the Haines Borough School District is preparing for the looming threat of more budget cuts. KHNS reporter Trygve Bakke was able to speak with Superintendent Lilly Boron and Principal Alex Van Wyhe to hear about the district’s next steps.

An ongoing controversy involving a proposal to use cemetery land for a community composting facility came to a head last week when the Haines Borough Assembly denied the request. The move left the nonprofit behind the facility disappointed, fatigued, and searching for a way forward. KHNS’ Brandon Wilks has this story.

The Native village of Klukwan, just north of Haines, is grappling with landslide risk that’s intensifying with climate change. It’s also posing a major obstacle to the community’s growth. The village is in the thick of a research project to better understand the threat. And as Avery Ellfeldt reports for the Alaska Desk, residents hope the […]

Most of the time in Skagway, getting a mammogram means spending hundreds of dollars to travel to another city like Juneau. But once a year, the breast cancer screening comes to town … in a truck. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson chose that second option this spring and brought along her microphone to learn more.

The Haines Borough Assembly voted to update its code to allow for a paid fire chief. The vote narrowly passed at a July 8 meeting, with the mayor breaking the tie. It’s a big change for a town that has relied on a volunteer fire chief to run its fire department that’s over a century […]

Reindeer from a Haines wildlife center that was shut down by the state in June are causing a kerfuffle for Skagway’s Planning and Zoning Commission. On Thursday, the commission asked for more information to determine if a reindeer tour would be allowed. But now it is unclear if the animals are even legal, without the […]

Skagway’s borough assembly appointed a temporary member after Assembly member Kate Kolodi stepped into the mayor position. But the new assembly member isn’t so new, as he’s served on the assembly before, as well as in other borough positions.  And, Skagway leaders held a town hall Wednesday night to discuss a proposition to raise revenue. […]

The Haines Borough is considering a new way to expel a mayor or assembly member. A new proposal was discussed at a June 24 assembly meeting and the backer says the change would keep elected officials accountable. But as KHNS’ Melinda Munson reports, many in attendance testified against the proposed rules, calling them an overreach.

State Senator Jesse Kiehl and State Representative Andi Story met with a handful of Skagwegians at a town hall on July 6 to discuss Southeast’s most pressing issues. They included a balanced budget, education funding and ferries. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson attended the gathering and has this report.

Next to Skagway’s City Hall is a surprising new tour – a flying trapeze. The attraction is the first of its kind in Skagway, and the rest of Alaska. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson ran away to the circus for the day to learn more.

A wildlife facility outside Haines that’s popular with tourists has come under scrutiny over concerns related to animal care and public safety. The dispute erupted late last week when two state agencies descended on the property to search for evidence of animal abuse – and remove animals from the premises.

Recently, a 24 year old from New England made his way to Haines to work for the Chilkat Valley News. KHNS radio reporter Tryg Bakke sat down with newspaper reporter Will Steinfeld, to get the scoop.

Skagway Emergency Services responded to a fire over the weekend. Officials reported the death of one resident and one pet, but the deaths were not connected to the blaze. KHNS’ Melinda Munson has details from this developing story. And, Skagway writer Kent Fielding just released his third book. The collection of poems was written over […]

The Haines Borough Assembly all agreed for once about plans for the Lutak Dock. In a rare unanimous vote, the assembly directed the interim borough manager to come back to their next meeting with a new contract that includes a smaller, less expensive dock. If approved, the agreement would also end litigation between the borough […]

Skagway was the very first incorporated city in Alaska, and it will celebrate that accomplishment on June 28 with a town picture. KHNS reporter Melinda Munson spoke with a local historian about how the town beat out Juneau, and Ketchikan, for the honor. Also in the news, a Haines guide died on Sunday during a non-work-related […]

A Haines nonprofit has been working for years to build a large facility capable of churning out compost for farmers and gardeners. The facility itself is complete. But the plan is stalled amid a heated debate over a neighboring driveway that proponents say is important for the project – but belongs to the local cemetery.