Unalaska, AK – The national mail participation rate for the U.S. Census - which tells how many people have already turned in their information - is 67 percent. The rate for Alaska is 57 percent. For Unalaska, it's 39 percent, the 12th lowest rate in the state. The highest return rate for Alaska, 79 percent, is from Saxman City in southeast Alaska. The 2000 census said their population was 431.

Unalaska, AK – New research shows that bottom trawl gear does kill some of the crabs it comes into contact with, but simple gear modifications can reduce the mortality rates. KUCB's Anne Hillman learned about the study.

Unalaska, AK – Check out part two of the conversation with Rep. Bryce Edgmon as he answered listeners calls.

Unalaska, AK – Listen to the final segment of the April 8 call-in show with Rep. Bryce Edgmon and questions from listeners like you!

Unalaska, AK – Listen to part one of the call-in show with Rep. Bryce Edgmon and host KUCB's Anne Hillman.

Unalaska, AK – The Bering Sea snow crab season is drawing to a close. The fleet of 68 boats has already caught 97 percent of the 43.2 million pound total allowable catch. The TAC is down 8.5 million pounds from last year because of the crab stock rebuilding plan. So far into the season the catch per unit effort is also down slightly. Last year fishermen were pulling up 279 crabs per pot on average, but this year they are only getting 238. Each crab is weighing about the ten-year average - 1.3 pounds.

Unalaska, AK – In the 1960s and 70s the U.S. government tested three nuclear warheads on Amchitka Island, one of which was the largest underground nuclear testing in U.S. history. In 2011, the Department of Energy is going back to the island to see if residual nuclear contaminants are affecting the plants and animals that live at or near the test sites. The Department of Energy did some tests in 2006, but Aleutian Pribilof Island Association Community Environment and Safety Program Manager Karen Pletnikoff said they didn't gather enough data to fully understand what is happening there under normal conditions and how it might affect things like food resources.

Unalaska, AK – The Department of Public Utilities recently won a $153,000 grant from the Alaska Energy Authority to buy LED street lights. Director of Public Utilities Dan Winters said the new lamps will use 75 percent less power than the current 400 watt bulbs but still give out the same amount of light.

Winters said his department is still looking for good lights for this environment. "We've been testing LED lights for quite a while out here and we've had a few of them that we've taken down and sent back and said these aren't going to work with our weather environment. Actually, the one's they put up in the Alaska Ship Supply new parking lot look really promising. They were up during the 175 mile per hour winds."

Unalaska, AK – Unalaska is at risk for a number of invasive marine species that could have negative impacts on the fishing industry if they aren't prevented. Denny Lassy is the Alaska coordinator for invasive species for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. He says Unalaska is particularly susceptible to invasives because of the number of vessels from around the world that come through the area.