Unalaska, AK – Unalaska's city council passed a sales tax exemption for residential heating fuel last night. Starting on October 1, residents will not be charged the 3% sales tax on any fuel deliveries made to homes. If you buy the fuel at the distribution point, you have to apply for reimbursement from the city. The exemption will last until September 30, 2009. The ordinance passed unanimously without any public comment.

Unalaska, AK – After a series of fuel shortages, rotating blackouts, and mismanagement, the City of Adak is no longer authorized to run its own power plant. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska revoked the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity today saying the city is managerially and financially unfit to run the utility.

Part of the decision issued by the RCA reads that Adak Electric's difficulties were "brought on by a completely avoidable combination of extremely poor cash management practices, a lack of competent management oversight, and negligent planning. By announcing rolling blackouts, Adak Electric has violated the law. Adak is not allowed to discontinue or abandon service for which a certificate has been issued without seeking permission to do so. We have never authorized Adak Electric to suspend service temporarily."

Unalaska, AK – This past month has seen the collapse of some of the United States oldest and strongest financial institutions. It's being called the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression. President Bush is suggesting a 700 million dollar plan to stabilize the economy. But how will it effect us in Unalaska? Pipa Escalante and Anne Hillman ask your opinions.

Unalaska, AK – A series of short films about life in Unalaska received an Emmy nomination this year. The series, called The Real Dutch, was produced in conjunction with Deadliest Catch for the Discovery Channel and included interviews with every one from police officers to bartenders to local DJs. Director, editor, and producer Vanessa Serreo said they wanted to show fans of the TV show what life was really like here.

Unalaska, AK – Over 30 people from Tiny Tots to adults raced in the PCR's Triathlon this weekend as individuals and teams. The triathlon started in the pool then competitors rode their bikes through the valley before running. Zachary Call came in first in the adult individual competition.

"The swimming was pretty hard because I don't swim," he said. "The biking was kind of tiring because I had just got done with swimming but it got better the second half and running was pretty easy because I'd been running for about a month now everyday."

Unalaska, AK – Want to know more about your local candidates? Watch the UCB Candidate Forum on Channel 8 from 7 to 9 pm on Wed., Oct. 1 or listen to it on KIAL 1450 AM. Read about your candidates here.

Unalaska, AK – Scientists are starting a new research project focusing on humpback whale stocks that summer near Unalaska. It's inspired by the memory of the late Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. KIAL's Anne Hillman met up with the researchers.

Unalaska, AK – Russian submarines armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles are test firing their rockets in the north Pacific this week. The tests began on September 15 and will continue until the 20.
Novosti, the Russian news and information agency, reported an unidentified official saying missile launches will be carried out in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea and will hit targets on the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia. The source did not say what types of submarines or missiles will be used but people in the Kamchatka region have been informed of the tests. Included in the Russian Pacific Fleet are nuclear submarines equipped with missiles that can hit targets up to 5,150 miles away.

Unalaska, AK – The Russian pollock fisheries are seeking Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. The process recently began and could take more than two years to complete. The third party assessor will look at the health of the stock, the fishery's impact on the ecosystem and the management practices in the Western Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.

Jim Gilmore of the At-Sea Processors Association doesn't think the potential certification will affect Alaskan pollock.