Unalaska, AK – In 2011, the Minerals Management Service hopes to put a 5.6 million acre area of Bristol Bay out to bid for oil and gas drilling. This week, the agency began holding meetings around the state about the project, including one Thursday in Unalaska. KIAL's Charles Homans reports.

Unalaska, AK – A new exhibit celebrating the 200th anniversary of Unalaska's Russian Orthodox Church opens Saturday at the Museum of the Aleutians.

"We, through our exhibit, are trying to tell the story, the history of the church as it developed, as it affected the life of the Unangan people and what it has become today for Unangan people," said Museum Director Zoya Johnson. "In a way for all of us in Unalaska it has become the symbol for our identity, regardless of denomination."

Unalaska, AK – Wild horses have roamed the populated side of Unalaska Island in the Aleutians for 11 years. A local organization says the growing herd is damaging the ecosystem and is taking steps to reduce the growth of the herd. But some community members don't want the horses touched. KIAL's Anne Hillman has more.

Unalaska, AK – Wild horses have roamed the populated side of Unalaska Island in the Aleutians for 11 years. A local organization says the growing herd is damaging the ecosystem and is taking steps to reduce the growth of the herd. But some community members don't want the horses touched. KIAL's Anne Hillman has more.

Unalaska, AK – Wild horses have roamed the populated side of Unalaska Island in the Aleutians for 11 years. A local organization says the growing herd is damaging the ecosystem and is taking steps to reduce the growth of the herd. But some community members don't want the horses touched. KIAL's Anne Hillman has more.

Unalaska, AK – After a year of deadlock, some union employees have reached an agreement with the city government on a new contract.

After an executive session at last night's meeting, the Unalaska City Council voted unanimously to sign an agreement with the union representation of the city's Parks, Culture & Recreation Department. The new contract would offer employees a $2,500 signing bonus, but would require them to pay $100 a month
for health insurance.

Unalaska, AK – The Minerals Management Service will hold a public hearing in Unalaska Thursday on its plans to lease parts of Bristol Bay for oil and gas development.

Agency representatives were in Anchorage yesterday for the first in this round of hearings on the controversial plan.

"Any spill's going to have some damage--not only possibly to the resource, but possibly to the reputation of the fish," Unalaska's Pete Hendrickson, who was at the meeting, told APRN. "So it would be an economic disaster for sure, as well as an environmental one."

Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska Horse Gelding Project began castrating the Summer Bay stallions this week in an effort to reduce the growth of the herd. Jeff Hancock, the manager of the project, says the horses are damaging the local ecosystem.

"Among the impacts they have on our local environment are things like causing erosion around stream beds, which causes siltation in streams. If the water is not clear running, it can impact local salmon populations, which are naturally occurring," Hancock said.

Unalaska, AK – The City Council will meet tonight to discuss whether to lower the taxes that Unalaska residents pay on their homes. Also on the agenda is a first discussion of whether Unalaska should consider buying a third generator for the new powerhouse.

The rate at which properties on the island are taxed has been the same for the past sixteen years, even though property values have steadily increased, jumping by more than $30 million in the past year alone. That means that homeowners here have owed the city more money each year, something that has some council members considering reducing the rate.