Unalaska, AK – Yesterday Unalaskans voted with the rest of the state in narrowly approving a measure giving the state legislature a go-ahead to consider a constitutional amendment barring benefits for same-sex partners.

Yesterday's advisory vote saw a 22 percent turnout statewide, more than half of it in Anchorage, where a municipal election was going on as well. The measure passed, with 53 percent in favor of a constitutional amendment. The legislature considered that idea last fall, but didn't have enough votes for the amendment.

Unalaska, AK – State officials are asking the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to look into a planned merger that would consolidate much of the Alaska seafood processing industry in the hands of a single company.

The Anchorage Daily News reported Monday that state Fish and Game Commissioner Denby Lloyd is asking the council to review the plans by the Maruha Group and the Nichiro Corporation to consolidate their business. Maruha owns both Alyeska and Westward Seafoods, and is already the largest seafood company in Japan. The proposed Maruha Nichiro Holdings Incorporated would be the fifth-largest Japanese food company.

Unalaska, AK – The reality program Deadliest Catch returns to the Discovery Channel tonight for its third season. The show, which follows fishermen during the Bering Sea red king crab and opilio crab seasons, has been a huge hit for the cable network, but this year's delayed opilio season has complicated the logistics of filming it. In Unalaska, KIAL's Charles Homans reports.

Unalaska, AK – A woman gave birth onboard a fishing vessel moored at the Dutch Harbor spit dock on Sunday, according to the Unalaska Department of Public Safety.

Public safety officials wouldn't identify the mother or comment further today on the birth, which they said was possibly under investigation by the state Division of Family and Youth Services. Local division representatives couldn't be reached today.

Unalaska, AK – More than two years after the wreck of the Selendang Ayu, federal and state authorities are considering what work can be done in Unalaska to compensate for the disaster.

In a notice in the Federal Register today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it's beginning the process of planning restoration work on the island, where the more than 300,000 gallons of fuel oil that spilled from the vessel wreaked considerable environmental havoc.

Unalaska, AK – Two crew members are being charged with assault in Unalaska after a fight with a crowbar onboard the fishing vessel Deep Pacific last week.

Nineteen-year-old Sione Pakalani has been charged with first-degree assault and 35-year-old Floyd Decker has been charged with third degree assault following the March 20 incident.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Unalaska's District Court, Decker got in an argument with Pakalani's cousin, who also worked on the Deep Pacific, in the ship's freezer hold. Decker was threatening the man with a crowbar when Pakalani jumped into the hold, took the crowbar from Decker and attacked him with it, according to the complaint.

Unalaska, AK – Three crab boats, a freighter and a floating processor are free after spending Wednesday night trapped in sea ice near St. Paul. In Unalaska, KIAL's Charles Homans has the story.

Unalaska, AK – Three crab boats, a freighter and a floating processor are free after spending Wednesday night trapped in sea ice near St. Paul. In Unalaska, KIAL's Charles Homans has the story.

Unalaska, AK – Unalaska seventh grader Carlin Enlow is competing in a statewide geography competition in Anchorage on Friday.

Enlow will represent Unalaska as one of 100 competitors from across Alaska in the state finals for the National Geographic Bee, an annual contest sponsored by the National Geographic Society that tests kids' knowledge of world events and geography.

Enlow won the school-level bee in Unalaska in January. She said that doing well in the competition mostly comes down to doing a lot of studying.