Unalaska, AK – The Unalaska municipal government continues to put pressure on the state for assistance with the development of a new wastewater treatment plant.

Last week, Mayor Shirley Marquardt, City Manager Chris Hladick, and Council Members Katherine McGlashan, Dick Peck, and Dennis Robinson traveled to Juneau to lobby the state for $8 million in assistance for the plant. Because the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the current facilities do not meeting their permitting standards, the city is working on the construction of a new plant, which could cost up to $24 million. The city is also in the process of developing a landfill to contain waste output.

Unalaska, AK – A shutdown of the federal government could potentially take place by Friday, which would close up national parks and slow down the tax refund process for late filers. But for the most part, Unalaska shouldn't feel any major effects immediately since many of the federal employees here are considered essential staff. The post offices will continue operating, the Marine Safety Detachment will remain open, and fishing vessels will be able to keep their observers on board.

Unalaska, AK – Once its inventory is gone, Alyeska Trading Company will be shutting down its operations. The closure of this store is actually the result of a complicated asset sale by Wards Cove to other fishing groups, and its the part of the deal that locals are noticing the most. KUCB's Alexandra Gutierrez has more.

Unalaska, AK – Today, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council wraps up its meeting in Anchorage. For the past week, the council and its advisory panel have reviewed changes to the salmon fishery management plan, discussed changes to the Pacific cod jig fishery, and talked about how federal regulations affect cod trawlers.

This weekend, the council also focused on the state of the Pribilof Islands Blue King Crab stock and how this dwindling fishery could be rebuilt. It been over a decade since crabbers have been allowed to harvest this stock, but the blue king crab population hasn't rebounded since the closure. Now, the Council is reviewing a rebuilding plan that could close some grounds to flatfish vessels in an attempt to reduce crab bycatch.

Unalaska, AK – Strong winds blasted the Aleutians today, causing some property damage in Unalaska and across the chain.

Locally, windshields have been shattered by flying debris, and a dumpster lid blew off while being transported across Captains Bay, causing damage to the bridge. A vehicle collision also took place during the storm. In Atka, high winds tore the door off the local clinic.

Unalaska, AK – There will be a new hiatus this week as the news department attends the Alaska Press Club conference and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Anchorage. We'll be back at noon on Tuesday, April 5.

In the meantime, you can keep track of community events and information by checking our facebook page. As always, thanks for listening to KUCB 89.7 FM Unalaska.

Unalaska, AK – The Environmental Protection Agency has detected harmless trace of amounts of radiation in Alaska.

Radiation monitors in Unalaska, Nome, and Juneau picked up isotopes that likely originated from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan, which entered into crisis earlier this month. The radiation levels are currently "hundreds of thousands of times below levels of public health concern," according to the state of Alaska. These same isotopes have also been detected in Hawaii and in states along the West Coast, going as far as Nevada and Idaho.

Unalaska, AK – The state-waters Pacific cod fishery will have an exceptionally short season this year. The Aleutian Islands district will open to commercial fishing tomorrow, only to close a day and a half later on Thursday.

"I believe that this is probably the latest opening that we've had," says Trent Hartill, a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. "In previous years it's usually early to mid-March."

Unalaska, AK – The city completed the removal of a dozen trailers on Loop Road. That housing will be replaced by a new 8-plex made for school, law enforcement, and city employees.

The Unalaska city council voted to remove the trailers last June, and the city has sold them to Offshore Systems Inc via a contractor. This weekend, the trailers were removed by Lakeview General Contracting and relocated to OSI.