Unalaska, AK – For four days last week, the Aleutian Islands Risk Assessment advisory panel met in Anchorage to discuss vessel security and oil spill response measures.

Leslie Pearson is an advisory panel facilitator, and she explains the objectives of the meeting.

"The primary focus of the meetings for October is to look at all the types of risk reduction options that might be available to either prevent or mitigate a shipwreck out in the Aleutian Islands region," says Pearson.

Unalaska, AK – Today, local children got the day off from school, and state employees got to stay home from work in observance of Alaska Day. On this date, 143 years ago, the Territory of Alaska was formally transferred from Russia to the United States after being purchased for $7.2 million.

While for many, the day provides a break to play with friends or even just catch up on errands, it also offers an opportunity reflect on the state's history over the past century and a half. In honor of Alaska Day, KUCB's Alexandra Gutierrez spoke to some Alaskans about their memories of the passage of statehood.

Unalaska, AK – Tomorrow, the Bristol Bay Red King Crab and St. Matthew Blue King Crab fisheries open up at noon tomorrow. As of this afternoon 59 vessels have registered for red king crab this season, and five have registered for blue king crab.

This year, quota for Bristol Bay red king crab has gone down some - the total allowable catch is 14.8 million pounds. But that shouldn't affect the boats too much, says Sean Monahan, a deckhand on the Silver Dolphin.

Unalaska, AK – On Tuesday night, City Council received a comprehensive update on the state of capital projects - along with their costs.

The first major item of business was a proclamation that recognized Domestic Violence Awareness month. USAFV representatives Kiels Kitchen and Lynne Crane addressed the council and spoke about the work that the organization has done in the past year.

Unalaska, AK – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its recovery plan for the northern sea otter population in Southwest Alaska.

Since 2005, these otters have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and a team made up of 15 biologists, conservationists, government representatives, and community and industry leaders have in the meantime drafted a plan to increase their numbers. The plan divides up Southwest Alaska into five management units, ranging from the Western Aleutian Islands to Bristol Bay and Kodiak. It lays out the current status of sea otters, looks at current management practices, and proposes specific actions to be taken to protect them. It also sets the terms for their delisting, says Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Bruce Woods.

Unalaska, AK – Tonight, City Council will meet to discuss a number of ordinances related to the budget.

The meeting will open with the certification of the municipal election results - where all incumbent candidates won reelection - along with a proclamation recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Council will then move on to hear a presentation about the Museum of the Aleutians, pegged to two resolutions that they will be considering tonight. One resolution on the consent agenda would appoint Donna Detweiler to the Museum's Board of Directors, and another resolution that is being introduced as new business would approve matching funds for a Museum grant.

Unalaska, AK – On Sunday afternoon, drivers along Airport Beach Road were able to catch something of an air show. The U.S. Coast Guard was conducting a search and rescue drill just off of Hog Island, and it involved a 65-C Dolphin helicopter coming down near a raft, hovering, and sending a rescue swimmer out to bring back survivor dummy up to the helicopter.

Tim Beers was on board the survival raft, and he's part of the Deadliest Catch production crew. Even though it was just a simulation, he says that even spending a short amount of time out in the water like that was a distressing experience.

Unalaska, AK – The North Pacific Fishery Management Council wrapped up its October meeting by voting to restructure the observer program run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The eleven-member council unanimously agreed to both change the size of the program in the North Pacific and the way observers are paid.

The restructuring would add new vessel classes to the observer program, including halibut longliners. The cost of the observers, who count bycatch, will be covered through a 1.25% fee on the dockside value of the catch.

Unalaska, AK – A series of powerful earthquakes hit Thursday night in the Western Aleutians, about 60 miles southeast of Adak. The first quake was a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck at about 6:26pm Aleutian Daylight time. Over the next hour, two more earthquakes hit in the vicinity with magnitudes of 6.1 and 5.3. A 4.6 magnitude aftershock came at about 7:30.

According to the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, Adak residents likely felt the quakes, but there have been no reports of damage. A tsunami warning has not been issued.