March 24, 2026

·11 min·1 clip

Sitka's snow crews are exhausted, equipment is broken, and the city may spend an extra $250,000 as record snowfall overwhelms the system.

The episode opens with a local news update on Sitka's persistent snowfall, reporting that March has been the second snowiest on record with over 31 inches. Municipal Administrator John Leach details the strain on snow removal, including fatigued crews, damaged equipment, and the formation of an emergency operations center. He proposes an additional $250,000 for contractors, with K&E Alaska currently plowing specific roads and volunteer ATV groups assisting. Snow also caused power outages when trees fell on the Green Lake transmission line, despite recent tree removal efforts. The Sitka School District extended spring break due to snow days, planning to add days to the school year and seek a state waiver. The episode shifts to city governance, noting the Sitka Assembly will consider approving an updated Historic Preservation Plan, which hasn't been revised since 1994 and now emphasizes Tlingit history and heritage tourism. The Assembly will also discuss allocating around $4.2 million in cruise passenger head tax funds, which are restricted to projects benefiting tourists. A statewide segment follows, reporting that about 25,000 Alaskans lost health insurance subsidies in 2026 due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, leading to higher costs and a 10% enrollment decline at healthcare.gov. Reporter Rachel Cassandra explores non-insurance options, including healthcare-sharing ministries, direct primary care memberships like Arete Family Care's plan costing $125 monthly for adults under 45, health discount plans such as GoodRx, and safety net programs like Anchorage Project Access for free specialty care. The episode then covers a U.S. Forest Service virtual meeting for feedback on a revised Tongass National Forest Management Plan, which will set priorities for logging, recreation, and ecosystem health over the next decade. Community calendar announcements include the temporary closure of Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport's vestibule, a Sitka School Board budget work session, a storytelling event at Harbor Mountain Brewing Company, and a grief support group by Braveheart volunteers.

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