Emily Schwing

SITKA, ALASKA (2009-07-02) The bells of the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel have been freshly power-washed. For the past 40 years, the bells have hung mostly silent in the cathedral. But a project this summer to clean and restore them could have them ringing again later this fall. KCAW’s Emily Schwing reports.

Robert Woolsey

SITKA, ALASKA (2009-07-01) The first 49-star flag in Alaska was raised in secret at 12:01 AM on July 4th 1959 on Sitka’s Castle Hill. Organizers of this year’s local Independence Day celebration plan to re-create the clandestine ceremony, which was attended by then-governor Bill Egan and his wife, along with a number of military officials. According to contemporary newspaper reports, the flag-raisers wanted to honor Alaska’s statehood by raising the new 49-star flag in the same location that the first US flag was flown over the former Russian Colony in 1867.

Robert Woolsey

SITKA, ALASKA (2009-06-30) Trollers will start the commercial fishing season offshore today (7-01-09) without the benefit of the Cape Edgecumbe weather buoy. But if this summer’s good weather holds, the buoy should be back in position before the fishing season is over.

Shaleece Haas

SITKA, ALASKA (2009-06-30) This year, Alaska overtook Nevada to become the state with the fastest growing population of elderly people. And for the most part, state agencies seem to be preparing for the needs of older Alaskans. But there’s one segment of the senior population that’s having a difficult time finding the care they need: those with mental illness.