Author: Ed Schoenfeld

Talking Trash: Follow the garbage we ship south

When you toss a candy wrapper in the trash, you’re sending it on a thousand-mile journey to a Lower 48 landfill. That’s the case if you live in one of five Southeast Alaska communities that send their garbage south via barge, truck and train.

Southeast economy down, with a few bright spots

The loss of state jobs is hitting Southeast Alaska hard. And tourism has overtaken fishing as the region’s largest private industry, according to a new report.

Ferry plan calls for smaller ships, independent management

A plan to reform the Alaska Marine Highway calls for replacing some ferries with smaller, more efficient vessels. It would be run by a public corporation.

Budget provision could shut down ferry system

A little-known budget provision will pull about $23 million out of the system’s spending for this fiscal year. Sen. Bert Stedman calls it “creative skullduggery” by lawmakers who think the ferries cost too much.