Associated Press

The state Division of Forestry will use a federal grant and matching funds to restore a seven-mile section of an urban Anchorage creek.

Sitka officials are seeking to have an administration building damaged by a landslide nearly a year ago condemned. The action would impact $29,000 in active leases at the property, which has been deemed still at risk for damage from future landslides.

The Sitka Sentinel reports a landslide hit the building at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park on Aug. 18, when three Sitka residents were killed in another landslide.

City Administrator Mark Gorman said Wednesday he will recommend the Sitka Assembly cancel all leases at the building in September. Silver Bay Seafoods, a tannery, and a bear rescue facility are among the businesses that would be affected.

Gorman’s decision comes in response to preliminary findings from a firm studying the landslide area that indicate the property remains at risk.

Gov. Bill Walker is laying out a bleak financial picture as it becomes increasingly apparent he will not get the plan he hoped for to address Alaska’s gaping deficit during this special session.

A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in connection with a vandalism spree that left 87 private airplanes with slashed tires at Anchorage’s Merrill Field airport.

Alaska state legislators are poised to meet Monday for their fifth special session in two years.

Gov. Bill Walker says they need to finish the work of addressing Alaska’s budget deficit. But Walker’s agenda could face an uphill battle, given his proposals so far have struggled to gain traction.

House Minority Leader Chris Tuck questions how productive the session might be. He says his fear is that holding a special session weeks after the last special session and weeks before the primary will force people to take hard-line positions.

Walker’s special session proclamation includes a proposal to use earnings from the Alaska Permanent Fund to help pay for state government; a tax package; and a proposal dealing with oil and gas tax credits. Newly included in the tax package is a sales tax.

A Ketchikan mariculture nonprofit that previously secured funding from the Ketchikan Gateway Borough is struggling after water quality led to losses of stock.

The Ketchikan Daily News reports that nonprofit shellfish hatchery OceansAlaska aims to support its operations by selling oyster and geoduck seeds, but water issues led to only $4,704 worth of shellfish seed being sold in 2015. OceansAlaska has since sold seed worth $23,100 in 2016 but is facing a funding gap.

OceansAlaska officials presented the information on Monday to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly, which last year gave OceansAlaska a $600,000 loan. The nonprofit has not requested additional funding from the borough.

OceansAlaska’s larval oysters were affected by acidic water during the fall and winter. Eventually, the hatchery calmed the problem with soda ash, but not until after many oysters were lost.