Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska

Regional Forester Beth Pendleton will retire in April after eight years in the position.

More than 30 representatives met recently at the Tulalip Indian Reservation, between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

The general manager of Bay Weld Boats in Homer says he’s seen in some cases 50 to 60 percent increases the purchasing prices of aluminum as aluminum users stocked up ahead of the tariff announcement.

The effort to reform the Alaska Marine Highway System took a step forward Thursday. The House Transportation Committee voted to instruct staff to draft legislation that would establish a public corporation to take over the system. But it’s a long way from a done deal.

The Juneau-based ship will miss sailings to and from Gustavus, Hoonah, Haines and Skagway.

Juneau Rep. Sam Kito III has introduced legislation that’s part of a larger plan to restructure ferry funding and management. One measure would move nearly $200 million from the Alaska Permanent Fund’s earnings reserve into a ferry operations account.