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Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary, made no commitments to building a road long sought by residents that would cut through a national wildlife refuge on the Alaska Peninsula. But she listened intently on a whirlwind day of flights, tours and meetings.

Six Western Alaska nonprofits can now apply for a slice of nearly $200 million in federal loans to pay for fishing vessels, quota and other industry expenses to support economic development in their region. The long-term loans are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and are exclusively available to the Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program. The CDQ program is made up of six nonprofit groups that are tasked with supporting economic development and wellbeing in communities on the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands through fisheries revenues.

It was still dark at Unalaska’s Robert Storrs Small Boat Harbor, just before 5 a.m. on a fair spring morning. Normally, Dustan Dickerson and his three-man crew would be warming up the engine of the 54-foot Raven Bay by now so they could head out a few miles to haul and set cod pots, eat, sleep and repeat for a couple days before returning home. But on this mid-March morning, the crew was joined by three sleepy-eyed greenhorns: Corynn Lekanoff, Kaidon Parker and Anatoly Fomin. The three local teens were headed out for a day trip to get a glimpse into the life of Unalaska’s small boat fishermen. The trip is part of an outreach program led and started earlier this year by Dickerson, captain and owner of the Raven Bay. It’s meant to provide local youth with the chance to get on a boat and see what fishing is all about.

ABOARD THE PINNACLE, Bering Sea — Through the wheelhouse window, captain Mark Casto spotted a white line on the horizon. The edge of an ice floe was illuminated by bow lights piercing the morning darkness of the Bering Sea. He throttled back the engines. Soon, the Seattle-based crab boat began to nose through closely packed pancake-like pieces and bigger craggy chunks, some the size of boulders, which bobbed about in the currents and clanged against the hull. Casto had hoped this patch of sea would yield a bountiful catch of snow crab to help fill up the boat. Nearby, a few hours earlier, he had set more than two dozen baited pots along the sea bottom. Now, he risked losing them in the fast-moving ice.

The Unalaska Public Library moved into its temporary location at the Burma Road Chapel in early April. And while some things are new and some are missed, lovers of Alaska history will be happy to know they can still hang out and read about the Aleutians. Peat has worked at the library for around 17 years, acquiring a vast knowledge of everything Alaska and Aleutians — from Alaska statehood and the Valdez oil spill to shipping in Alaska and Russian exploration. “He’s the person I refer anyone to when they have questions about Alaskana stuff,” said library assistant Katie Huling. “His knowledge of the history of this island is just phenomenal.”

Preschool teacher Joni Scott, who coordinated the Ice Cream Social, said 78 gallons of ice cream were served throughout the afternoon.

Musician Lynda Lybeck Robinson has taught piano lessons to students in Unalaska since 1996. Live performances were an important part of the program. After COVID-19 cancelled several recitals, students are back on stage this year and will also perform on Channel 8 TV. KUCB's Vic Fisher sat down with Lybeck Robinson to find out more.

Unalaska Public Library moved into its temporary location at the Burma Road Chapel last week, and while some things are new and some are missed, lovers of Alaska history will be happy to know they can still hang out and read about the Aleutians; the Kodiak community of Old Harbor is tapping into millions in federal funds to shore up its tsunami preparedness; and a week after a large orb of light was observed moving across the early morning Alaska sky, scientists have offered an explanation.

A wide variety of artwork including metal sculptures, ivory carvings and wood burnings drew a crowd of more than one hundred people to Unalaska’s Museum of the Aleutians for the opening of the 30th Annual Aleutian Arts Council Community Art Show. Community members, local artists, tourists and weathered-in fishermen filed into MOTA’s gallery room to admire the art pieces at the exhibit opening last month.

Taytum x̂anix̂ Robinson is the artist behind Qawax̂ Creations - a contemporary Unangax̂ jewelry line she started about a year ago. Her earrings are known on social media for their unique use of seal intestine, or seal gut, which has traditionally been used to make rain gear.