Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

Petersburg has a new magistrate judge and she’s a familiar face in the courthouse and the community.

Petersburg officials and residents have questions remaining about how a cruise ship company plans to protect passengers and the community from COVID-19 spread. The company American Cruise Lines still hopes to start sailings in Southeast Alaska later this month.

Petersburg’s borough assembly Monday agreed to contribute to a fishing industry group’s defense of a lawsuit seeking to block salmon trolling in the region this year. Some on the assembly questioned the precedent they’d be setting.

The merger of seafood processing companies Icicle Seafoods and Ocean Beauty Seafoods will mean extra bunkhouse space in Petersburg for quarantining seasonal workers if needed this summer.

Incumbent state legislators in central Southeast Alaska have multiple challengers signed up for the Republican primary. The deadline to file as a candidate with the state was Monday.