Economy

The post has been updated with a comment from the U.S. Postal Service.

People in Napakiak are getting desperate for mail, and the lack of postal service is becoming an issue. The village’s post office has been closed for the past two weeks, with no relief in sight. That means they can’t get medications that are flown out from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, or pay bills through the mail, or get checks to pay for basic needs like fuel and food, according to Napakiak City Administrator Leo Kusayak. 

It’s over. The legal battle between the Calista Regional Native Corporation and the former chairman of its board of directors has been settled. A press release on Thursday, Feb. 7 announced that "the legal disagreements between Wayne Don and Calista have been amicably resolved.” The lawsuit that the corporation filed has been dismissed.

The Kuskokwim Corporation has chosen Sam Boyle to serve as its interim CEO until a replacement is found. Former Chief Executive Officer Maver Carey retired from the role on February 1, a post she had held for 16 years. In all, Carey had worked for the Native corporation for more than two decades in a variety of roles.

Regional air carrier Ravn Alaska has a new baggage policy that begins this month, and only the first checked bag will fly free. A second checked bag will cost $15. As many other airlines are doing, Ravn is giving preferential treatment to those who join loyalty programs. 

It’s that time of year again: Pick.Click.Give. That’s a statewide fundraising effort where Alaskans can give a portion of their Permanent Fund Dividend to a charity or non-profit of their choice when they file for it electronically. Alaskans can file from now through March 31. 

Online retailing heavyweight Amazon forgot to exempt non-profits when it started collecting local sales taxes for online purchases. Some non-profits have started receiving refunds as Amazon works out the kinks in its new system.

The Alaska Village Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting for Bethel members at the Cultural Center last week. One focus of the meeting was to choose a delegate to send to Anchorage for the utility’s annual meeting. Members also got to submit resolutions for consideration at the annual meeting in April.

On Thursday, the Calista Regional Native Corporation is mailing out paperwork that shareholders will need when filing for federal tax returns. The 1099 forms reflect IRS dividend and distribution reporting.

Alaska regulatory officials are holding public hearings in both the Kuskokwim and Cook Inlet areas for Donlin Gold’s proposal to lease state land for its 315-mile natural gas pipeline. The pipeline would go from Cook Inlet, across the mountains, and down to the Upper Kuskokwim area to run a large power plant at Donlin Gold’s mining site near Crooked Creek.