The owners of a restaurant just outside of Homer woke up to racist graffiti scrawled across the front of their building Thursday. The owners of Wasabi’s Bistro reported the incident to police shortly before 8 a.m. and the photos have been shared widely on social media. 

Colt Belmonte, who is white, co-owns the restaurant with his wife Dali Frazier, who is African-American. The largely 

misspelled message used racial slurs and said the family should leave the U.S. “Trump 2020” was also written on the building.

Pebble Limited Partnership held a public meeting in Homer Tuesday to offer area residents an opportunity to ask questions about the project. Residents raised concerns about everything from earthquakes to who’s responsible for the mine site long after Pebble ends the 20-year project.

Pebble plans to start some survey work in the Anchor Point area next month, where it hopes to install a natural gas compressor station. The station would pump gas through an underwater pipeline to the mine site on the western side of Cook Inlet, providing power for facilities.

The U.S. Pacific halibut season kicked off Friday. Some of the first deliveries to Alaska ports are expected later this week and will set the tone for prices on the docks this year. Market conditions are expected to be more favorable for Alaska’s halibut fishermen and processors compared to last year.

What happens when wild salmon interbreed with hatchery fish?

A study by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game looking at chum and pink salmon runs in Southeast and Prince William Sound is expanding to help biologists understand the interplay between wild runs and hatchery strays. There is concern that hatchery fish could alter the genetics of wild populations, posing a threat to their survival.

Roughly 60 people showed up to a town hall meeting with Sen. Gary Stevens at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center early Friday afternoon to discuss the state budget. Stevens clearly told his constituents he does not support the deep budget cuts that Gov. Mike Dunleavy is proposing.

Stevens said slashing services to pay for a $3,000 dividend is unacceptable and he vowed that the Legislature wouldn’t accept the governor’s proposed spending plan.