Site Logo
Sockeye salmon splash their way up Steep Creek in 2012. Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott has rejected a ballot initiative that would have made it more difficult to build projects that affect salmon streams. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

News

Mallott kills fish measure

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott has rejected a proposed pro-fisheries ballot initiative as inappropriately restricting the powers of the…

In this March 2016 photo, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, questions Dr. Susan McCauley, Interim Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, during a Senate Education Committee on SB 191 at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

News

Dunleavy quits governor’s race; Huggins is in

There’s been a shakeup in the Republican lineup for the 2018 governor’s race. On Tuesday morning, Sen. Mike…

In this April photo, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

News

University regents to talk tuition hike, Title IX

The leaders of the University of Alaska are coming to Juneau with tuition increases and plenty else on…

Coghlan Island is seen at the entrance to Auke Bay in 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

News

NTSB: Crash focus on fuel

The National Transportation Safety Board is focusing on the fuel system of an Alaska Seaplanes aircraft that crashed…

Charles Biles of Humboldt State University presents a lecture at the University of Alaska Southeast on Wednesday night, Sept. 7, 2017. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

News

Electoral math could stress America’s democracy, lecturer says

On Oct. 3, the nation’s eyes will turn to Washington, D.C. as the U.S. Supreme Court considers oral…

Sheldon Fisher, right, will replace Randall Hoffbeck, left, as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue. Here, they are seen in 2015 discussing the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) with the Alaska Legislature. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

News

Walker administration turns to familiar face for new revenue commissioner

Alaska has a new commissioner of revenue. On Thursday, the office of Gov. Bill Walker announced that Sheldon…

The body of Robert Harold Houtary was discovered near the intersection of Radcliffe Road and Eagle Street on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Man found dead near airport

A 44-year-old Juneau man was found dead Thursday morning in a residential neighborhood near Juneau International Airport. The…

News

Alaska’s delegation reacts to Trump’s suspension of DACA

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the federal government will end a program known as…

The sky over the Mendenhall Wetlands Game Preserve is seen Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau sees first 70-degree September day in 7 years

Summer’s last gasp may have come in the first days of September. On Tuesday, the temperature at Juneau…

In this April 2011 photo, Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho, left, and former Juneau Rep. Bill Hudson, right, speak with John Torgerson, chairman of the Alaska Redistricting Board during a break in hearing public testimony at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

News

State seeks to end partisan gerrymandering nationwide

The state of Alaska is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule partisan gerrymandering illegal. On Tuesday, the…

A landslide blocks Sitka’s Halibut Point Road on Monday. No one was injured in the slide, the city’s worst in two years, and one home suffered superficial damage.  ^ Roberta White | Sitka Fire Department

News

Boats defeat landslide

No one was injured and no homes were significantly damaged in a major landslide Monday in Sitka. The…

Michele Elfers, Chief Landscape Architect for the city, instructs fourth-grade students from Harborview Elementary School on how to plant salmonberries on a newly created island next to the Seawalk on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. Harborview students will get a chance to plant 300 native species on the island over the next week to transform the area into habitat for birds. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Greening ‘Apocalypse’: Students learn and beautify Juneau’s new downtown island

It’s been nicknamed “Apocalypse Island” for its barren, rocky look, but the unnamed island built at the mouth…

News

Coast Guard reports busy Friday with twin Southeast medevacs

Coast Guard Air Station Sitka reported a busy morning with a pair of medevacs from unrelated medical emergencies…

A panoramic view of downtown Juneau on Aug. 22. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

News

After hot start, August cools off with rain

In hindsight, the switch was thrown on Aug. 11. In the first 11 days of August, the high…

News

Summer marijuana boom continues with sales high

In just one month, the state of Alaska has collected a third of the marijuana tax revenue it…

Close up of a failed mathematics test (Thinkstock)

News

Alaska’s students failing, state tests show

More than half of Alaska’s schoolchildren are not proficient in math, science and English, according to the results…

News

Walker to call fourth special session

The Alaska Legislature will try to find a new hope in the fourth special session of the year.…

Anything made at least 51 percent in the state of Alaska can feature this logo, including marijuana businesses.

News

State allows marijuana businesses to apply for ‘Made in Alaska’ logos

The state-run “Made in Alaska” program is accepting applications from marijuana businesses. According to records obtained by the…

News

Brewing change: Alaskans are drinking less, and they’re drinking differently

If you want to see the changes, go to Franklin Street. Start up north, above 2nd street, where…

A couple walks along the West Douglas Pioneer Road on Monday, Aug. 28, 2017. The city has asked for permission to extend the road to Middle Creek. The road is now open to non-motorized traffic. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

West Douglas pioneer road gets another mile

A new 2.4-mile gravel road on the west side of Douglas Island is just about complete, but the…