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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is surrounded by reporters as she arrives on the Senate Subway to vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

News

Murkowski co-sponsors bill to help Ukrainians stay in the US

Alaska senator is first Republican to join Democrat-led effort to grant guest status to refugees.

The Planned Parenthood location in Juneau, seen here in June of 2023, is now closed permanently. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Planned Parenthood opens virtual health center for Alaska following Juneau closure

Online access to birth control, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and other services offered.

Huna Totem Corp. team members meet with the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly in a work session on the company’s proposed Aak’w Landing project on Feb. 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Assembly takes step forward on Aak’w Landing tideland lease by 5-4 vote

Brainstormed amendments include additional data on traffic and navigation.

Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Immigrants and refugees in Alaska feel uncertainty under Trump administration

Policy changes spur preparation outreach from immigration advocates.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

‘This is no town hall. This is propaganda’; Begich takes heat at first virtual constituent forum

Congressman set to deliver his first joint address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday.

A shelter staff member takes a dog who is currently boarding at Juneau Animal Rescue outside on Feb. 13, 2025. The animal shelter needs more space both outside and in, according to the executive director. It could also use a guillotine door to allow dogs easier access to the outdoors. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau Animal Rescue hopes to be ‘feline’ the love at annual fundraiser

The shelter is still in need of a new building and hopes to continue educating the community.

Joann, the arts and crafts chain, announced it will close its Juneau location. An employee is seen working at the store on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau’s Joann craft store is one of 500 closing across the US

Company filing for bankruptcy; property manager at mall said it’s unknown when local store will close.

A skier crosses Mendenhall Lake in front of a large section of recently exposed ice on Mendenhall Glacier on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

News

Update: Large calving of ice from Mendenhall Glacier prompts further safety warning

U.S. Forest Service on Thursday says more calving possible, people should stay far away from glacier.

A girl uses her cellphone at Bronx High School of Science in New York on Jan. 11, 2016. (Yana Paskova for The New York Times)

News

Juneau School District seeks feedback from community on cellphone policy

The conversation rises from cellphone bans happening nationally and at the state level.

Blank posts are seen where the two totem poles once stood at the Fred Meyer main entrance on Feb. 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Fred Meyer totem poles get a second chance at life

Tlingit master carver says they will be refurbished with tribal youth and repurposed.

Aaron Surma, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Council, gives a solo testimony to the Juneau Board of Education on Feb. 6, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

On top of a flat-funded BSA, Juneau Board of Education considers loss of local funding and grants

Principals and mental health advocate give feedback as the Juneau School District plans FY26 budget.

Students arrive at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé for the first day of the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Students return unharmed to school after smoke detected at JDHS

CCFR gave the “all clear” for school to resume normal schedule.

A free children’s dance concert produced by Sybil Davis featured story dances, rock n’ roll and jazz. This photo was published in the Juneau Empire on March 6, 1981. (Mark Kelley / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Glide into 50 years with Juneau Dance Theatre at a celebratory gala

“We’re big enough now where we can offer something for everyone.”

Students play trumpets at the first annual Jazz Fest in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Fortier)

News

Join the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest to beat the winter blues

Four-day music festival brings education of students and Southeast community together.

Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Flood district plan charging property owners nearly $6,300 each gets unanimous OK from Assembly

117 objections filed for 466 properties in Mendenhall Valley deemed vulnerable to glacial floods.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, gives an overview of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s omnibus education package on Jan. 31, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Education package with multitude of policy changes and no BSA increase unveiled by Gov. Dunleavy

Proposals include allowing students to enroll anywhere in the state, more charter and homeschool support.

Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Bill making big increase to BSA receives overwhelming early support

“It feels like this gives us hope.”

Thom Young sits with Pepper and Rick Driscoll sits with Homer in a dog visiting room at Juneau Animal Rescue on Jan. 28, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

North to adoption: Three dogs from LA arrive at Juneau Animal Rescue

From the Antelope Valley to Mendenhall Valley, dogs close to euthanasia get a fresh start.

The Juneau Symphony rehearses for its winter mainstage concert in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé auditorium on Jan. 23, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau Symphony’s winter mainstage concert features Juneau guitarist

The symphony will play a guitar concerto for the first time.

A sign at Thunder Mountain Middle School was changed in January 2025 from Thunder Mountain High School to reflect the Juneau School District consolidation that officially took effect July 1, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska House bill raising education funding more than 40% over three years gets first hearing Monday

Juneau school leaders say they’ve done their part, Legislature now needs to uphold state constitution.