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The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 25, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Jan. 28

Three decades of capital city coverage.

A city worker clears streets in downtown Juneau following this week’s snowstorm. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

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Arrival of heavy rain means risk for structures, boats and avalanches even higher after record snow

Up to two inches of precipitation a day forecast through Monday; Thane Road closing at 6 p.m. Friday

State Rep. Craig Johnson (center), an Anchorage Republican, consults with a staff member while chairing a House Rules Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol on Saturday to hear Senate Bill 140, which as modified by the committee makes sweeping changes to Alaska’s education system. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Battle lines in massive education bill set by House and Senate majorities

Senate says bill rushed and reckless; House calls it balanced solution to struggling school system.

The roof of a building bears the weight of multiple feet of snow following two storms during the past two weeks that have dumped more than 60 inches of snow on some parts of Juneau. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo)

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Structures collapse under snow weight, avalanches triggered downtown as storm nears end

Warnings issued for avalanche zones, buildings under heavy weight loads and travel on icy roads.

The Juneau School District is facing a current and future financial crisis, including deficit spending that has resulted in a projected $8 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, with leaders considering school consolidation among many other remedies. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

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Juneau School District’s deficit is ‘only’ $8M instead of $9.5M after further review and initial cuts

Leaders still looking at specific options for school consolidation, asking city to cover some costs.

Nadia Wilson, left, and Layla Tokuoka, right, of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé fight for possession of the ball with Skylar Morris of South Anchorage High School during Saturday’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS boys, girls deliver matching pair of basketball wins for homecoming

Both Crimson Bears teams score on key plays in closing seconds of back-and-forth contests.

The National Weather Service Juneau office near the Mendenhall Glacier has a snowpack depth of 33 inches as of about midnight Tuesday, following two heavy storms during the past 10 days, according to the station. (National Weather Service Juneau)

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Avalanche warnings, closures continue as marathon storm leaves record snowfall

Juneau shatters snow record for Jan. 22; forecaster says avalanches “could begin to endanger homes.”

A state Department of Public Transportation and Public Facilities plow clears heavy snow from a road. The department has closed Thane Road overnight Monday and Tuesday due to the high risk of avalanches. (Alaska Department of Public Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

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In-person city and school activities canceled Wednesday, but both offering remote services

Snow expected to end early Wednesday morning, but traffic and avalanche hazards remain high.

A plow clears snow from city streets on Sunday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

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Remote learning day as local schools ‘closed’ Monday due to snowstorm; city and state offices also closed

District announces first “winter” remote classes to prevent excessive cancellations due to weather

A pro-life flag, selected in a design contest, is being flown at some government buildings and other locations, sometimes as a counterstatement to Pride and other flags seen as politically oriented. A flag with the design is currently flying below the official Alaska State Flag at the Governor’s Residence after being hoisted there in recent days. (Photo by The Pro-Life Flag Project)

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‘Pro-life’ flag hangs outside Governor’s Residence on anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Flag hoisted in recent days part of national movement, partly in response to Pride and other flags

Cars and a hillside street in downtown Juneau are buried under thick snow from a storm that began Sunday and is expected to continue until Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Lingering storm may dump more than two feet of snow; avalanche, other warnings issued

City closed, schools continue remote learning again on Tuesday; Thane Road closing at 8 p.m. Monday.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, dances with others during a campaign event Oct. 24, 2022, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola, who announced Monday she is seeking a second full term, is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Peltola announces reelection bid, plans campaign stop in Juneau on Saturday

Democratic congresswoman among top nationwide targets of Republicans as she seeks second full term.

From left, Bela Pyare, 13, Josie Elfers, 11, Nayeli Hood, 11, and Emily Ferry, a member of the Alaska Association of School Boards, discuss their testimony about a board-based education bill in a hallway at the Alaska State Capitol during a House Rule Committee meeting on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Sweeping education bill advances to House floor despite overwhelming opposition from educators

Bill contains $300 BSA increase, boosts for charter and homeschooling, random audits of districts.

Another winter storm is expected to dump up to 15 inches of snow on Juneau by Monday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)

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Another storm arriving Sunday night expected to dump up to 15 more inches of snow on Juneau

However, rain forecast immediately afterward until next weekend, when it may snow again.

An Alaska Marine Highway System vessel at sea. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

News

Dunleavy gains control to pick all nine members of state ferry board July 1 under executive order

Order ends all existing terms that day; takes away legislative leaders’ appointing of four seats.

Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertson during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday.

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Delay of Kroger-Albertson merger cause for more pressure by opponents, Peltola says

Parent companies of Fred Meyer and Safeway now looking at August instead of March to sign the deal.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser (left) and members of the Juneau Board of Education discuss the district’s financial crisis during a public meeting Thursday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Screenshot from Juneau School District livestream)

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School district’s former financial officer increasingly blamed for deficit as angry parents ask who’s responsible

“We were appallingly poorly informed about our budget projections,” school board president says.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 18, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Jan. 21

Three decades of capital city coverage.

A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Legislature fails by 33-26 vote to override governor’s veto to education funding

House speaker says joint session was procedural move to address constitutional process question.

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

School board OKs hiring freeze, other cuts due to $9.5M deficit; school consolidation proposed

Loan options, closing district during summer among other ideas discussed at special meeting