Wire Service

(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: SAVE Act would impose unreasonable barriers for people registering to vote

Retaining representative democracy requires due diligence and informed votes from all citizens possible, reasons the League of Women Voters dedicates itself to nonpartisan information on… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Keep pressure up on Sen. Sullivan

On national news, Sen. Murkowski said that people should continue contacting their legislators about Trump. Trump has fired many federal workers in Juneau. The price… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Freshwater bryozoans in Auke Lake make gelatinous round colonies. (Photo by KM Hocker)

On The Trails: Bryozoa

Sometime in April, a friend alerted me to some odd ball-shaped structures attached to a spruce log in Auke Lake. These are bryozoans, a type… Continue reading

Freshwater bryozoans in Auke Lake make gelatinous round colonies. (Photo by KM Hocker)
An Arctic “fogbow” is seen from the deck of the Coast Guard cutter Healy during the 2016 Hidden Ocean mission to the High Arctic area known as the Chukchi Borderland. The Healy cruise was part of a project carried out over several years to map the extended continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean beyond the nation’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. That extended area includes the Chukchi Borderland. (Photo provided by Caitlin Bailey/Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration)

Trump administration plans for oil deep in Arctic Ocean, where US claim has yet to be recognized

President seeks to designate High Arctic offshore area beyond the 200-mile limit.

An Arctic “fogbow” is seen from the deck of the Coast Guard cutter Healy during the 2016 Hidden Ocean mission to the High Arctic area known as the Chukchi Borderland. The Healy cruise was part of a project carried out over several years to map the extended continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean beyond the nation’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. That extended area includes the Chukchi Borderland. (Photo provided by Caitlin Bailey/Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port for the week of April 27

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2024 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Sunday, May 4… Continue reading

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Noatak, just after midnight. (Ash Adams / The New York Times)

Congress’ fight over Trump’s agenda runs through Alaska

Clashes inclue repealing Biden-era clean energy tax credits that are a lifeline for some constituents.

Noatak, just after midnight. (Ash Adams / The New York Times)
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center as seen on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Laurie Craig)

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center: Preserving the past, greeting the future

Generations of architects and naturalists have navigated through mass evolution of visitors and ice.

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center as seen on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
A path leading from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 1962. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

The original road to the glacier

Despite the flurry of activity and development proposals in the 1960s, the first road to the glacier was not constructed for scenic access. It was… Continue reading

A path leading from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 1962. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee meets on Friday, May 2, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate committee’s draft budget has a surplus — and that’s a sign of trouble

Committee leaders say they’ve created a “buffer” against a huge expected deficit in 2026.

The Alaska Senate Finance Committee meets on Friday, May 2, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, April 30, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)

Living and Growing: How we live our lives and pass on our values to our children

When my mother was dying of the breast cancer that had spread to her brain, she lost functionality in ways I didn’t expect. She would… Continue reading

Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)
Brian Lauth bags groceries at Super Bear Supermarket IGA in February of 2020 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Sales tax exemption on food will help families that need it most

Juneau’s 5% sales tax on groceries is among the highest in the nation. Almost every other state either doesn’t tax groceries at all, or taxes… Continue reading

Brian Lauth bags groceries at Super Bear Supermarket IGA in February of 2020 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
The chairs of the Senate Finance Committee huddle for a discussion after introducing their draft operating budget, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate committee drops proposed 2025 PFD to $1,000 per recipient, an inflation-adjusted low

Amid a severe state budget deficit, the Alaska Senate Finance Committee is proposing the lowest Permanent Fund dividend in five years and — if adjusted… Continue reading

The chairs of the Senate Finance Committee huddle for a discussion after introducing their draft operating budget, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Demonstrators march during a May Day protest at Union Park in Chicago, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Organizers see a traditional day for labor marches as an opportunity to show growing opposition to the Trump administration’s agenda. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)

Opinion: When fraud shows up on the Republicans’ radar

According to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, with cuts to Social Security and Medicare off the table, the only way to offset… Continue reading

Demonstrators march during a May Day protest at Union Park in Chicago, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Organizers see a traditional day for labor marches as an opportunity to show growing opposition to the Trump administration’s agenda. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, April 29, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Courtesy photo)

Opinion: Should food be taxed in Juneau?

Why have Juneau city leaders supported an extensive list of municipal sales tax exemptions over the years, but are unable to seriously consider exempting basic… Continue reading

(Courtesy photo)
Bottles of wine are displayed on June 29, 2022, at an Anchorage liquor store. Alaska is the first U.S. state to require that businesses post signs warning that alcohol consumption raises cancer risks. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska becomes first state to require warnings about alcohol link to colon, breast cancers

Correction: The headline and article have been corrected to reflect the fact that Alaska is the first state to require warnings of the link between… Continue reading

Bottles of wine are displayed on June 29, 2022, at an Anchorage liquor store. Alaska is the first U.S. state to require that businesses post signs warning that alcohol consumption raises cancer risks. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, April 27, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, April 26, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Works by artist Alec Dye will be featured at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center’s gallery as part of First Friday in May. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in May

A museum’s interactive exhibition featuring the works of a range of local performing artists, classical music performances at two venues, and a dance party in… Continue reading

Works by artist Alec Dye will be featured at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center’s gallery as part of First Friday in May. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)