Wire Service

A cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau on April 30, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

As foreign tourists stay away, US could lose $12.5 billion this year, tourism group says

Border detentions, confusion over visas deterring visitors, according to World Travel & Tourism Council.

A cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau on April 30, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Members of the Alaska Senate watch the votes for and against Senate Bill 26 on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska senators vote to end daylight saving time, ask feds to put state on Pacific Standard Time

Alaska would be on the same time zone as Seattle for four months of the year is bill becomes law.

Members of the Alaska Senate watch the votes for and against Senate Bill 26 on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, May 11, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich are complicit in destruction of US democracy

I have found myself struggling, these past few months, to find the right words to describe the inaction of Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich in… Continue reading

Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Demolishing Telephone Hill won’t save downtown businesses

In a recent front-page article of the Juneau Empire was a demolition plan, referring to Telephone Hill, advanced by the Assembly; another hopeless attempt to… Continue reading

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

Police calls for Saturday, May 10, 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 Friday, May 9, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)

On The Trails: Spring birds and toads

In late April, a male yellow-rumped warbler began coming regularly to my deck, visiting the feeders. He picks off mouthfuls of peanut butter, one after… Continue reading

Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Thursday, May 8, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Republicans have toiled under House Speaker Mike Johnson to find $880 billion in savings over a decade and assemble a number of cuts large enough to meet that goal. (Tierney L. Cross / For The New York Times)

Republicans propose paring Medicaid coverage, but steer clear of deeper cuts

House panel’s plan would still leave millions without health coverage or facing higher costs.

Republicans have toiled under House Speaker Mike Johnson to find $880 billion in savings over a decade and assemble a number of cuts large enough to meet that goal. (Tierney L. Cross / For The New York Times)
A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)

Conservation group lawsuit seeks to speed listing of Alaska king salmon under Endangered Species Act

Lawsuit asks a judge to order national fisheries service to “promptly issue” decision on petition

A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)
Cottongrass wafts over the tundra in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 2, 2006. (Steve Hillebrand/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Arctic refuge oil exploration could begin as soon as this winter, court documents indicate

Alaska’s state-owned investment bank could get permission to start oil exploration work in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as soon as the third quarter of… Continue reading

Cottongrass wafts over the tundra in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 2, 2006. (Steve Hillebrand/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
A drill rig at the Palmer deposit in the Chilkat River valley near Haines. (Lex Treinen/Chilkat Valley News)

A contentious mining project in SE Alaska just changed hands. Its new owner already wants to sell.

Opponents are celebrating the news as a setback for the Palmer Project near Haines.

A drill rig at the Palmer deposit in the Chilkat River valley near Haines. (Lex Treinen/Chilkat Valley News)
The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

In unusual move, Alaska House declines to honor conservative political writer

Suzanne Downing, founder of Must Read Alaska and former Juneau Empire managing editor, spurned by 21-17 vote.

The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
An architect’s rendering of the proposed Capital Civic Center. (NorthWind Architects and Jensen Yorba Wall)

My Turn: Capital Civic Center will be an economic driver for Juneau

At the urging of the mayor, Travel Juneau, the Juneau Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership for a New JACC met together in early 2020… Continue reading

An architect’s rendering of the proposed Capital Civic Center. (NorthWind Architects and Jensen Yorba Wall)
Dick Maitland, a foley artist, works on the 46th season of “Sesame Street” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, Dec. 15, 2025. (Ariana McLaughlin/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump’s embarrassing immaturity Republicans won’t acknowledge

It was only a matter of time before President Donald Trump took action to end taxpayer funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public… Continue reading

Dick Maitland, a foley artist, works on the 46th season of “Sesame Street” at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, Dec. 15, 2025. (Ariana McLaughlin/The New York Times)
Rich chocolate cream pie. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Rich chocolate cream pie

About once a year I indulge myself with chocolate cream pie, using someone’s potluck as an excuse to make one. This is a very rich… Continue reading

Rich chocolate cream pie. (Photo by Patty Schied)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port for the week of May 11

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 11… Continue reading

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, May 7, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich and his supporters wave campaign signs at the corner of the Seward Highway and Northern Lights Boulevard on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before Election Day. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Trump backs Begich for reelection to Alaska’s U.S. House seat in 2026

President Donald Trump has endorsed incumbent Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, for reelection. In a social media post Thursday afternoon, Trump said Begich “is doing… Continue reading

Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich and his supporters wave campaign signs at the corner of the Seward Highway and Northern Lights Boulevard on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before Election Day. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)