Wire Service

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, Oct. 28, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
From left to right, Nick Begich, Republican candidate for U.S. House; Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, hold up paddles indicating their opposition to finfish farming in Alaska. Howe and imprisoned out-of-state Democrat Eric Hafner are receiving attention from the leading campaigns. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

In Alaska’s U.S. House election, the leading campaigns are thinking about third options

Correction: The initial version of this article misstated the birthplace of John Wayne Howe and Nick Begich. The article has been updated. In the final… Continue reading

From left to right, Nick Begich, Republican candidate for U.S. House; Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, hold up paddles indicating their opposition to finfish farming in Alaska. Howe and imprisoned out-of-state Democrat Eric Hafner are receiving attention from the leading campaigns. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska souvenir name signs are seen on Monday at a gift shop in the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Oliver was the most popular name for baby boys born in Alaska in 2023, according to the state’s annual vital statistics report. Nora was tied as the fourth-most-popular among the names for baby girls, according to the report. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska births and deaths both declined in 2023, and population total held steady, state says

Fewer Alaska babies were born in 2023 than in previous years, but there were also fewer deaths in the state than in prior years, when… Continue reading

Alaska souvenir name signs are seen on Monday at a gift shop in the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Oliver was the most popular name for baby boys born in Alaska in 2023, according to the state’s annual vital statistics report. Nora was tied as the fourth-most-popular among the names for baby girls, according to the report. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A bear/landscape painting is among the works by Liyuan (Sunny) Zhang that will be exhibited at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum as part of First Friday in November. (Photo provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

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

The penultimate First Friday of 2024 features a variety of art and photography exhibits highlighting Alaska’s nature, plus an annual napkin design contest where winners… Continue reading

A bear/landscape painting is among the works by Liyuan (Sunny) Zhang that will be exhibited at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum as part of First Friday in November. (Photo provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

False citations show Alaska education official relied on generative AI, raising broader questions

Commissioner Bishop said documents a first draft, appeared on state’s website due to technical error.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery center is scheduled to open at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Wednesday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

FEMA disaster aid center opens Wednesday at Mendenhall library

A Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery center for people affected by August’s record flood from Suicide Basin is scheduled to open Wednesday at the… Continue reading

A Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery center is scheduled to open at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Wednesday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

My Turn: Why I oppose privatization of the Tongass rainforest

Sen. Lisa Murkowski has been trying to privatize the Tongass for years. Her latest effort, the so-called “Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation… Continue reading

Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Supporting ranked choice voting is the honest choice

Some folks are really up in arms about the increased freedom afforded Alaska voters by ranked choice voting. “Alaskans for Honest Elections” have mounted a… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Election presents stark contrasts

This election, both at the state and federal level, presents a choice that couldn’t be more starkly defined. Do we want to live in a… Continue reading

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

Police calls for Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A truck carries the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from a forest in Wrangell to the town’s Alaska Marine High Ferry Terminal in preparation for the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C. (James Edward Mills / U.S. Forest Service)

U.S. Capitol Christmas tree gives Wrangell much to celebrate

80-foot tree harvested from Tongass gets ceremonial sendoff before month-long trip to D.C.

A truck carries the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from a forest in Wrangell to the town’s Alaska Marine High Ferry Terminal in preparation for the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C. (James Edward Mills / U.S. Forest Service)
Extremes of the colour gradient of the Eastern San Antonio frog (Hyla orientalis). On the left, a specimen captured in Chernobyl inside the high contamination zone; on the right, a specimen captured outside the Exclusion Zone. (Germán Orizaola/Pablo Burraco, republished under a Creative Commons license)

On the Trails: Evolution constantly ongoing among many populations in many places

Someone once asked me “Is evolution still happening?” My brief answer was “Of course, it’s always happening.” I would have gone on to explain a… Continue reading

Extremes of the colour gradient of the Eastern San Antonio frog (Hyla orientalis). On the left, a specimen captured in Chernobyl inside the high contamination zone; on the right, a specimen captured outside the Exclusion Zone. (Germán Orizaola/Pablo Burraco, republished under a Creative Commons license)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024

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, Oct. 25, 2024

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 Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024

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 Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

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

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

Letter: Praise for Begich overlooks his support of Trump

Tom Boutin’s My Turn column praised Nick Begich. However, he left out an important fact. Begich has declared his support for a person for president… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho discusses ranked choice voting at a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly luncheon on June 30, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Vote no Ballot Measure 2 and protect open primaries and protect our democracy

The focus of last week’s Juneau World Affairs Forum was the rise of authoritarianism in the 21st century. Our guest speakers noted the fertile ground… Continue reading

Former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho discusses ranked choice voting at a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly luncheon on June 30, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
President Joe Biden waves after delivering remarks on the federal government’s role in running boarding schools for Native American children at the Gila Crossing Community School in Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2024. Biden on Friday formally apologized for the role of the federal government in running boarding schools where thousands of Native American children faced abuse, neglect and the erasure of their tribal identities. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Biden highlights Rosita Worl’s harsh childhood, life achievements in apology for U.S. abuse of Native children

Remarks come days after Biden gives Sealaska Heritage Institute president National Humanities Medal

President Joe Biden waves after delivering remarks on the federal government’s role in running boarding schools for Native American children at the Gila Crossing Community School in Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2024. Biden on Friday formally apologized for the role of the federal government in running boarding schools where thousands of Native American children faced abuse, neglect and the erasure of their tribal identities. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Volunteers operate an in-person polling place for the special U.S. House primary election on Friday, May 27, 2022, in the atrium of the State Office Building at Juneau, Alaska. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Early voting in Alaska is off to a fast start and is on pace for a record, figures show

On Monday, Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich urged supporters to vote early and lock in their votes. He followed his own advice this week,… Continue reading

Volunteers operate an in-person polling place for the special U.S. House primary election on Friday, May 27, 2022, in the atrium of the State Office Building at Juneau, Alaska. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)