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Five famous men stand together on a floatplane hangar deck on Aug. 8, 1935. From left to right: Juneau Mayor Izzy Goldstein, Pilot Wiley Post, Novelist Rex Beach, Pilot Joe Crosson, and “Cowboy Philosopher” Will Rogers. (Alaska State Library Ordway photo PCA-87-2631)

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Rooted in Community: Merchants Wharf, Part II — An historic moment captured in one photo in 1935

Endearing local memory with visit by Will Rogers and Wiley Post, followed by a shocking tragedy.

An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

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Plan for Alaska’s first tribally operated public schools inches closer to completion

Tlingit and Haida among five tribes slated to be part of the five-year pilot program.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 14, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Dec. 17

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy discussed his proposed state budget for next year during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Dunleavy’s proposed budget contains “full” PFD, no per-student education increase, $1B deficit

Revenue forecast also released calls for oil prices that could result in supplement to PFD.

An illustration shows a new Welcome Center and plaza area at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area as proposed in May. The facilities approved in a Notice of Decision on Thursday are similar, but are being relocated further from the face of the glacier to the existing commercial overflow parking lot. (Image from the Notice of Decision published by the U.S. Forest Service).

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Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area improvement plan gets a final decision

New welcome center and outdoor amphitheater, more trails, no motorized boats in multiyear plan.

Spawning chum salmon swim in a spring feeding the Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon River. Crashes in Western Alaska chum and Chinook salmon runs are tied to rapid warming that is having myriad effects across the Arctic, as described in the 2023 Arctic Report Card released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Photo by Seth Adams/University of Alaska Fairbanks)

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Alaska salmon woes, extreme precipitation, tundra shrub growth part of Arctic transformation

NOAA’s 2023 Arctic Report Card highlights challenges posed by rapid climate change in Alaska

Gov. Mike Dunleavy greets visitors during the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Governor says proposed budget will be released Thursday, funds for new ferry will be included

Dunleavy also highlights initiatives to address “affordability” issues, and charter and home schools.

Candace Frank gets a red handprint pressed onto her face at the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Rally in Juneau on May 5, 2022. (Lisa Phu / Alaska Beacon)

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Alaska Native leaders bring light to state-specific challenges in federal MMIP report

Alaska is the only state with its own chapter in a report on missing and murdered Indigenous people…

A school bus on Back Loop Road prepares to turn into the entrance to Mendenhall River Community School shortly before classes start on Wednesday morning. Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser on Tuesday said he is asking state transportation officials to consider street lights and/or other safety improvements on the road following a collision last Thursday between a vehicle and three people walking to the school. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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School district asks state for safety improvements on Back Loop Road near school following collision

Superintendent says DOT safety engineer will discuss lights, crosswalk at local meeting in January.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Police calls for Monday, Dec. 11, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Police calls for Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023

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

An illustration shows the conceptual design for Gastineau Lodge Apartments in downtown Juneau, which the project’s applicant hopes will be ready for occupancy by the summer of 2025. (Image from documents submitted to the Juneau Planning Commission)

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Apartment building on Gastineau Avenue gets Planning Commission OK despite fire department concerns

Project in landslide zone also shows effect of Assembly’s vote to eliminate development restrictions.

The borders of the proposed Xunaa Borough are seen in a state map. Xunaa Borough — spelled Hoonah in the map — would incorporate more than 10,000 acres of surface area, mostly water, if the Local Boundary Commission and Hoonah voters approve it. (Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs map)

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Xunaa Borough would be Alaska’s 20th, under Hoonah city proposal

Area would include 49 people outside of Hoonah, wouldn’t include other Southeast Alaska cities

Dozens of people fill the Assembly chambers to testify during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. Most of the people spoke about either a proposed municipal compost facility, or an ordinance updating landslide and avalanche zone maps. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Assembly roundup: Seawalk barriers go off the rails, compost proposal trashed, McEwen clerk of the year

Crowd defends private composter as city weighs own facility; dock rails stall with 2 members absent.

A chart published by National Weather Service Juneau shows the level Tuesday morning of Jordan Creek, which is expected to reach flooding levels Tuesday evening due to heavy rain. (National Weather Service Juneau)

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Weather warning issued for Juneau through Wednesday morning due to intense rain, wind

City advises residents to check boats; weather service says some river flooding possible.

An overhead view of Telephone Hill in downtown Juneau. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

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City conducting online survey until Jan. 9 about development of the Telephone Hill

Previous public comments factored into questions about future of downtown area, CBJ says.

Julie and Richard Folta help themselves to some of the 21,350 cookies prepared for the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. Richard Folta said his first visit to an open house hosted by the governor occurred many years before Alaska became a state in 1959. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Tens of thousands of cookies, decades of memories at governor’s Holiday Open House

Richard Folta says much has changed — but lots of food hasn’t — since his first visit before…

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Police calls for Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023

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

Deckhands stack nets on a boat before heading out to sea to fish salmon on Thursday, June 22, in Kodiak. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

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Commercial fishermen need more support for substance abuse and fatigue, lawmakers say

Sullivan among congressional members seeking changes, more funding for occupational safety program.

(Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Aurora forecast for the week of Dec. 11

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more…