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Volunteers salute wreaths at the Juneau Memorial Day Service hosted by American Legion Auke Bay Post #25 at Alaskan Memorial Park on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

News

It’s Memorial Day for many, but just one of many memorial days for some who were in battle

Tributes at annual ceremonies in Juneau note major historic achievement and unseen individual sufferings.

Jason Williams, a Juneau resident experiencing homelessness and suffering from multiple medical ailments, lies on a cot in a tent on the edge of a ditch on Teal Street on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau’s homeless camping crisis: ‘They don’t feel safe around us? We don’t feel safe around them’

Business, home dwellers agree with unhoused that city’s “dispersed camping” remains dangerously unhealthy.

Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School’s seniors enter the Dzantik’i Heeni gymnasium during the school’s graduation ceremony Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

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Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi High School celebrates Class of 2025

38 seniors get individual tributes from their advisors before walk across stage at Dzantik’i Heeni.

Hayden Aube is the first student to receive his diploma from Principal Paula Casperson during Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s graduation ceremony Sunday, May 25, 2025. Aube, a multisport star athlete for the Crimson Bears, was in a wheelchair after sustaining an injury Saturday competing in the Region V Track and Field Championships. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Class of 2025: Expanding by consolidating

Former TMHS students get tributes as nearly 300 seniors walk the stage in first post-merger commencement.

The retreat of the Bear Glacier, near Stewart, British Columbia, transformed a stream below it into a haven for salmon. (Max Graham/Grist)

News

Who will benefit from melting glaciers?

In a remote corner of North America, salmon and mining companies are vying for new territory.

On Friday, May 16, 2025, Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, gets a chit sheet signature from Rep. Donna Mears, D-Anchorage, for an upcoming bill. To bring a bill to a vote in the House, a lawmaker has to get a majority of lawmakers to sign a sheet signifying that there is enough support for the bill to pass the body. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska’s Legislature was in session for four months: Here’s what they did with their time.

A look at the 33 bills that both the House and Senate passed this year, and where they…

Juneau high school seniors Peyton Edmunds of IDEA Homeschool (left), Ryan Song of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé (center) and Maxie Lehauli of Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School. (Photos of Edmunds and Song by Juneau Empire staff, photo of Lehauli provided by her family)

News

Senior Spotlight 2025: Adapting to where the ‘real world’ might take you

Homeschool grad honored Friday; ceremonies for Juneau’s two public high schools are Sunday.

At a farm market in St. Petersburg, Florida, SNAP recipients were able to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards for food. (Lance Cheung/USDA).

News

More than 3 million people would lose SNAP benefits under GOP bill, nonpartisan report says

The massive tax and spending bill passed by U.S. House Republicans would likely result in 3.2 million people…

Leslie Ishii, Perseverance Theatre’s artistic director, is the winner of the 2025 Paul Robeson Award as well as this year’s Zelda Fichandler Award for directing. (Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation photo)

News

Leslie Ishii recognized with national awards for arts, advocacy

Artistic director at Perseverance Theatre receives two honors this spring.

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is pictured on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

News

US House Republicans push through massive tax and spending bill slashing Medicaid

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House early Thursday approved the “big, beautiful bill” that Republican leaders spent months negotiating…

The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 21, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending May 24

Three decades of capital city coverage.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Police calls for Monday, May 19, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Police calls for Tuesday, May 20, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Police calls for Wednesday, May 21, 2025

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

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

News

Ships in port for the week of May 25

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2024 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled…

The Taku River as seen Monday, May 19, 2025, from an Alaska Wildlife Troopers helicopter carrying U.S. Border Patrol agents during a patrol flight. (U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector photo)

News

Border Patrol, state troopers take patrol flight over Taku River looking for drugs, other illegal activity

Troopers: “No enforcement action was taken”; Border Patrol: “We are just getting started.”

An Arctic tern sits at its nesting site at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Gwen Baluss)

News

Arctic terns return to their protected nests in Juneau

The birds began their journey to Alaska in March to find safe haven at the Mendenhall Glacier.

Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks to the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, April 25, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

At adjournment, Alaska Legislature leaves elections overhaul, campaign finance bills undone

House Bill 16 and Senate Bill 64 could be part of a wave of big legislation that passes…

Juneau Assembly members discuss a proposed increase in the mill rate for the fiscal year starting July 1 during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Increasing mill rate to 10.24, rather than 10.19 in earlier versions of city’s budget, gets OK from Assembly

Extra costs in budget, loss of federal funds cited for higher increase from current rate of 10.04 mills.

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, prepares to open the Alaska Senate’s floor session on Friday, May 2, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Senate President Gary Stevens to retire; House Rep. Louise Stutes announces run for seat

At least one other member of Senate’s bipartisan majority is expected to not seek reelection in 2026.