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Kaskanak Creek in the Bristol Bay’s Kvichak watershed is seen from the air on Sept. 27, 2011. Threats to the watershed and other sites were cited by the Environmental Protection Agency when it issued a decision barring permitting of the Pebble mine. But the Dunleavy administration and Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. have taken legal action to try to reverse that decision. (Photo provided by Environmental Protection Agency

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State lawsuit claims federal government owes Alaska $700 billion for quashing Pebble mine

The federal government owes Alaska more than $700 billion in compensation for the 2023 Environmental Protection Agency action…

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion boys basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Sports

Thunder Mountain boys basketball team begins final state tournament play

No. 6 Falcons (19-9) open Wednesday against No. 3 West Valley High School from Fairbanks.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion girls basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Sports

Thunder Mountain girls basketball team ready for back-to-back state tournament play

No. 4 Falcons begin school’s final chase for a title against No. 5 Dimond High School on Wednesday.

Tongass National Forest (Photo by U.S. Forest Service)

News

New Department of Interior opinion promises to recognize expanded tribal jurisdiction in Alaska

Tribes can exert jurisdiction over allotments granted to individual Natives, opinion states.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference Friday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Veto override vote on education bill expected to have consequences — and no assurance of extra funds

Retaliation by governor, fractured relationships within Legislature on other issues among concerns.

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Wednesday, March 7. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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Experts bump Alaska oil price estimates slightly, boosting Permanent Fund dividend and budget

Extra payment of more than $200 expected for this year’s PFD.

The Walter Soboleff Building occupies a central location in downtown Juneau on the former site of a historic building that burned in 2004. (Photo by Brian Wallace)

News

The C.W. Young Building: A phoenix rises from the ashes

Icebergs, shipwreck victims, historic fire and Native heritage part of downtown landmark’s history.

The Alaska State Capitol on March 1. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

News

House passes bill altering wording of sex crimes against children

“Child sexual abuse material” replaces term “child pornography” in proposal passed by 39-1 vote.

Hoonah’s Mark Prpich (22) drives the lane against Juneau’s Doug Draowski (5) on Saturday during last year’s Gold Medal championship game for M bracket at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on March 25, 2023. Prpich finished the game with 10 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Sports

75th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament tips off Sunday

25 regional teams to compete for titles in four brackets; no Juneau teams playing this year.

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Dunleavy vetoes sweeping education bill that includes $680 increase in per-student funding

Legislature expected to meet for veto override session Monday, unknown if enough votes exist.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 10, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of March 16

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey, holding his son Emil Mackey IV, listen to discussion about next year’s budget for the school district during a meeting Thursday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé.

News

School board passes budget that cuts staff 12%, hopes for BSA increase that will save some jobs

Board members make wish list if state funding increases, as governor vetoes bill providing funds.

State Rep. Sara Hannan, a Juneau Democrat, argues in favor of rejecting Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s executive order giving him full control of the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Legislature kills most of Dunleavy’s executive orders in rare joint session

Giving governor full control of Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board among orders rejected.

The Juneau Board of Education debates a school district consolidation plan after midnight Wednesday, near the end of an eight-hour meeting at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé auditorium. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

School board sticks with consolidation plan for one high school after eight-hour debate of two-school alternative

Claims of plan for two grade 8-12 schools based on faulty and incomplete data, district leaders say.

Members of the Alaska House Finance Committee discuss their first-draft budget on Tuesday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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Alaska House debuts new first-draft budget, but PFD and school funding are question marks

House Finance Committee awaiting new revenue estimates for the coming year before finishing draft.

A school bus passes in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 6. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska legislators balance widespread opposition to Dunleavy policy, veto threat as deadline nears

South Anchorage high school teacher Logan Pitney said his colleagues are making exit strategies to flee their bad…

Sunset hues color the sky and the snow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on Feb. 26. Enrollment in the University of Alaska system is growing, as are research programs, notably the Arctic-focused programs for which UAF is famous, said University of Alaska President Pat Pitney. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

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University of Alaska president celebrates ‘meaningful progress’ at state’s varied campuses

After years of uncertainty, budget woes and contraction, the University of Alaska system is now growing again, the…

An overhead image shows possible locations to relocate offices for Juneau’s municipal employees along with some available parking lots. (City and Borough of Juneau image)

News

Many options, little consensus on moving City Hall to vacated school district buildings

Assembly members debate downtown vs. valley, converting school to office space, costs and parking.

Dallas Seavey sits with his lead dogs Sebastian, left, and Aero after his sixth Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race win on Tuesday in Nome. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Sports

Dallas Seavey wins 6th Iditarod championship, most ever in the world’s most famous sled dog race

Dallas Seavey’s path to an Iditarod championship was like none he’s faced before, including killing a moose and…

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. headquarters in Juneau is where most of the estimated 70 employees manage the state’s primary savings account. The corporation opened a satellite office in Anchorage last year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Intent language nixing Permanent Fund Corp.’s new Anchorage office added to House budget

Office opened last year without earmarked funds; APFC head says HQ could eventually move from Juneau