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The Juneau School District is facing a current and future financial crisis, including deficit spending that has resulted in a projected $8 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, with leaders considering school consolidation among many other remedies. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

News

Juneau School District’s deficit is ‘only’ $8M instead of $9.5M after further review and initial cuts

Leaders still looking at specific options for school consolidation, asking city to cover some costs.

Nadia Wilson, left, and Layla Tokuoka, right, of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé fight for possession of the ball with Skylar Morris of South Anchorage High School during Saturday’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS boys, girls deliver matching pair of basketball wins for homecoming

Both Crimson Bears teams score on key plays in closing seconds of back-and-forth contests.

The National Weather Service Juneau office near the Mendenhall Glacier has a snowpack depth of 33 inches as of about midnight Tuesday, following two heavy storms during the past 10 days, according to the station. (National Weather Service Juneau)

News

Avalanche warnings, closures continue as marathon storm leaves record snowfall

Juneau shatters snow record for Jan. 22; forecaster says avalanches “could begin to endanger homes.”

A state Department of Public Transportation and Public Facilities plow clears heavy snow from a road. The department has closed Thane Road overnight Monday and Tuesday due to the high risk of avalanches. (Alaska Department of Public Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

News

In-person city and school activities canceled Wednesday, but both offering remote services

Snow expected to end early Wednesday morning, but traffic and avalanche hazards remain high.

A plow clears snow from city streets on Sunday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

News

Remote learning day as local schools ‘closed’ Monday due to snowstorm; city and state offices also closed

District announces first “winter” remote classes to prevent excessive cancellations due to weather

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

News

Alaska’s schools have among the highest rates of chronic absenteeism

In 2022, only one state, Arizona, had more chronically absent students than Alaska, where more than 45% of…

Cathy Walling of the Alaska Quaker Friends hugs Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist in Kake, while Ati Nasiah of the non-profit Haa Tóoch Lichéesh smiles in the foreground on Jan. 19. (Photo by Shaelene Grace Moler)

News

Monetary reparations follow Quaker apology to Alaska Native community on Kake Day

An unused U.S. Forest Service building in Kake may soon be a healing center for the community to…

A pro-life flag, selected in a design contest, is being flown at some government buildings and other locations, sometimes as a counterstatement to Pride and other flags seen as politically oriented. A flag with the design is currently flying below the official Alaska State Flag at the Governor’s Residence after being hoisted there in recent days. (Photo by The Pro-Life Flag Project)

News

‘Pro-life’ flag hangs outside Governor’s Residence on anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Flag hoisted in recent days part of national movement, partly in response to Pride and other flags

Cars and a hillside street in downtown Juneau are buried under thick snow from a storm that began Sunday and is expected to continue until Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Lingering storm may dump more than two feet of snow; avalanche, other warnings issued

City closed, schools continue remote learning again on Tuesday; Thane Road closing at 8 p.m. Monday.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, dances with others during a campaign event Oct. 24, 2022, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola, who announced Monday she is seeking a second full term, is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Peltola announces reelection bid, plans campaign stop in Juneau on Saturday

Democratic congresswoman among top nationwide targets of Republicans as she seeks second full term.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team are shown with their championship trophy after winning the Wolverine Classic Tournament at South Anchorage High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy TMHS)

Sports

Falcons boys top Eagle River for Wolverine Classic championship at South Anchorage

The Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball team defeated the Eagle River Wolves 61-57 to win the championship…

From left, Bela Pyare, 13, Josie Elfers, 11, Nayeli Hood, 11, and Emily Ferry, a member of the Alaska Association of School Boards, discuss their testimony about a board-based education bill in a hallway at the Alaska State Capitol during a House Rule Committee meeting on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Sweeping education bill advances to House floor despite overwhelming opposition from educators

Bill contains $300 BSA increase, boosts for charter and homeschooling, random audits of districts.

Cigarette butts are crammed into an ashtray outside one of the Atlanta office buildings used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The photo was taken in 2009, prior to the area becoming tobacco-free. In Alaska, the state’s anti-tobacco program has helped resident quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco or electronic cigarettes. (Photo by Dr. Oscar Tarragó/Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

News

Annual report tracks Alaskans’ tobacco-cessation progress — and tallies tobacco’s costs to the state

Alaskans trying to quit their tobacco habits made some significant progress over the past year, according to the…

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Thursday morning. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska’s working population loss casts long shadow over legislative session

As the Alaska Legislature convenes in Juneau, the state population is on the minds of lawmakers.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Thomas Baxter and South Anchorage High School senior Larenz Miller were selected Players of the Game after their contest on Friday during the Wolverine Classic Basketball Tournament at SAHS. (Photo courtesy South Anchorage High School)

Sports

Falcons boys top South, earn championship game tonight in Anchorage basketball tournament

Player of the Game selection Thomas Baxter scored 22 points to lead the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons…

Another winter storm is expected to dump up to 15 inches of snow on Juneau by Monday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)

News

Another storm arriving Sunday night expected to dump up to 15 more inches of snow on Juneau

However, rain forecast immediately afterward until next weekend, when it may snow again.

An Alaska Marine Highway System vessel at sea. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

News

Dunleavy gains control to pick all nine members of state ferry board July 1 under executive order

Order ends all existing terms that day; takes away legislative leaders’ appointing of four seats.

Thunder Mountain junior varsity and Hoonah varsity players battle for a rebound during the inaugural Elizabeth Peratrovich Women’s High School Basketball Invitational Tournament on Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. The tournament runs through Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Sports

Smalls schools win big at inaugural Elizabeth Peratrovich basketball tournament

A chance for more opportunities, a voice for those often slighted and a venue to showcase athletic talent…

A view from the library of the Angoon High School, one of Alaska’s public schools, is seen on June 19, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska board of education sends the plan for tribally run public schools to lawmakers

A report detailing the framework for tribally run public schools will be sent to the legislators and the…

Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertson during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday.

News

Delay of Kroger-Albertson merger cause for more pressure by opponents, Peltola says

Parent companies of Fred Meyer and Safeway now looking at August instead of March to sign the deal.