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People watch the fireworks after midnight on Friday, July 4<ins>, </ins><ins>2025</ins>. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau blasts into Independence Day with annual firework display

A century old tradition, decades of expertise and a year of preparation culminates in a treasured show

Photographs of injured humpback whale #2583 on June 27, 2025. (National Park Service photos by Janet Neilson, taken under the authority of Scientific Research Permit #27027 issued by NOAA Fisheries.)

News

Humpback whale injured by boat propeller in Glacier Bay

The national park is seeking information on the circumstances of the collision

Rachel Hightower holds her 2-year-old daughter Carmen’s decorated tricycle at the Bicycle Decorating & Sidewalk Chalk Decorating event in the Douglas Community Library parking garage on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

News

Douglas kids gear up for 4th of July festivities

Riders decorate bikes, scooters for upcoming parade

Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau court orders release of man accused of Faith Rogers’ murder

JPD stands by its investigation; public defender says it cut corners

2024 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Amit Elor, 21, right, demonstrates a counter tie on Wasilla High School junior Taryn Wright, 16, during the Juneau Girls Wrestling Clinic on Tuesday at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Alaska wrestlers take on Olympic and world champion at Juneau camp

Gold medalist Amit Elor shows girls path to success

Lisa Murkowski and Ben Mallott at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention on Oct. 19, 2024. (Photo by Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska Republican US Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses her ‘Yes’ vote on the big federal budget bill

Murkowski defended her vote, pointing to provisions to extend 2017 tax cuts and develop resources in Alaska, while…

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John Barrasso of Wyoming, both Republicans, center, walk into the Senate chamber on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray / States Newsroom)

News

Sullivan, Murkowski vote to pass Senate Republicans’ budget bill, with big health care cuts looming

U.S. House may vote as soon as Wednesday on a proposal that brings trillions of dollars in changes…

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Dunleavy calls special session for August

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they were surprised by the move.

Marites “Tess” Buenafe. (Screenshot)
One of the two 60-passenger cars on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway descends Mount Roberts. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Missing cruise ship passenger found dead on Mount Roberts

This story has been updated.

Juneau resident Benjamin Stepetin is seen in downtown Juneau. He is currently missing and was last seen by family on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy of family)

News

Juneau police and family seek assistance in finding Benjamin Stepetin

Stepetin has been missing since June 22

Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau School District decides to close the RALLY program

The summer RALLY program will continue through the district’s advertised end date of Aug. 8

Natalia Spengler performs as Beatrice during a tech rehearsal of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Anna Becknell as Hero sits in the window behind her. (Courtesy of Flordelino Lagundino)

News

‘Some cupid kills with arrows, some with traps’

Theater Alaska brings deception and delight to Juneau venues with Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”

HESCO barriers wind through the forest near Thunder Mountain Middle School on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Neighbors come together in preparation for seasonal glacial lake outburst flood

Flood victims plan for worst-case scenario, seek update on long-term flood mitigation

Rosita Kaaháni Worl congratulates X̱’unei Lance Twitchell on his accomplishments in language preservation at his legislative citation ceremony at the Alaska State Capitol on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
X̱’unei Lance Twitchell receives his legislative citation from Rep. Andi Story, (D-Juneau) at a ceremony at the Alaska State Capitol on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

News

X̱’unei Lance Twitchell receives legislative citation

State award commends Lingít language revitalization

Megan Lingle writes a postcard to Alaska state senators on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaskans call for senators to take ‘hands off Medicaid’

Juneau demonstrators join statewide warning, Alaska gains protections in latest version of the bill

The Juneau Board of Education meets and discusses a resolution in response to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s draft regulation on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Public comment period opens for proposal limiting local governments’ contributions to schools

JSD’s potential loss from limiting non-instructional funding becomes more significant after review

Juneau International Airport. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Search for airport manager continues

The search continues for the next airport manager for the Juneau International Airport.

Circus performers rise against “evil ringmaster” Kelsey Bryce Riker in the opening of GLITZ’s Act Two during a tech rehearsal on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Perseverance Theatre. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Circus performers rise against “evil ringmaster” Kelsey Bryce Riker in the opening of GLITZ’s Act Two during a tech rehearsal on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Perseverance Theatre. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

‘Step right up’ to the 10th annual GLITZ this weekend

A circus of community this year, with limited availability remaining

Those whose naturalization applications were approved on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, take the naturalization oath of allegiance that evening in the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

A ‘momentous event’ for newly minted citizens

On the first of five evenings of naturalization ceremonies, seven new citizens celebrate with family

Harris Harbor, a City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbor’s facility on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

News

Longtime Juneauites appointed to city commissions

Planning Commission, Docks and Harbors Board, and Parks and Rec. Advisory Board gain new members