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Cans of smoked sockeye salmon line the shelves at the Alaska Seafood Company facility in Lemon Creek. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently purchased the company and will begin operations by beginning of July, the tribe’s president told the Empire. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Tlingit and Haida purchases Alaska Seafood Company

The tribe’s president said the acquisition supports mission of economic sovereignty.

Brendan West, 17, left, and Jack Adams, 15, guide one sailboat while Wesley Torgerson, 16, helps guide another to the dock during a Juneau Youth Sailing course this week. (Therese Pokorney / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau Youth Sailing makes waves, inspires young mariners

Participants navigate the waters of growth, confidence and adventure on Gastineau Channel.

Mandy Cole, executive director of AWARE, speaks to the crowd at the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon at the Moose Lodge alongside Amy Skilbred, executive director of the Juneau Community Foundation. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Community leaders share new nonprofit housing council’s goals to address crisis

“This problem cannot be solved by the free market alone.”

Coast Guard officials are silhouetted by rescue aircraft during a change of command ceremony on June 9 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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Alaska’s top Coast Guard official warns of rising medevac cases as he leaves command

As cruise ship tourism returns and grows, the demand for emergency services is growing, too

The F/V Tommy L II, co-owned by longtime Juneau resident Joe Emerson, sits berthed in Aurora Harbor in late May. On Wednesday a federal court decision allowed for the king salmon troll fishery in Southeast Alaska to begin July 1, a reversal of a lower court ruling in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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Fishing is a go for Southeast Alaska troll fishery this summer

Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals reverses lower court ruling, allows season to begin July 1.

Uhtred Permanentfundsen, the “defender of the Permanent Fund,” occupies a shelf near the head of the table in the Senate Finance Committee room at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee was responsible for adding to the state budget the formula being used to calculate this year’s Permanent Fund dividend, which is estimated to be $1,304. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

News

This year’s PFD is a budget-balancing $1,304. Is this the new normal?

Dunleavy OKs lower dividend despite originally seeking a $3,800 “statutory” payout.

Planned Parenthood’s location in Juneau is now offering vasectomy services as of Wednesday and a procedure day will take place every two months, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Planned Parenthood now offers vasectomy services in Juneau

The procedure service will be provided on a bimonthly basis.

A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits docked at Auke Bay in November 2022. On Saturday the Coast Guard suspended its search for a 70-year-old man who was last seen departing for a fishing trip near Kake on Friday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Coast Guard suspends search for missing Kake boater

The decision was made following a 16-hour search effort covering more than 375 nautical miles.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Lawmakers call for override of Dunleavy’s budget cuts to education funding

Odds are “going to be very difficult,” says Juneau senator.

The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. (Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF)

News

Columbia cancels sailings for at least a week due to repairs

Mechanical issue on aging ferry affects stops between Haines and Bellingham

Artwork for sale at the Sealaska Heritage Institute shop on Friday bears a label declaring it compliant with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. The federal government has filed several recent cases in Alaska for violations of the act. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

As Alaska tourism rebounds, state and federal officials crack down on fake Alaska Native art

It’s a federal crime to sell art that is falsely marketed as created by an Alaska Native or…

Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession outside the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Saturday during a Juneteenth celebration where participants heard the history of the June 19 holiday and made their own musical instruments. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneteenth also marks a day of liberty for local tribal members

June 19 is Tlingit & Haida Day as well as a national holiday celebrating the end of slavery

A notice about the arrival of summer is posted outside the entrance to Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley Elementary School. The school’s principal told the Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday there was a 55% “chronically absent” rate during the past school year. (Juneau Empire File)

News

A local principal says more than half the students were chronically absent. Is that cause for alarm?

District officials seek causes, solutions and context of absenteeism, which is also high nationally

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Dunleavy vetoes half of education increase as he signs budget

Governor cuts $200 million in capital projects, other spending from bill passed by Legislature

Jeremy Cubas, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s former pro-family policy advisor, addressed members of the Alaska Family Council in this video he taped for the governor’s office for a May 11 event. (Screenshot)

News

Video raises new questions about governor’s oversight of aide

Jeremy Cubas describes supporters of abortion rights as “seemingly demonically possessed.”

The Hōkūle‘a arrives in Auke Bay on June 11, where it was welcomed by hundreds of Juneau residents and tribal leaders. The wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe departed Juneau at about 4:15 a.m. Sunday to begin a scheduled 47-month global voyage. The originally scheduled start of the trip was delayed from Thursday due to poor weather. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Hōkūle‘a calmly departs Juneau for 47-month voyage

Traditional Polynesian canoe sets sail at 4:15 a.m. Sunday after weather delays original launch

About 30 people take off from the starting line at the Ben Blackgoat Memorial Run on Saturday morning at the base of Perseverance Trail. The race, named after a Juneau teenage who died in an accident on the trail, was the first by the Juneau Trail and Road Runners since it officially added a nonbinary category for participants. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

A very ordinary, yet extraordinary race for a like-minded teen

Ben Blackgoat Memorial Run first after host adds nonbinary category, but thoughts stay with namesake

Jesse Stringer, a former worker in Coeur Alaska’s Kensington mine competes in the jackleg drilling competition Saturday during the 31st annual Juneau Gold Rush Days. The event in Douglas at Savikko Park is scheduled to continue with logging competitions on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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An old-time heavy metal festival for all ages

Juneau Gold Rush Days sings “Happy Birthday” to axe-wielding woman, lets kids do some heavy lifting

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) hovering over a possible snack at Mendenhall Lake on June 13. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Sports

Wild Shots

Reader-submitted photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska.

Capt. Mark Ellis receives a ceremonial cedar rope alongside other captains during a blessing ceremony at the global launch ceremony of the Moananuiākea voyage at the University of Alaska Recreation Center Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau leaders bless voyagers at launch ceremony ahead of Hōkūle‘a send-off

“I am grateful for all the love and support the people of Southeast Alaska have done for us”