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In October 2007, 1-year-old Anna Rozell admired a statue of Balto in Central Park of New York City. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

News

Alaska Science Forum: Long after run to glory, Balto lives on

Balto gives scientists insight into what makes Alaska sled dogs and other working breeds unique.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Police calls for Thursday, May 4, 2023

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

Left to right, CCFR Captain John Adams and Engineer Sam Berni stand before family and friends during a badge pinning ceremony on Thursday at Station 1 in Juneau. Adams was promoted to captain and Berni to engineer. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

News

CCFR celebrates two promotions with badge pinning ceremony

Firefighters John Adams and Sam Berni move up the ladder.

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Neighbors

Coming Out: Making mustard

Pardon my caps, but I LOVE THAT STUFF.

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, listens to Sen. Löki Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat, as she speaks in support of a bill Stevens sponsored that would require Alaska high school students to complete a civics education course or receive a passing score on a civics assessment exam in order to graduate. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Senate passes bill implementing new civics requirements to graduate high school

The bill advances as recent national data shows declining test scores on the topic.

`Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire James and Claudia Criss of Juneau testify Tuesday during a House State Affairs Committee meeting in opposition to a bill that would repeal ranked choice voting and open primaries in Alaska.

News

Will elections bills get a vote this session?

Repeal of ranked choice voting appears doomed to defeat, far-ranging procedural changes still viable

State House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, and House Rules Committee Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, talk to reporters in the speaker’s office Friday afternoon about the House’s priorities during the last 13 days of this year’s scheduled legislative session. Both legislators said a cap on spending is a priority of the Republican-led House majority as the budget for next year and the size of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend remain the biggest unresolved issues. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

House Speaker declares spending cap a priority

Budget-cutting measure has ties to Senate’s plan to reduce PFDs — but it’s not a trade-off, leaders say

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Police calls for Thursday, May 4, 2023

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

A Capital City Fire/Rescue truck parks near a privately owned airport hangar at the Juneau International Airport after Capital City Fire/Rescue extinguished a fire in the building Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

No injuries reported in airport hangar fire

CCFR officials say cause of fire was electrical.

A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway Thursday morning. On Tuesday members voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau School District. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Teachers union members narrowly OK school district contract

The school board will vote to ratify Friday afternoon.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Cadence Plummer (12) follows through on a goal-scoring kick in the second half of a win against Thunder Mountain High School at TMHS. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Second-half goals power JDHS to win over TMHS

Tightly contested match was up for grabs after first 45 minutes.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr chat during a break at the Wednesday night Finance Committee meeting. Community groups were invited to give presentations that explained their community funding requests sent to the Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City mulls community funding request amid budget-making process

The requests range from $2,000 up to $1.4 million.

Annie Bartholomew’s debut album, Sisters of White Chapel, only at Kindred Post during May First Friday. Annie will be at the shop with her banjo playing songs from the release and selling early copies of the CD featuring of songs inspired by women who came to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

News

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Musicians, authors and artists, oh my!

A red dress hangs on a tree in the courtyard at Winnipeg City Hall during a rally, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to call on the city to cease dumping operations at Brady landfill and conduct a search for the remains of missing and murdered indigenous women believed to be buried there. Friday, May 5, 2023, marks Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day, a solemn day meant to draw more attention to the disproportionate number of Indigenous people who have vanished or have faced violence. (Daniel Crump / The Canadian Press)

News

Wearing red, Indigenous families honor missing relatives

“I join in raising awareness about an injustice that was once invisible.”

Mia Wiedersphohn of Wrangell hosts her podcast on the local radio station teaching Tlingit words and phrases. Wiedersphohn was recognized by Alaska Communications Summer of Heroes program last year as a youth impacting her community in a positive way. Nominations are open for this year’s program until June 18. (Courtesy Photo / Alaska Communications)

News

Alaska Communications seeks nominations for local youth heroes

Summer of Heroes program in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club - Alaska.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Police calls for Wednesday, May 3, 2023

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

This combination photo shows Cameron McEwen and an avatar associated with a Snapchat account that authorities say was used by McEwen, who was recently arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of making extortionate interstate communications. (FBI)

News

FBI looks for more possible victims after New York man arrested in ‘sextortion’ investigation

Authorities say man used Snapchat to obtain sexually explicit photos, videos from teen in Alaska.

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat, speaks to members of the Alaska Senate about a bill she sponsored that would make Juneteenth a paid state holiday in Alaska. The senate passed the bill 16-4 Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska Senate passes bill recognizing Juneteenth as paid state holiday

The bill will now head to the House.

A troller fishes in Sitka Sound, Alaska on February 2, 2021. A ruling from a U.S. judge in Seattle could effectively shut down commercial king salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska — a valuable industry that supports some 1,500 fishermen — after a conservation group challenged the harvest as a threat to protected fish and the endangered killer whales that eat them. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

News

Ruling might cancel Alaska commercial king salmon season

The state of Alaska quickly announced an appeal.

Rep. Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat, speak to a crowd outside at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol in January. Gray introduced a bill Monday that would make short-term rental registration a requirement and limit operators to just one unit per person in Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/ Juneau Empire File)

News

Lawmaker introduces bill to require short-term rental registry, limits in Alaska

The bill would limit units to one per person beginning January 2025.