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Craig senior Alissa Durgan (14) wills her way to the hoop while defended by Haines sophomore Ashlyn Ganey (32) and Haines senior Alison Benda (14) in the second half of a Craig win in the first round of the Region V 2A Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Craig girls slow down Haines in region tournament

Lady Panthers earn 37-31 win

Petersburg senior Kyle Biggers (23) draws a foul on his way to the hoop while defended by Wrangell sophomore Daniel Harrison (34) and Wrangell senior Ethan Blatchley (12). Late free-throws from Biggers, who suffered a knee injury during the game, helped secure the win for Petersburg in what ended up being a 1-point game. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Petersburg boys battle Wrangell in tournament’s 1st round

Vikings and Wolves go the distance in long-standing rivalry.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, reads an announcement during the Senate floor session Wednesday. Tobin, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, emerged as a potential road block to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s “parental rights” bill by declaring it would not get a hearing if referred to her committee. The bill was subsequently referred to two other committees, with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, stating it will get a public hearing.

News

Bill limiting sex, gender discussion in education will get public hearing, senate president says

However, lawmakers say it will not be a main focus.

Ride Alaska co-owners James King, left, and Reuben Willis, right, speak to the Assembly meeting as the Committee of the Whole Monday evening to discuss their proposed business venture to bring electric-assisted bicycle tours to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City OKs another step toward proposed Pioneer Road e-bike tours

The company seeks to provide tours three times per day, six days a week during the summer months

Courtesy Photos / Ruth Johnson, Serge Leclerc This week marks five years since climber’s Ryan Johnson, left, and Marc-Andre Leclerc, right, were reported missing after summiting the north face of the Mendenhall Towers in Juneau.

News

Families remember climbers five years after presumed deaths

Legacies of Ryan Johnson and Marc-Andre Leclerc continue.

Legislators are about 50 days through the statutory 90-day limit for the session at the Alaska State Capitol, although in reality they are expected to meet for the 121 days allowed in Alaska’s Constitution. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Legislature rejects raises for executive branch officials

House joins senate in unanimously rejecting increases.

Screenshot from official livestream Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils proposals to offer public school teachers annual retention bonuses and enact policies similar so-called “don’t say gay” laws in states such as Florida during a press conference in Anchorage on Tuesday.

News

Governor proposes ‘don’t say gay’-style law, year-end teacher bonuses

Dunleavy says bill is “pro-parent,” not anti-LGBTQ+.

A basketball passes through a hoop at Thunder Mountain High School. Expect to see a lot more of that this week as the Region V Tournament will be hosted at the high school. Games start Wednesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Sports

2A Schools will fill gym at Region V Tournament

Top teams and players are among the state’s best.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Snows is scattered on the ground between houses on Douglas. The city recently sent out property value notices to Juneau owners, informing them of the annual assessed values of their property.

News

Property assessment hike has some owners alarmed

City reports average increase to be around 16%, however some residents report an over 40% increase.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)

News

Alaska rights commission limits LGBTQ+ discrimination cases

ANCHORAGE — Alaska’s human rights commission has reversed an earlier policy and now is only investigating LGBTQ+ discrimination…

JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl goes in for a layup against TMHS during a conference game early this season. The two cross-town rivals are set to play games for the Region V Tournament this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Regions ready to rumble at Thunder Mountain High School

Tourney tips off this week.

A driver charges an electric car at a parking lot of a shopping mall in Tallinn, Estonia, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Many electric vehicle batteries lose power when it’s very cold. (AP Photo / Sergei Grits)

News

Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather

Longer trips can be difficult in the coldest weather.

A unanimous vote by the state House on Monday made a bill by state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, the first potential new law to pass both chambers of the Legislature. The bill which giving disabled veterans lifetime trapping licenses officially would cost the state nothing, and essentially is a corrective measure to existing law that give such veterans free hunting and fishing licenses. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Free trapping licenses for vets is first bill to pass full Legislature

No-cost measure passed unanimously would be Juneau Sen. Jesse Kiehl’s third bill to become law

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Buddy, Juneau Police Department’s narcotics dog, plays in a snow pile outside of the Juneau Police Station Tuesday afternoon.

News

K-9 keeps nose to grindstone as he nears retirement

Buddy continues to play a critical role in drug control in Juneau

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Left to right, Lilah Gaguine, Maddie Lesh, Lyndley Nakamura and Hallie Reid (top) are all smiles after taking 10th place in this year’s Battle of the Books competition on Thursday at Borealis Elementary School via phone conference.

News

Here’s booking at you, kids

Montessori Borealis students earn 10th place in statewide Battle of the Books.

JDHS junior Sean Oliver (11) holds string from the championship net after a win against Ketchikan High School, making the Crimson Bears this year’s Region V 4A Tournament champs. Oliver finished the game with 30 points, six 3-pointers and a fourth-quarter slam dunk. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Crimson Bears crowned Region V champs

State to be held March 22-25 in Anchorage.

Doug Sanvik rips down a hill on a luge at Eaglecrest Ski Area Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Don’t snooze on the luge: Juneau resident hopes to share his love of luging with the community

It’s a luge deal.

Sonya Kelliher-Combs teaches a youth activity Saturday afternoon where Juneau middle school students were invited to learn how to create a a pouch made from hog intestine and embellished with beads and natural materials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

‘It’s a part of who I am’

Artist uses the endangered art of marine mammal gut to explore the truth of Alaska Native history

A high school basketball rests on a gym floor at Thunder Mountain High School, which this week will be the site of the 2A and 4A Region V tournaments. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Sports

Update: Saturday schedule shifts

A schedule and brackets for the upcoming tournament.

Alaskan Brewing Co. staff presents a check to Southeast Alaska Food Bank director Chris Schapp on Tuesday as part of the company’s “Cheers to the Southeast Alaska Food Bank!” celebration. The evening also celebrated the selection of Alaskan Brewing Co. next year recipient SEADOGS. (Courtesy Photo / Erin Youngstrom)

Neighbors

Alaskan Brewing Co. selects 2023 nonprofit partner, donates $8,000 to food bank

Tasting Room event celebrates 2022 donation to Southeast Food Bank.