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Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen in a screenshot of a news conference on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, in Anchorage. Dunleavy said that if reelected, he will seek to raise the prison sentence for dealing illegal drugs that result in a death. (Screenshot)

News

Dunleavy plans longer prison terms for drug dealers linked to overdose deaths

The proposal would still have to pass muster with the Alaska Legislature

Ashlyn Gates of Thunder Mountain High School deflects the ball past a Craig High School player during the Gold Bracket semi-final game of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School on Saturday. TMHS, the top seed in the six-team bracket, lost the title game to Chugiak High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

TMHS falls in ’epic’ JIVE finale to Chugiak

Local No. 1 seed falls short to rally by No. 2 team during two-day regional volleyball tournament

Jarrell Williams (1) smiles after securing what was essentially a game-ending interception. Payton Grant (9) and Thomas Baxter (84) react to the big play. After the big play, the Huskies’ offense would take the field for victory formation. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Huskies advance to state championship game

Juneau will face Colony High School in Anchorage.

FILE - Exterior of the Kroger grocery store in Novi, Mich., is seen Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021.  Two of the nation's largest grocers are planning to merge. Kroger said Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, it has agreed to acquire Albertsons in a $20 billion deal.  (Ed Pevos / Ann Arbor News)

News

Kroger seeks to create grocery giant in $20B Albertsons bid

If approved by regulators, the deal is expected to close in early 2024.

Thunder Mountain High School swim team featured in the is photo at their first meet of the season at the beginning of September in Craig. (Courtesy Photo / Josiah Loseby)

Sports

Prep swim teams get ready for regions

Regions begin on Oct. 28

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
A totem pole stands outside Hospice and Home Care of Juneau, which is shutting down Wednesday after providing services for about 20 years due to lack of staff. The closure will affect 17 home health and two hospice patients, with program and city officials in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital and SEARHC about taking over services for such patients.

News

Hospice and Home Care of Juneau closing Wednesday

Program halting due to shortage and high cost of staff. Officials hope BRH, SEARHC can offer care.

A ballot is placed in a drop box on Tuesday, Oct. 4, during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. Voters could cast ballots by mail. at voting centers located at City Hall and the Mendenhall Valley Public Library or at secure drop boxes at Don D. Statter Harbor and at the Douglas Public Library/ Fire Station. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

News

Local election results: A few hundred votes the difference for two props

Friday figures have City Hall debt voted down, real estate ordinance repeal OK’d .

Chesbro For Alaska 
Pat Chesbro, the lone Democrat in the three-way race for one of Alaska’s U.S. Senate seats in the November general election, poses for her official campaign profile picture.

News

Chesbro says she holds the keys to victory

Democrat a longshot in U.S. Senate race, but one of her Republican opponents needs her voters to win

A person waits at a bus station in the Valley area as rain patters around them Thursday afternoon. Weather service expects the rain to end in the Juneau area overnight Thursday and another front to arrive again Friday night. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

‘Landslides are a possibility’: Heavy rainfall and winds expected to continue

Weather service expects the rain to end overnight Thursday, another front Friday night.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File 
This photo shows the Juneau Police Station in March 2020.

News

JPD finishes update to computer system

“It was certainly time to replace.”

Kelly Tshibaka, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, poses for her official campaign biography photo this spring. (Kelly For Alaska)

News

Tshibaka sees more than red:Trump-back candidate discusses policy goals in Senate

Weighty words ranging from seabeds to outer space.

Bears greet each other on Chichagof Island. (Courtesy Photo / Elleana Elliott)

News

Planet Alaska: Elleana Elliott — traveling an island of bears

This award-winning article has been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol on April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Nearly every single Alaskan got a financial windfall amounting to more than $3,000 on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, the day the state began distributing payments from Alaska's investment fund that has been seeded with money from the state's oil riches. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

News

Dunleavy says he’ll vote for constitutional convention

The question will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

This provided by Pfizer in October 2022 shows manufacturing of the company’s COVID-19 bivalent vaccine for ages 5-11. The U.S. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, authorized updated COVID-19 boosters for children as young as 5, seeking to expand protection ahead of an expected winter wave.(Pfizer)

News

U.S. clears updated COVID boosters for kids as young as 5

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends how vaccines are used, also signed off.

Courtesy Photo / Robin Lonas 
This photo shows ( from left to right) Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighters Bill McGoey, Karl Wuoti, Peter Flynn, Wendy Wallers, Captain Noah Jenkins, John Adams & Fire Marshal Dan Jager.

News

It’s Fire Prevention Week, do you have a plan?

Firefighters and insurance company share safety advice.

Alaska Federation of Natives 
Youths perform during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Fairbanks. The convention, which AFN says is the largest representative annual gathering in the United States of Native peoples, is meeting in-person for the first time in two years from Oct. 20-22 in Anchorage.

News

AFN Convention returns with in-person event

About 6,000 people expected at three-day gathering in Anchorge featuring performances and politics

Bob Bird (left) and Lisa Parker (right) participate in a Constitutional Convention Forum at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Constitutional convention debate comes to Kenai

Alaskans will be asked on the Nov. 8 general election ballot: “Shall there be a constitutional convention?”

A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire 
A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau.

News

444-unit housing project raises hopes, concerns

Backers of proposed subdivision say it addresses shortage, neighbors worry about impacts.

An eagle has captured an egg-laden female coho in Steep Creek and is about to gulp down a cluster of eggs. (Courtesy Photo / Jos Bakker)

News

On the Trails: October observations of fall foraging

Where is everybody?

Courtesy Photo / Gregory Chaney
A 60-foot fishing vessel was grounded in Favorite Reef on Thursday evening into Friday morning when three passengers were safely rescued off the boat by JPD Chief Ed Mercer. The Coast Guard continues to monitor the ship while crews work to safely defuel it.

News

Police chief rescues crew from grounded ship

Coast Guard continues to monitor ship.