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At a farm market in St. Petersburg, Florida, SNAP recipients were able to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards for food. (Lance Cheung/USDA).

News

More than 3 million people would lose SNAP benefits under GOP bill, nonpartisan report says

The massive tax and spending bill passed by U.S. House Republicans would likely result in 3.2 million people…

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Ida Meyer (1) and Sitka’s Marina Dill (2) and Clare Mullin (1) lead the start of the combined DI and DII 3200 during the Region V Track & Field Championships Friday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS leads Region V track and field championships after day one

Crimson Bears boys and girls hold slight advantage over Ketchikan.

Leslie Ishii, Perseverance Theatre’s artistic director, is the winner of the 2025 Paul Robeson Award as well as this year’s Zelda Fichandler Award for directing. (Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation photo)

News

Leslie Ishii recognized with national awards for arts, advocacy

Artistic director at Perseverance Theatre receives two honors this spring.

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is pictured on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

News

US House Republicans push through massive tax and spending bill slashing Medicaid

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House early Thursday approved the “big, beautiful bill” that Republican leaders spent months negotiating…

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls soccer team seniors will be honored at 5 p.m. Saturday on the Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park pitch with a game against Wasilla to follow. The seniors are, front row left-to-right, Lola Hines, Mary Canapary, Milina Mazon, Priscilla Lam and Adelyn Buss. Back row - Alison Tingey, Lena Field, Parker Boman, Ella Orsborn, Cerys Hudson, Natalie Travis and Daniela Lamas. Not pictured Dori Germain and Alyssa Lawhorne. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Crimson Bears soccer to honor senior girls Saturday

JDHS host Wasilla in final home, season stand at AKMP.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 21, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending May 24

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior distance runners Della Mearig and Lua Mangaccat and freshman Sunna Schane congratulate each other during an event at the Capital City Classic this year. The Region V Track & Field championships are Friday and Saturday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Region’s best set to tear up track and field championships

Southeast athletes gather this weekend for final meet.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker, center, signed a letter of intent Thursday in the JDHS commons to attend Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, and play soccer for the Viking Warriors. From left are Parker’s maternal grandmother Michelle Monts, mother Kelli Patterson, Ahmir Parker, grandmother Sherry Patterson and little sister Makaylah Patterson. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Crimson Bears’ Ahmir Parker signs to play college soccer

JDHS striker will attend Division III Waldorf University.

The Taku River as seen Monday, May 19, 2025, from an Alaska Wildlife Troopers helicopter carrying U.S. Border Patrol agents during a patrol flight. (U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector photo)

News

Border Patrol, state troopers take patrol flight over Taku River looking for drugs, other illegal activity

Troopers: “No enforcement action was taken”; Border Patrol: “We are just getting started.”

An Arctic tern sits at its nesting site at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Gwen Baluss)

News

Arctic terns return to their protected nests in Juneau

The birds began their journey to Alaska in March to find safe haven at the Mendenhall Glacier.

Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks to the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, April 25, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

At adjournment, Alaska Legislature leaves elections overhaul, campaign finance bills undone

House Bill 16 and Senate Bill 64 could be part of a wave of big legislation that passes…

Juneau Assembly members discuss a proposed increase in the mill rate for the fiscal year starting July 1 during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Increasing mill rate to 10.24, rather than 10.19 in earlier versions of city’s budget, gets OK from Assembly

Extra costs in budget, loss of federal funds cited for higher increase from current rate of 10.04 mills.

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, prepares to open the Alaska Senate’s floor session on Friday, May 2, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Senate President Gary Stevens to retire; House Rep. Louise Stutes announces run for seat

At least one other member of Senate’s bipartisan majority is expected to not seek reelection in 2026.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team seniors will be honored at 3 p.m. Saturday on the Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park field with a game against Sitka to follow. Shown are seniors, left-to-right, Tatum Billings, Bryanna Eakes, Taiya Bentz, Kayla Peter and Jadela Saetern. Not pictured is Ella Schmidt. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Crimson Bears to honor softball seniors Saturday

JDHS hosts non-conference Sitka for final home games.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer team seniors will be honored at 7 p.m. Saturday on the Adair Kennedy Memorial Park pitch with a game against Wasilla to follow. The seniors are, front row left-to-right, Caden Haygood, Kellen Chester, Kai Ciambor, Cole Reel and Malcolm Bahn. Back l-r are Ryan Thibodeau, Ahmir Parker, Owen Rumsey, Nate Brennell, Matthew Plang and Reed Maier. Not pictured is exchange student David Kresina. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Boys soccer team hosts Wasilla in home final

Crimson Bears to honor seniors Saturday at AKMP.

Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Legislature overrides governor’s education veto in moment of ‘courage’

Supporters of bill raising BSA by $700 stand together as session nears adjournment.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Gov. Dunleavy vetoes second bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Visitors walk along the downtown cruise ship dock on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Initiative to limit number of cruise ship passengers, shorten season fails to get signatures to make ballot

“Enthusiasm for this just wasn’t there in the same way as Ship-Free Saturday,” author of proposal says.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Skylar Oliva pitches against Wasilla during the Crimson Bears’ 13-7 win over the Warriors on Saturday at Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)

Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team put football size scores on Wasilla

Crimson Bears sweep the Warriors in three-game road series.