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Venezuelan migrants waiting to cross into the United States after receiving an asylum hearing through the CBP One app in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. (Alejandro Cegarra / For The New York Times)

News

White House moves to cancel migrants’ legally-obtained Social Security numbers to force self-deportation

Trump administration seeks to cut off access to credit cards, bank accounts, employment.

Four petitions seeking to put proposals on the fall municipal election ballot were filed this week with the Juneau city clerk’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Group hopes to put mill rate cap, food and utility tax exemptions, in-person elections on local fall ballot

Three petitions submitted Thursday by Affordable Juneau Coalition now under CBJ review.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team poses Thursday after their first win of the season over Wasilla at the Sitka Invitational. Front row left-to-right are sophomore Lily Hayes, sophomore June Troxel, senior Tatum Billings, senior Bryanna Eakes, junior Alayna Echiverri and sophomore Skylar Oliva. Back row l-r are freshman Sadie Lockhart, junior Gwen Nizich, senior Taiya Bentz, sophomore Brynn Wheeler, sophomore Taylor Williams and sophomore Cassie Chenoweth. (Photo courtesy Crimson Bears softball)

Sports

Crimson Bears awaken in Sitka softball tourney

JDHS opens with split, topping Wasilla, falling to Chugiak.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on April 9, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending April 12

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Students swing on a playground at Meadow Lakes Head Start in Wasilla, Alaska. It closed in 2024 due to funding and staffing challenges. (Image by Lela Seiler, courtesy of CCS Early Learning)

News

Alaska Head Start programs in limbo after regional office closed by U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy

Tribal programs such as Tlingit and Haida’s not affected by closures.

The Red Chris Mine, a gold and copper mine, seen several years ago after it began to operate in late 2014. (Garth Lenz / Salmon State)

News

Report cites growing environmental risks at Red Chris Mine in Stikine watershed

Seepage of contaminants at site 130 miles northeast of Wrangell reported by Canadian environmental group.

Debris from a home that partially fell into the Mendenhall River due to a record glacial outburst flood remains on the riverbank on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Trump executive order seeks to block states and municipalities from enforcing their climate policies

Order could affect everything from recently enacted state carbon laws to Juneau’s renewable energy goals.

President Donald Trump announced yet another abrupt change in economic policy on Wednesday. (Eric Lee / The New York Times)

News

Trump backs down by reducing many reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, but hikes China’s to 125%

Universal 10% levy remains for other countries; change comes after tailspin in global markets.

A Juneau School District maintenance supervisor examines the ceiling at Riverbend Elementary School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. The school, since renamed Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Elementary School, has experienced roof problems since its construction, according to district officials. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau’s school board approves project lists for proposed voter bond at $5M, $10M and $15M levels

Roof, heating, ventilation and security prioritized as Assembly considers bond items for fall election.

Members of the Alaska State Employees Association and AFSCME Local 52 hold a protest at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

State employee salaries fall short of levels intended to be competitive, long-delayed study finds

31 of 36 occupation groups are 85%-98% of target level; 21 of 36 are below public/private sector average.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Amelia Lockwood practices the shot as co-head coach Brandi Adams watches. Both were at now defunct Thunder Mountain last year. The JDHS track and field team travels to Kodiak this weekend to open the season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

New combined JDHS track team gets first-time adventure

Consolidated high school team will travel to Kodiak for inaugural meet

A preliminary design shows a park at Aak’w Landing, the cultural and arts center, and a cruise ship in port at Huna Totem’s private dock. (Courtesy of Huna Totem)

News

Assembly OKs Aak’w Landing tideland lease based on its goal of better managing tourism

Huna Totem says the dock is expected to be operational by the 2027 visitor season.

Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks at a House majority news conference, April 8, 2025, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage; Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage; Edgmon; and Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, are seated left to right. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska lawmakers are divided over state budget, stuck without agreement over dividend, schools

House majority leaders appeal to GOP minority, Gov. Dunleavy for agreement on spending plan.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, has spoken often of his and his family’s longstanding commitment to Native Americans. (Eric Lee / The New York Times)

News

Kennedy’s plan to send health officials to ‘Indian country’ angers Native leaders

Health secretary says he wants to improve Indian Health Service; Native leaders have doubts.

Visitors to the Alaska Capitol take pictures as members of the House’s Republican minority gather in a hallway to discuss an upcoming vote on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

As key bills advance, here’s an update on the Alaska Legislature’s biggest issues

Still looming is deficit caused by a collision between education spending, PFD and lower oil revenue.

Sitka’s Mason McLeod throws against Soldotna High School Thursday at Moller Field. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Sports

JDHS begins baseball title chase with Sitka, Soldotna clashes

Crimson Bears split in weekend road battles against Wolves and Stars.

Cruise ships and passengers in downtown Juneau on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

New initiative limiting cruise tourism in Juneau filed Monday by Ship-Free Saturday supporter

Measure would set 1.5M passenger annual limit, ban ships with 250+ people before May and after Sept.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ayla Keller signs an Institutional Agreement to attend Montana State University Billings and be part of the cheer and stunt team for the 2025-26 academic year, Friday in the JDHS commons. Parents Stella, left, and Wes, right, look on. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Keller signs to cheer at college for Yellowjackets

JDHS four-year letterman commits to Montana State University Billings.

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022 in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska Permanent Fund suffers multibillion-dollar decline amid Trump tariff-driven market crash

The Alaska Permanent Fund, the No. 1 source of general-purpose revenue for state services and the Permanent Fund…

Glacier Swim Club’s Amy Liddle (age 15), top, passes GSC teammate Lily Francis (16) in the girls 11 and over 1,650 freestyle during the 2025 Savannah Cayce Southeast Age Group Championships on Friday at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center. Liddle won the event. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Glacier Swim Club dominates Savannah Cayce SE swim championships

Three days of swimming fun and family, shows GSC strength across Southeast.