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A pilot flies over Denali National Park and Preserve in an undated photo. (iStock/Getty Images Plus)

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Federal Aviation Administration withdraws from Alaska groups that work on safety

On Feb. 5, one day before the crash of Bering Air Flight 445, the Federal Aviation Administration informed…

Wrangell senior Della Churchill applauds the effort of a Stikine Middle School wrestler during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Championships at Thunder Mountain Middle School last week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Della Churchill finds solace and perseverance on the mat

Wrangell senior’s strength through adversity a mark of her wrestling character

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 19, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Feb. 22

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks on the House floor on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Education funding bill unexpectedly advances again, nears House floor vote amid affordability concerns

HB 69 clears Finance Committee at first hearing as minority says discussions there are not worthwhile.

In this 2014 photo Thunder Mountain High School senior Ben Jahn (32) and Juneau-Douglas senior Kevin Guimmayen (10) shake hands before their game. Guimmayen passed from leukemia in 2017. Funds from Saturday’s game will go to help Cancer Connection and childhood cancer awareness. Friday’s game will support mental health through Take A Timeout To Talk supported by Find Your Fire and Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Weekend home basketball welcomes Monroe

Series will feature mental health and cancer awareness.

Juneau Ski Club’s coach Kevin Stell, Elaine Duvall, Marin Lowell, coach Brock Tabor and McKinley Burgess-Fitzpatrick pose Friday at the Alyeska Cup races in Girdwood. (Photo courtesy JSC)

Sports

Juneau Ski Club takes 14 athletes to Alyeska

Andrews, Stell highlight four top five JSC finishes

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Begich supports Trump’s federal cutbacks, but ‘I recognize the process won’t be perfect’

Congressman says cutting most Mendenhall Glacier staff may have been hasty; also wants faster flood fix.

Alaska State House members confer about a proposal to advance an education funding bill during a break in Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Education funding bill advances in House as majority shortcuts committee process due to stalemate

Bill held up in Education Committee due to absent member now skips ahead to Finance Committee.

2024 Thunder Mountain High School graduate James Polasky (34) is shown in action for St. Olaf College against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this past November in the Oles gym in Minnesota. (Photo courtesy St. Olaf College)

Sports

Basketball a piece of cake for former TMHS star James Polasky

St. Olaf freshman has found taste for college.

Glacier Swim Club’s Levi Phelps, center, was 1st place high point winner for 14 year old boys at the Alaska Age Group Champs in Fairbanks over the weekend. At left is third place Noah Unks of Chugiak Aquatics Club and at right is second place Haoran Zhang of Midnight Sun Swim Team. (Photo courtesy GSC)

Sports

Glacier Swim Club thaws out Fairbanks pool with second-place team finish

Phelps, Soboleff, Woodruff pace team at Age Group Championships.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

News

Murkowski takes tough questions at virtual town hall, but doesn’t connect with all constituents

Alaska senator critical of many Trump actions; questioners ask what she’s doing about it beyond words.

Thunder Mountain Middle School’s Minali Reid works a pin on Schoenbar Knights grappler Loriel Zapanta in the girls 106-pound championship match during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at TMMS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Falcons claim Southeast Middle School Championship

Inspired by heroes, wrestlers grapple for medals and titles.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

‘This is no town hall. This is propaganda’; Begich takes heat at first virtual constituent forum

Congressman set to deliver his first joint address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday.

A ranger watches a bear cross a path at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Officials and former employees say nearly all of the staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center have been fired by the Trump administration during the past week. (Photo courtesy of Megan Whitesall)

News

Only two employees left at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center after 80% of staff fired, official says

Tourism industry, city officials say they are uncertain about next steps as cruise season approaches.

Local organizers and speakers at a “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest lead a drum chant and dance Monday in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

‘No Kings on Presidents Day’ protest of Trump draws more than 400 to Alaska State Capitol

Firing of federal workers, elimination of DEI and LGBTQ+ policies among objections of participants.

Juneau Douglas’s Elias Dybdahl makes a layup during Juneau Douglas 58-53 loss to Ketchikan at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)

Sports

Crimson Bears split road series, fall to Kings in Ketchikan on Saturday after win on Friday

JDHS finishes 1-3 in conference, will return to Ketchikan in three weeks for Region V tournament.

Runners start the Sweetheart Relay on Saturday at Sandy Beach. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Sweetheart race, a run for love and waffles

Saturday race features appetites aplenty in diverse field.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) threads a pass through Ketchikan senior Shyla Abajian (5), junior Lauren Tucker (11) and junior Kylie Brendible (32) during the Crimson Bears’ 51-23 win over the Lady Kings on Friday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls finish home sweep of Ketchikan

Crimson Bears have perfect conference record over Lady Kings

Juneau-Douglas’s Brandon Casperson is fouled as Ketchikan players swarm him during Juneau Douglas’s 61-50 victory over Kayhi at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Photo by Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News

Sports

JDHS boys win on the road at Ketchikan

Crimson Bears slay Kings at site of region tournament.

Jonathan Rasch skates back to shore with his dog after spending hours looking for a man who fell through the ice on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, on Chilkoot Lake near Haines. Rasch was skating on the lake when he heard the man screaming for help and used his Garmin inReach to call for help. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)

News

After Haines man disappears, locals and state officials warn of the dangers of ice skating on lake

After Haines man disappears, locals and state officials warn of the dangers of ice skating on lake