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Juneau Ski Club’s U16 athlete Angus Andrews races in the men’s giant slalom during the Coca-Cola Classic race series on Wednesday at the Alyeska Race Trail in Girdwood. (Photo courtesy Bob Eastaugh)

Sports

Andrews, Meyer earn giant slalom podiums

Juneau Ski Club finally gets first races of the season.

Kate Sheehan (left foreground), director of the Alaska Division of Personnel and Labor Relations, and Paula Vrana, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, discuss an ongoing statewide salary study during a House State Affairs Committee meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Dunleavy’s delay in releasing state salary study frustrates legislators, union leaders

Draft report to assess competitiveness completed last June, but not released publicly.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 8, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Feb. 8

Three decades of capital city coverage.

A dog in musher Paige Drobny’s team, lined up for the March 5, 2022, ceremonial start, wears a jacket urging vaccination. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Serum Run that used sled dog teams to deliver life-saving diphtheria medicine to Nome. The Iditarod race course includes part of the route used by the serum teams, and the Iditarod has frequently called attention to that historic event and the value of childhood vaccinations. Still, fewer than two-thirds of young Alaska children have received their full suite of combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines, state health officials say. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaskans failing to make progress toward most health improvements sought by 2030

Report shows little improvement in most categories, includng care for pregnant women and young children.

The White House rescinded its order to freeze federal grants on Wednesday. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

News

Trump administration rescinds freeze on federal grants and loans

Freeze is rescinded but a review to eliminate spending on ‘woke’ ideologies will proceed.

The renovated Edward K. Thomas Building, used by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, has been frequented in recent days by residents seeking tribal IDs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Natives in Juneau rushing to get tribal IDs amidst fears of immigration detentions

115 IDs issued Tuesday is “incredibly not normal,” tribal president says; no local detentions confirmed.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears seniors pose for a photo during Senior Night last weekend at Treadwell Ice Arena.They play final home games this weekend. On Friday facing Tri-Valley at 1:45 p.m. and Wasilla at 7 p.m. and on Saturday playing Wasilla at 3 p.m. and Tri-Valley at 8 p.m. JV play Thursday at 3:30 p.m. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS hockey marathon includes Warriors doubleheader

Crimson Bears will play Tri-Valley and Wasilla to end the regular season.

Thom Young sits with Pepper and Rick Driscoll sits with Homer in a dog visiting room at Juneau Animal Rescue on Jan. 28, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

North to adoption: Three dogs from LA arrive at Juneau Animal Rescue

From the Antelope Valley to Mendenhall Valley, dogs close to euthanasia get a fresh start.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé students, along with a handful of state legislators and staff members, march from the school to the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in a protest seeking more state funding from lawmakers. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Alaska students rank 51st among 53 U.S. jurisdictions in 3 of 4 categories in annual ‘Nation’s Report Card’

Dunleavy administration says it shows failure of public schools, other say it reflects lack of funds.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys junior varsity team pose for a photo at Hoonah last week. (Photo courtesy JDHS)

Sports

JDHS JV and C teams earn road wins

JV play at Hoonah, C team travels to Petersburg.

Juneau Police Department cars are parked outside the downtown branch station on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

66% drop in reported drug crimes first half of ‘24, staffing woes continue, JPD states in annual report

Decline in drugs cases reflects shift to larger cases that take more time to investigate, chief says.

Mike Satre (left), chair of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors, talks about the resort’s plans with Mayor Beth Weldon and Juneau Assembly Member Neil Steininger following an Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Assembly members say they’re willing to loan Eaglecrest money until gondola is ready

Report criticizing ski area’s finances and maintenance also contains enough promise for city leaders.

State Sen. Löki Tobin (right), D-Anchorage, discusses possible impacts of a freeze on federal grants and loans during a press conference with other members of the Senate majority including Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Judge blocks Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans until Monday

Alaska lawmaker says disruption “could be catastrophic” for education, homeless, other programs.

Guests ride the Porcupine chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

News

Eaglecrest to open Ptarmigan lift to top of ski area on Wednesday

Hooter lift providing access to lower part of eastside terrain scheduled to open on Saturday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers his State of the State speech at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, with Senate President Gary Stevens, at left, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, at right, in the background. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

News

Gov. Dunleavy takes victory lap with selective portrayal of Alaska in second-to-last State of the State

Some legislators criticize “mixed messages” about cooperation, omission of problems needing work.

State Rep. Maxine Dibert (right), a Fairbanks Democrat, confers with Rep. Calvin Schrage (I-Anchorage) about a resolution opposing the change of Denali back to Mount McKinley during the House floor session at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska House majority rejects GOP effort to turn protest of Denali name change into Trump tribute

Resolution opposing restoration of Mt. McKinley name is first legislation to pass House this session.

Thunder Mountain Middle School grappler Momar Diouf wrestles an opponent from Thorne Bay during the Stikine Wrestling Championships last weekend in Wrangell. (Photo courtesy TMMS)

Sports

Thunder Mountain Middle School pins Stikine title

Falcons grapplers dominate wrestling tournament in Wrangell.

Juneau’s flooded Mendenhall Valley is seen on Aug. 6, 2024. The waters pouring from an outburst flood at Mendenhall Glacier reached record levels, surpassing the record set by a similar glacial outburst flood the previous year. Hundreds of homes were damaged, and some were destroyed. (Photo provided by the City and Borough of Juneau)

News

Researchers embark on five-year study of flood risks at Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier

After two consecutive years when meltwaters burst out of a basin on Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier and devastated neighborhoods…

President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington on Thursday, Jan., 23, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

News

White House freezes all federal grants and loans

Juneau leaders say city should be able to cope, but express concern about smaller towns and uncertainty.

Dimond junior Katie MacDonald and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors Kerra and Cailynn Baxter work for a loose ball Saturday during the Lynx’ 53-43 win over the Crimson Bears in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls fall in fast-paced game to visiting Dimond squad

Crimson Bears’ old family basketball ties now extend to Lynx.