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The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

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The Juneau-bound icebreaker has design problems and a history of failure. It’s America’s latest military vessel.

Aiviq builders gave more than $7M in political donations since 2012; Coast Guard purchased vessel under pressure from…

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) walks to the Senate chamber ahead of a vote at the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

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Murkowski says she will vote against Hegseth, making her first GOP senator to oppose a Trump Cabinet pick

Defense Secretary nominee facing barrage of accusations including sexual assault, drinking.

President Trump signed a series of executive orders in the first hours of his term. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

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Birthright citizenship of Native Americans questioned by Trump administration

Justice Department makes argument defending executive order suspending birthright citizenship.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 24, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Jan. 25

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Katie Kachel (left), a federal lobbyist for the City and Borough of Juneau, talks with Juneau Assembly Member Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Mayor Beth Weldon following a joint meeting of the Assembly and Juneau’s legislative delegation on Thursday at the Assembly Chambers. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Federal flood help for Juneau not likely to be affected by Trump, but officials avoiding climate references

Local impacts may include “green” issues such as electric vehicles, Assembly members told by lobbyist.

A Mendenhall Valley neighborhood is swamped by a record glacial outburst flood on on Aug. 6, 2024. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

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Profits from ‘fully’ extracting Alaska’s resources minus the cost of climate impacts: Who will gain/lose how much?

The results may not be high either way since experts say Trump’s goals are unlikely to happen anytime…

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys junior varsity basketball team pose for a photo Saturday in the Petersburg High School gym. (Photo courtesy JDHS JV)

Sports

JDHS JV taste varsity action at Petersburg tournament

Crimson Bears show they are ready for next step

A person receives a COVID-19 vaccination. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Trump administration orders federal health agencies to halt public advisories, other communications

Directive in effect at least through Feb. 1, future communications will need OK of Trump appointee.

Members of the Women’s Division all-tournament team at last week’s Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament at the MEHS B.J. McGillis Gymnasium. (Photo courtesy MEHS)

Sports

Big names play big at 18th Annual Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational

190 players on 22 teams participate in regional tournament; Juneau’s Travis Dybdahl wins Iron Man Award.

House members gather for the first floor session of the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Tribal public schools, election reform, snowfall guessing contests among Legislature’s first bills

Nearly 130 bills and resolutions introduced as state lawmakers get down to work on Wednesday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about new Trump administration policies at a news conference Wednesday in his Anchorage office. Behind him are Attorney General Treg Taylor and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle. Dunleavy and administration officials said President Trump’s reversals of Biden administration environmental policies will benefit Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

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Gov. Dunleavy and administration officials applaud Trump’s Alaska policies

Executive orders will enable more drilling, mining and other resource development.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey seniors will be honored before their game against Northern Lights Conference foe Kenai on Friday at Treadwell Ice Arena. JV play at 2 p.m., Senior Honors are at 6 p.m. and varsity action begins at 7:30 p.m. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS hockey senior night welcomes Kenai

Crimson Bears ready to de-ice conference foe Kardinals.

Juneau residents fill out public comment cards at an open house in the Assembly Chambers on Jan. 22, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Public weighs in on draft tideland lease conditions for private Aak’w Landing cruise dock

Community asks how the waterfront development project will be managed with the growth of tourism.

Adm. Linda L. Fagan, the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard since 2022, was relieved of duty after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

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Adm. Linda Fagan fired as Coast Guard Commandant on Trump’s first day back in office

First woman to head a U.S. military branch presided over decision to homeport icebreaker in Juneau.

Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, is set to revert to its former name of Mount McKinley under an executive order signed Monday by President Donald Trump. (Denali National Park and Preserve photo)

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Poll: Alaskans oppose reverting Denali back to Mt. McKinley by more than two-to-one

Trump voters in state favor change 43%-37%, Harris voters oppose 7%-86%, according to survey.

State Sens. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), Matt Claman (D-Anchorage), Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) and Sen. James Kaufman (R-Anchorage) are sworn in by Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom during the opening day of the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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34th Alaska Legislature gavels in smoothly — now the hard part begins

Leadership battle in House from past sessions avoided, but minority has enough votes to sway agenda.

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

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Alaska senators outline key priorities in the opening day of the 34th Legislature

An increase to the Base Student Allocation and in resource development among coming proposals.

Denali as seen in a picture distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2015 when the nation’s tallest mountain was renamed from Mount McKinley. (National Park Service photo)

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Reports: Trump will rename Denali back to Mt. McKinley as part of flurry of executive orders on day one

Other orders expected to focus on immigration crackdowns, dismantle diversity initiatives.

An officer from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector office, which has assigned two permanent officers to Juneau as of December. (U.S. Border Patrol photo)

News

Border Patrol launches Juneau operation, with eye on drugs rather than mass deportations

Two-person deployment will work with police, tribal, other agencies throughout Southeast Alaska.

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Monday. (Chang W. Lee / The New York Times)

News

Here are Trump’s day-one executive orders

President Trump on Monday began issuing a barrage of executive orders, kicking off his presidency with a muscular…