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Screenshots of the three most-read stories at the Juneau Empire’s website in 2024.

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The 10 most-read news stories at the Juneau Empire’s website in 2024

A rather fishy list as world’s oldest humpback whale, limit on king salmon fishing get the most clicks.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 2, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Jan. 4

Three decades of capital city coverage.

At left, homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Aug. 6. At center, students crowd into the commons area of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before classes start on the first day of school Aug. 15. At right, Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation at Marine Park on May 10. (Left photo by Rich Ross/ City and Borough of Juneau; middle and right photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau’s 10 biggest news stories of 2024

Record flooding proves costly, while record financial crises result in a deluge of drastic changes.

Elementary Division action at the 32nd Annual Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Dimond Park Field House. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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New Year’s Eve champions crowned at Holiday Cup

Nutmeggers, Tinsel Toes, Jingle Ballers, Iced Out, Chilkat Bandits, and Eggnog & Nutmegs win.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich (11) shoots from past the arch against Chugiak during the Crimson Bears 51-38 win over the Mustangs in the girls championship game at the George Houston Capital City Classic on Sunday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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JDHS girls win big over Chugiak for Capital City Classic championship

Crimson Bears’ 51-38 victory over Mustangs caps undefeated tournament on home court.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Joren Gasga (12) shoots a three-pointer as Federal Way seniors Jacob Hurskin (10), Saxon Niles (15) Geron White (1) and Angelo Williams (2) defend during the Crimson Bears 61-48 loss to the Eagles in the boys championship game at the George Houston Capital City Classic on Sunday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Federal Way boys stretch past JDHS in Capital City Classic title game

Eagles’ height and length result in 61-48 win over Crimson Bears in finale of three-day Juneau tournament.

Reindeer Rangers player Maddie Dale and Tinsel Toes player El Lasinski play a ball during the Holiday Cup middle school semifinals Monday at Dimond Park Field House. Finals for all divisions are on Tuesday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Holiday Cup finals on Tuesday

The 32nd annual Holiday Cup soccer tournament will feature their six divisional championship matches Tuesday at the Dimond…

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Basketball Cheer Team. Back Row (left-right) are Sophia Percy, Stefano Rivera, Marlee Gines, Mati Iona, Hadley Bex, Alexa Scarano and Renz Hill. Front row (left to right) are Audrey Yu, Karina San Miguel, Aidan Lazo, Mia Brown Cortez, Megan Pierce, Ayla Keller and Gabby Ely. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Cheerleaders look to continue state dominance

2025 could be another season of the bear — the Crimson Bears.

Former President Jimmy Carter and wife Roselynn Carter talk with Debbie Miller during a 1990 camping trip in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Miller, an Alaska teacher and author, helped found the Alaska Wilderness League. The organization this week gave a special lifetime award to the former president for his advocacy on behalf of Alaska public lands, including the Arctic refuge. (Photo provided by the Alaska Wilderness League)

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Former President Jimmy Carter, honored for ANILCA and other Alaska environmental work, dies at 100

39th U.S. president died Sunday at his home in Plains, Ga.

Kenai junior Ellsi Miller (33) attempts a shot against Klawock seniors Kaiya Marvin (12) and Lea Armour in the Cardinals 45-27 win over the Chieftains during Sunday action at the George Houston Capital City Classic Friday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Capital City Classic, Day 3: Kenai girls defeat Klawock for third place

Kenai and Klawock were looking for their first win in the George Houston Capital City Classic on Sunday…

Soldotna senior Easton Hawkins spins away from Cordova senior Thomas Nothstine during the Stars 56-52 overtime win over the Wolverines during Sunday action at the George Houston Capital City Classic in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Capital City Classic, Day 3: Soldotna topples Cordova in overtime

Stars shine in second overtime game in two days.

Chugiak senior Emily Desmond secures a rebound as Klawock senior Kaiya Marvin (12) and junior Taylor White (24) go for the ball in the Mustangs 45-25 win over the Chieftains during Saturday action at the George Houston Capital City Classic in Juneau. Chugiak freshman Kaitylyn Farr (3) and Klawock eighth grader Jayla Edenshaw and senior Lea Armour look on.(Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Capital City Classic, Day 2: Chugiak girls defeat Klawock

4A Mustangs 2-0 as 1A Chieftains continue to stuggle in tournament at JDHS.

Federal Way senior Jacob Hurskin (10) scores over Cordova senior John Itliong (1) in the Eagles 64-31 win over the Wolverines during Saturday action at the George Houston Capital City Classic in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Capital City Classic, Day 2: Federal Way wins against Cordova

Eagles from Washington trap Wolverines from Alaska

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Cambry Lockhart (3) pressures Kenai sophomore Gracee Every (10) in the Crimson Bears 57-13 win over the Cardinals during Saturday action at the George Houston Capital City Classic in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Capital City Classic Day 2: 4A Crimson Bears girls topple 3A Cardinals

JDHS scores second straight dominating win during hometown tournament.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cheer squad leads the Crimson Bears boys onto the floor before their game against Soldotna during Saturday action at the George Houston Capital City Classic in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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JDHS boys battle in extra time with Soldotna

Crimson Bears fall 62-60 to Stars in last-second overtime “Classic”

Juneau-related stories about tourism and flooding from The Guardian, The Washington Post and The New York Times were typical of most global coverage about Alaska’s capital city during 2024. (Screenshots from mobile websites of the respective publications)

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Global warping: How the world saw Juneau in 2024

An “amusement park” for cruise tourists; site of “Titanic moment”; on Chick-fil-A fan’s bucket list.

Firearms and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl seized by law enforcement agents in Alaska are shown in this undated photo. The volume of drugs seized this year at Anchorage's airport was nearly twice that seized last year. (Photo provided by the Alaska State Troopers)

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Alaska agencies seized 317 pounds of drugs at Anchorage airport this year, nearly doubling 2023

State’s fatal overdose numbers continued to climb, a contrast with decreases nationally.

An American bald eagle perched in a tree on Buttons Creek, which is part of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, June 14, 2022. The bald eagle became the national bird of the United States on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Once an endangered species in the U.S., the bald eagle represents “independence, strength, and freedom,” according to the bipartisan bill signed by President Biden. (Tony Cenicola/The New York Times)

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The bald eagle is (finally) the national bird of the United States

The bald eagle received a title this week that many may have assumed it already had: the national…

Chugiak freshman Kaitlyn Farr (3) checks Kenai freshman Bryleigh Williams (22) during the Mustangs 43-34 win over the Cardinals in the opening game of the George Houston Capital City Classic Friday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Chugiak girls run past Kenai to win opening game of Capital City Classic

Tournament featuring seven high schools continues through Sunday at JDHS.

Federal Way senior Brayden McVey (4) passes around Soldotna senior defender Izaiah Gilbert (21) during the Eagles 63-40 win over the Stars in the opening game of the George Houston Capital City Classic on Friday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

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Capital City Classic, Day 1: Federal Way gets past Soldotna 63-40

Eagles from Washington use second half against Stars.