Site Logo
A bear/landscape painting is among the works by Liyuan (Sunny) Zhang that will be exhibited at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum as part of First Friday in November. (Photo provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

News

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in November

The penultimate First Friday of 2024 features a variety of art and photography exhibits highlighting Alaska’s nature, plus…

The Juneau Huskies competition cheer team pose for a photo at last weekend’s 2024 Rally in the Valley Cheer Competition at Palmer’s Colony High School. Back row left to right: Assistant coach Rob Day, Savannah Cornett Markey, Avery Cornett Markey, Marzena Whitmore, Kajson Cunningham, Gracie Kohuth, assistant coach Katelyn Kohuth and head coach Stephany Day. Middle row l-r: Faith Montez, Rylie Mulkey, Ayla Keller, Tenlee Roemer, Samantha Day and Elijah Levy. Front row l-r: Assistant coach Vanessa Aube, Rory Love and Viviana Flores. (Photo courtesy Samantha Day).

Sports

Cheer teams are G… R… E… A… T… Great, great, great

JDHS football and JYFL cheerleading teams earn state awards

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé volleyball coach Jody Levernier looks on as Crimson Bears seniors Evelyn Richards, senior Lavinia Ma’ake, sophomore June Troxel and junior Braith Dihle work a drill in practice Tuesday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Volleyball team hits highs and lows on road trip

Crimson Bears staying positive after multiple games in Anchorage

Alaska souvenir name signs are seen on Monday at a gift shop in the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Oliver was the most popular name for baby boys born in Alaska in 2023, according to the state’s annual vital statistics report. Nora was tied as the fourth-most-popular among the names for baby girls, according to the report. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska births and deaths both declined in 2023, and population total held steady, state says

Fewer Alaska babies were born in 2023 than in previous years, but there were also fewer deaths in…

City harbor staff inspect a sunken vessel in Harris Harbor on July 11. An increase in fees for uninsured vessels is being proposed in part to pay the cost of salvaging and removing an increasing number of such vessels without insurance. (Juneau Harbors photo)

News

Higher payments for waterfront vendor permits, docking uninsured vessels get initial OK

Docks and Harbors Board also recommends changes involving delinquent payments.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

False citations show Alaska education official relied on generative AI, raising broader questions

Commissioner Bishop said documents a first draft, appeared on state’s website due to technical error.

A truck carries the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from a forest in Wrangell to the town’s Alaska Marine High Ferry Terminal in preparation for the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C. (James Edward Mills / U.S. Forest Service)

News

U.S. Capitol Christmas tree gives Wrangell much to celebrate

80-foot tree harvested from Tongass gets ceremonial sendoff before month-long trip to D.C.

Rear Adm. Mark Sucato reads the U.S. Navy’s apology to the people of Angoon on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 commemorating 142 years to the day since the military bombarded the village in 1882. (Screen image from Sealaska Heritage Institute)

News

Angoon accepts U.S. Navy apology for bombardment that destroyed village 142 years ago

“From this day forward, no more crying,” village leader says about declaration sought for generations

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Camden Messmer pins Skagway junior Brenden Moncibaiz in their 119-pound title match on Saturday at the Southeast Showdown Wrestling Tournament in Juneau’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS takes team title as champion grapplers crowned in Southeast Showdown

Top high school wrestlers in the Panhandle gave fans a return to the ultimate showcase in Juneau.

Participants race in the Halloween Half Marathon and 5K on Saturday along North Douglas Highway. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Nothing scares runners at Halloween Half Marathon

Over 100 ghouls entered in 13.27-mile and 5-kilometer races.

Volunteers operate an in-person polling place for the special U.S. House primary election on Friday, May 27, 2022, in the atrium of the State Office Building at Juneau, Alaska. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Early voting in Alaska is off to a fast start and is on pace for a record, figures show

On Monday, Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich urged supporters to vote early and lock in their votes.

President Joe Biden waves after delivering remarks on the federal government’s role in running boarding schools for Native American children at the Gila Crossing Community School in Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2024. Biden on Friday formally apologized for the role of the federal government in running boarding schools where thousands of Native American children faced abuse, neglect and the erasure of their tribal identities. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

News

Biden highlights Rosita Worl’s harsh childhood, life achievements in apology for U.S. abuse of Native children

Remarks come days after Biden gives Sealaska Heritage Institute president National Humanities Medal

Klondike gold rush stampeders stand beside a fragile sign marking the Alaska-Canada border. (Alaska State Library historical collections ASL-P21-54)

News

Border Patrol: Drawing the line between Alaska and Canada

Southeast Alaska boundary originated as uncertain line created by 1825 treaty between Russia, Great Britain.

A row of businesses along South Franklin Street are closed on Friday, the day after the departure of the final cruise ship in Juneau during the 2024 season. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Downtown businesses open after last ship leaves plan for lean winter, worry about proposed Douglas dock

Entire blocks along Franklin Street now shut down, but some stores seek to lure what locals they can.

Eaglecrest Lodge at the base of Eaglecrest Ski Area on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Eaglecrest Ski Area’s dilemma: Aging equipment needing repair while planning an ambitious new future

Leaders at board retreat also confront loss of lift for season, staff shortages, gondola uncertainties.

Elizabeth Pisel-Davis and Roblin Davis rehearse Thursday evening for “Love Letters” at McPhetres Hall. The play staged by Juneau Ghost Light Theatre debuts Friday. (Photo by Max Rosen)

News

Different cast and director every weekend as ‘Love Letters’ opens Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s season

Production will also feature different musicians each weekend and first sign-language interpreters.

Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation after disembarking from the ship at Marine Park on May 10, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Another record year: 1.68 million cruise passengers visit in 2024, up from 1.64 million in 2023

Biggest issues for visitors were lack of connectivity and crossing guards, tourism director says.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, shakes hands with members of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, following her annual address in the state Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski again endorses Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola

Alaska’s senior U.S. Senator endorsed Peltola in 2022 and says cross-party collaboration is important.

A student texts on a cellphone in this stock photo. (Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)

News

Alaska joins growing number of states considering crackdown on cellphones in schools

Most U.S. adults support cellphone bans in middle and high schools, research shows

Prince of Wales Alaska Youth Stewards crew members perform landslide assessment fieldwork. (Photo by Zofia Danielson)

News

Woven Peoples and Place: Ḵutí expands across Southeast Alaska

Project seeks to address community concerns about landslides and other natural hazards in the region.