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Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden listen to the moderators during the first 2024 presidential election debate at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

News

Biden struggles, Trump aggressively lies during first presidential debate between likely nominees

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly delivered aggressive, often misleading attacks against a shaky President Joe Biden during a…

The RTK drone flies on Tuesday near Snowslide Creek in Juneau. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities uses drones to evaluate snowpack and prepare for avalanches by increasing the collection of data. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska leads the nation in drone innovation, wants to use it to save more lives

Visibility, data collection for disaster management reaching new heights, experts visiting Juneau say.

Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills explains the administration’s understanding of a ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program, in the Alaska State Capitol on May 1. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

News

What you need to know about Alaska’s contested homeschool allotments

Alaska’s Supreme Court hears state’s appeal of ruling that allotments are unconstitutional Thursday.

A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photpo)

News

Juneau man gets 7½-year sentence for sexually abusing 14-year-old family member in his home

Randy Willard, 39, also gets 16½ years suspended jail time, must register as lifetime sex offender.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 25, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending June 29

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor was one of a few places voters in Juneau cast their ballots during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election in the fall of 2022. Vote-by-mail elections are now the default in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Effort to repeal local mail-in voting ordinance called ‘huge success’ despite not enough signatures

Petition to repeal measure OK’d last year raises awareness, may fuel future effort, organizer says.

A parcel of land just off the corner of Capital Ave. and Village Street in downtown Juneau was approved to be the first parcel of land owned by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to be put into federal trust. However, the state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to reverse the federal government’s decision, return the land to Tlingit and Haida, and stop future land-into-trust applications. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

District court vacates Tlingit and Haida’s ‘land into trust’ agreement with federal government

Split decision in state lawsuit OKs tribal pacts, but cites flaws in process involving Juneau land.

Buck Laukitis’ boat, the Oracle, sits in Homer in May before unloading its catch of halibut. (Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal)

News

As salmon season kicks off, some Alaska fishermen fear for their futures

Some signs of recovery for $6 billion industry a year into crisis, but major threats persist.

Juneau School District maintenance and custodial crew work on transitioning Thunder Mountain High School to Thunder Mountain Middle School on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau schools empty out as classrooms and memories transition under consolidation plan

Transitions “ahead of schedule” for school district; use for vacant buildings by CBJ still in question

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s behavioral health and crisis stabilization center, seen here during its unveiling ceremony on June 14, 2023, is among the areas where program cuts are being considered due to financial difficulties. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Bartlett leaders OK resolutions seeking help for ‘non-core’ services, but may halt some otherwise

Future of substance abuse treatment, hospice, other programs may be up to Assembly — or voters.

City and state leaders gather Monday at the gangway to Aurora Harbor for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the third of four stages of reconstruction of the 60-year-old harbor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Six years and one pandemic later, next stage of Aurora Harbor expansion is complete

New installations allow for longer vessels, provide utilities for final planned phase of project.

A cartoon sketch is seen on a cubicle in the offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. during an open house on Friday, Feb. 16. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

After email leak, some Alaska legislators say they’re skeptical of Permanent Fund’s direction

Members of the Alaska Legislature questioned the direction of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. on Monday in a…

Tim Berry, a Michigan resident visiting Juneau, fishes on a dock Monday near the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc.’s Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. A ban catching king salmon near the hatchery and some other Juneau waters is in effect until Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Local king salmon ban not expected to have big impact on summer fishing, but long-term concerns remain

Ban due to 2020 landslide that caused hatchery pipeline break, disrupting multiyear spawning cycle

Participants in a pro-choice abortion rally gather outside the Governor’s Residence on Saturday to demand a pro-life flag flying at the entrance be taken down. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Pro-choice abortion protesters march to Governor’s Residence to demand removal of pro-life flag

Rally on second anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision also focuses on fall election.

An estimated 185 people, many dressed in unconventional attire for running or walking, take off from the starting line outside Centennial Hall during the Only Fools Run At Night on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Juneau revives its summer solstice spirit with Only Fools Run At Night

Runners and walkers in madcap costumes fill downtown streets as race returns after six-year absence.

Eddie Petrie shovels gravel into a mine cart as fast as possible during the men’s hand mucking competition as part of Juneau Gold Rush Days on Saturday at Savikko Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Mucking, trucking, chucking and yukking it up at Juneau Gold Rush Days

Logging competitions, live music, other events continue Sunday at Savikko Park.

Three cruise ships are docked along Juneau’s waterfront on the evening on May 10, as a Princess cruise ship on the right is departing the capital city. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Sitka residents join those in Juneau proposing hard caps on cruise ships as tourism grows

Two ballot measures could be presented to local voters in the two Southeast Alaska towns this fall

A king salmon is laid out for inspection by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during the Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 25, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Emergency order bans king salmon fishing in many Juneau waters between June 24 and Aug. 31

Alaska Department of Fish and Game says low projected spawning population necessitates restrictions

Lydia Jacoby, Alaska’s gold-medal swimmer, announced Tuesday she is withdrawing from the U.S. Olympic Trials. (Alaska Sports Report photo)

Sports

P.J. Foy does not advance, Lydia Jacoby withdraws from U.S. Olympic swimming trials

First-ever Juneau swimmer to compete in trials finishes 49th among 61 competitors Friday.

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire A section of Angoon along the coast is seen on June 14. Angoon was destroyed by the U.S. Navy in 1882; here is where they first pulled up to shore.

News

Long-awaited U.S. Navy apology for 1882 bombardment will bring healing to Angoon

“How many times has our government apologized to any American Native group?”