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Thunder Mountain High School boys’ basketball coach John Blasco and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé coach Robert Casperson talk following the final local game between the two schools on Feb. 24, due to a consolidation plan taking effect during the coming school year. Blasco said Monday he is stepping down with the intent of letting Casperson coach the consolidated team. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Sports

Juneau School District coaches and advisors being released due to consolidation, will have to reapply for jobs

Preference will be given to “successful incumbents” and certified staff, according to district letter.

The Alaska Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, Feb. 8, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

State seeks quick Alaska Supreme Court ruling in appeal to resolve correspondence education issues

Court asked to decide by June 30 whether to extend hold barring public spending on private schools.

Visitors on Sept. 4, 2021, stroll by the historic chapel and buildings used for classrooms and dormitories that remain standing at Pilgrim Hot Springs. The site was used as an orphanage for Bering Strait-area children who lost their parents to the 1918-19 influenza epidemic. Pilgrim Hot Springs is among the state’s 11 most endangered historic properties, according to an annual list released by Preservation Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Boats, a lighthouse, churches among sites named as Alaska’s most at-risk historic properties

Wolf Creek Boatworks near Hollis tops Preservation Alaska’s list of 11 sites facing threats.

Lisa Pearce (center), newly hired as the chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, discusses the district’s financial crisis in her role as an analyst during a work session Feb. 17 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Seated next to Pearce are Superintendent Frank Hauser (left) and school board member Britteny Cioni-Haywood. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Lisa Pearce, analyst who unveiled Juneau School District’s crisis, hired as new chief financial officer

Consultant for numerous districts in recent years begins new job when consolidation starts July 1.

Pastor Tari Stage-Harvey offers an invocation during the annual Blessing of the Fleet and Reading of Names at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Loved ones gather for reading of 264 names on Fishermen’s Memorial and the Blessing of the Fleet

Six names to be engraved this summer join tribute to others at sea and in fishing industry who…

Walter Soboleff Jr. leads a traditional Alaska Native dance during the beginning of the Juneau Maritime Festival at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

A strong show of seamanship at 14th annual Juneau Maritime Festival

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard get into tug-of-war after destroyer arrives during record-size gathering.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to two residential fires within 12 hours this week, including one Thursday morning that destroyed a house and adjacent travel trailer. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Update: Man arrested for arson after fire in travel trailer destroys adjacent Mendenhall Valley home

Juneau resident arrested at scene, also charged with felony assault following Thursday morning fire.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 1, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

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

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Glen McDaniel, Nick Villalobos and Zack Clark perform as the trio Simply Three, which is scheduled after a previous appearance in Juneau to return for a May 18 concert at Centennial Hall as part of this year’s Juneau Jazz and Classics festival. (Photo courtesy of Simply Three)

News

This year’s Juneau Jazz and Classics festival is stretching out

Festival that begins Saturday extended to two weeks and three Southeast communities.

Thunder Mountain High School seniors James Polasky, left, and Samuel Lockhart, right, signed letters of intent on Thursday in the TMHS commons to play college basketball. Polasky will attend St. Olaf in Minnesota and Lockhart will attend Edmonds College in Washington state. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Sports

Thunder Mountain’s Sam Lockhart and James Polasky sign letters of intent to play college basketball

All-state selection Lockhart to hoop at Edmonds, Polasky at St. Olaf.

Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, speaks during a session of the U.S. House on Wednesday. (U.S. Congress Screenshot)

News

Peltola declines to vote for Arctic drilling bill she previously supported, citing fish policy

GOP campaign group targeting Alaska’s Democratic congresswoman says vote will be a campaign issue.

(Getty images)

News

In final judgment, judge blocks Alaska correspondence provisions, keeps current rules through June

Legislature working on fixes, but Dunleavy suggests he will veto bills before Supreme Court rules.

Hundreds of people gather near the stage during last year’s Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza. The event featured multiple musical performances by local bands and singers. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Annual Maritime Festival to get a military salute with arrival of US Navy missile destroyer

A record 90+ vendors, music, search and rescue demonstration, harbor cruises among Saturday’s events.

Reps. Jesse Sumner, R-Wasilla, and Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, talk to Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, during a break in the Alaska House of Representatives floor session on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Entering their final two regular weeks, Alaska legislators are narrowing their focus

Dozens of firefighters protested outside the Alaska Capitol last week, waving signs and chanting as they urged the…

X’unei Lance Twitchell teaches an advanced Tlingít course at University of Alaska Southeast on Monday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska Native languages at crucial juncture, biennial report says

Call to action urges systemic reforms to the state’s support and integration of Native languages.

About 20 youths dance in Ravenstail robes during a ceremony at Centennial Hall on Tuesday evening featuring the history of the ceremonial regalia. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Weavers, dancers and teachers celebrate revival of a traditional crafting of robes from the fringes

“You have just witnessed the largest gathering of Ravenstail regalia in history.”

From left to right, Sens. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage; Bert Stedman, R-Sitka; and David Wilson, R-Wasilla, discuss a proposed budget amendment on Wednesday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska Senate passes draft budget, confirming $175 million in bonus public-school funding

Gov. Mike Dunleavy told reporters that he’s ‘open to the increase’ proposed by lawmakers.

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 Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

News

Gov. Dunleavy says homeschool changes must wait until appeal ruling as lawmakers eye fixes

“Something of this magnitude warrants a special session,” Dunleavy says.

Mt. Edgecumbe High School coach Archie Young talks to an official during the Braves 63-61 loss to Nome in the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A Boys Basketball State Championship game at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)

Sports

Archie Young: A final road trip as Mt. Edgecumbe basketball coach and teacher retires after 25 years

Long-ago star high school player became an extended family member to a generation of students.

Juneau residents calling for a ceasefire in Gaza put on t-shirts with slogans declaring their cause before testifying on a resolution calling for “a bilateral peace agreement in Israel and Palestine” considered by the Juneau Assembly on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau Assembly fails by 2-5 vote to pass resolution seeking ‘bilateral peace’ between Israel and Palestine

Members question if declaration is appropriate at local level, angering residents favoring ceasefire