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Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertson during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday.

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Delay of Kroger-Albertson merger cause for more pressure by opponents, Peltola says

Parent companies of Fred Meyer and Safeway now looking at August instead of March to sign the deal.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser (left) and members of the Juneau Board of Education discuss the district’s financial crisis during a public meeting Thursday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Screenshot from Juneau School District livestream)

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School district’s former financial officer increasingly blamed for deficit as angry parents ask who’s responsible

“We were appallingly poorly informed about our budget projections,” school board president says.

Thunder Mountain High School’s James Polasky scored 17 points against the Chugiak Mustangs during Wednesday night’s road game. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Sports

Falcons boys fly past Mustangs

Thunder Mountain topples Chugiak 70-54 on start of northern road trip

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 18, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Jan. 21

Three decades of capital city coverage.

A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Legislature fails by 33-26 vote to override governor’s veto to education funding

House speaker says joint session was procedural move to address constitutional process question.

The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

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Alaska board of education lowers standard for student test scores, citing nationally high bar

State standards still among top third in nation, commissioner says.

Thunder Mountain senior Jaya Carandang (3) scores past South Anchorage defenders Reese Gebauer (11) and Isa Costadasily (32) during the Falcons 73-37 win over the Wolverines on Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Sports

Undefeated Falcons girls too fast for South Anchorage Wolverines in home opener

A well-tuned machine is only as good as its parts and Thunder Mountain High School sophomore guard Cambry…

Members of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 protest on Feb. 10, 2023, in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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U.S. Supreme Court decision kills controversial Alaska union dues plan for now

2019 plan by Dunleavy required employees to regularly reaffirm their membership

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

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School board OKs hiring freeze, other cuts due to $9.5M deficit; school consolidation proposed

Loan options, closing district during summer among other ideas discussed at special meeting

Juneau’s HoopRats won the Girls Youth Championship at the 17th Annual Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament on Saturday at MEHS’ BJ McGillis Fieldhouse. (Photo Courtesy MEHS)

Sports

Juneau women, Haines men topple Anchorage teams for adult basketball titles

32 teams participate in 17th Annual Mt Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Acting Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Cathy Muñoz is seen in an undated headshot photo provided by the department. (Contributed photo)

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Interim labor commissioner Muñoz is Dunleavy’s pick for permanent job

Former Juneau lawmaker must be confirmed for the position by the Legislature.

House Minority Leader Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks during a news conference Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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Measure limiting Alaska campaign cash fails to get enough signatures for 2024 vote

Backers of a new ballot measure proposing limits on donations to political candidates failed to make the cutoff…

Juneau Ski Club U16 racer Eva Meyer competes in a slalom run during the Coca-Cola Classic Sunday at Girdwood. (Photo courtesy Bob Eastaugh)

Sports

Meyer, Satre lead Juneau Ski Club down Girdwood course

First competition of the ski season gives JSC firm footing for national qualifications

Members of the House Rules Committee hear testimony from staff for Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, about Senate Bill 140 on Wednesday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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Alaska education reform bill appears on fast track after lawmakers see rewrite

House majority version includes a smaller funding boost than advocates requested

Julia Keefe, left, guides her Indigenous Big Band through a performance at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to open last spring’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Juneau Jazz and Classics adding a winter jazz festival, canceling annual fall event

New three-day Juneau Jazz Fest in February will feature music, workshops from dormant Sitka fest.

A caribou from the Central Arctic herd crosses a road within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska in the summer of 2019, during the mosquito harassment period. (Photo by John Severson/U.S. Geological Survey)

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Oil field road traffic disrupts North Slope caribou more than previously recognized

New study raises questions about further development in the animals’ habitat

Jason Skidmore shovels snow along the sidewalk in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. Most legislators and staff were able to get to Juneau in time for the start of the session Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Storm leaves behind 29.3” of snow at airport, avalanche hazards, closed schools and state offices

First day of legislative session not affected by 15th biggest three-day storm ever in Juneau.

The Alaska State Capitol is illuminated by the sun on the morning of Jan. 9, 2023. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

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From abortion to zoning: Short summaries of every bill in the 33rd Alaska State Legislature

This list was last updated Jan. 16, 2024.

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gaveling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Legislature gavels in with House majority rejecting veto override session on education funding

Governor also issues a dozen executive orders, including replacing AMHS operations board.

The Peninsula Clarion printing press is photographed on Monday, April 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

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Black Press Media announces move to new ownership

Carpenter Media Group operates leading community news publications in the southern United States, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North…