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Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a meeting of the House State Affairs committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Kenai area lawmakers set sights on financial fixes

KENAI — The central Kenai Peninsula’s representatives in the Alaska House of Representatives have their eyes on state…

State representatives Alyse Galvin, I-Anchorage, left, Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, and Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, study proposed amendments to next year’s state budget during a House Finance Committee meeting Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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All in a day’s budget debate — voting, sex and taxes

Even the smallest pieces of House committee’s markup show signs of huge policy battles to come

State Sen. Bert Stedman, center, co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, presides over a committee hearing Thursday. The committee on Monday approved an $8.4 million fast-track supplemental budget to address staff shortages in processing food stamps, public defenders and legal advocates for vulnerable residents. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

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Bill with funds to address food stamps backlog goes to governor

Legislature gives near-unanimous approval to hiring extra staff to fix months-long backlog

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Bethany Marcum, executive director of the Alaska Policy Forum, responds to questions from the Senate Education Committee on Friday about her nomination to the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. Her organization’s conservative policies, including backing a budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that proposed a 40% cut to the university system, made her the most controversial of the governor’s four nominees to the board.

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Lawmakers question university board nominee who supported UA budget cut

Bethany Marcum, head of conservative think tank, hears from scathing doubters and glowing supporters

Alaska State Troopers logo.

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State Trooper convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a minor

KENAI — Vance Peronto, formerly an Alaska State Trooper based in Soldotna, was convicted Friday of one count…

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire

Sports

PHOTOS: An enormous roundup from the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament is made possible…

Ted Burke and wife Jan pose for a photo at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament on Saturday. Burke was the recipient of the Dr. Walter Soboleff Award. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

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Ted Burke receives Dr. Walter Soboleff Award at Gold Medal Tournament

“I was definitely surprised,” Burke said. “I didn’t even think there was going to be one this year.”

Klukwan’s Daniel Stickler (0) defends a shot by Hoonah’s Lucas Johnson (21) during Friday’s C Bracket elimination game. Klukwan won 78-65 and will play Juneau Filcom in Saturday’s championship. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

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Klukwan advances to title game, eliminates Hoonah 78-65

Two team members elected to HOF before physical C Bracket court play.

Hoonah’s Kamal Lindoff (34) knocks down a layup on Friday against Klukwan in the M bracket Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at JDHS. Lindoff finished the game with 12 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Hoonah advances past Klukwan for M Bracket championship game

Juneau vs. Hoonah at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Jesse McGraw, Matt Carle and Andrew Friske pose for a photo after their induction into the Gold Medal Hall of Fame, Friday, March 24, during the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

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Friske, McGraw and Carle Inducted into Gold Medal Hall of Fame

Two teammates and one opponent share selection night together

President Joe Biden speaks during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 23, 2023, celebrating the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Recent moves by President Joe Biden to pressure TikTok over its Chinese ownership and approve oil drilling in an untapped area of Alaska are testing the loyalty of young voters, a group that’s been largely in his corner. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

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Biden’s moves on Willow, TikTok test young voters

A potential TikTok ban and the Alaska drilling could weigh down reelection bid.

POW’s Gold Medal Champions: Lillian Borromeo, Molly Sharp, Michaela Demmert, Nani Weimer, Tina Steffen, Elizabeth Isaacs, Kenai Holein and Cassie Williams. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Sports

Prince of Wales defeats Yakutat for women’s title at Gold Medal

Prince of Wales claims town’s sixth championship with 79-38 win.

C Bracket champions Filcom pose with their trophy. (left to right) Charlie Herrington, Alex Heumann, Tom Gizler, Adam Brown, Mike Lim, Andrew Malacas, Nino Bohulano, Ray Zimmer, Larry Cooper, Ronin Tagsip and Jason Haskell at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

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Juneau’s Filcom wins Gold Medal C Bracket Championship

Filcom caps undefeated tournament run with 73-49 win over Klukwan

Juneau’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament B Bracket team poses for a group photo after winning the B bracket championship game in this year’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament Saturday night at JDHS. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau rides second half surge to Gold Medal B Bracket title

Saturday night win over Hydaburg concluded the 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament.

Courtesy Photo / Robert Casperson JDHS senior boys with coach Robert Casperson, left to right, Nelson Bodhi, Kai Hargrave, Caden Masdeg, Orion Dybdahl and Joseph Aline, pose for a photo at the ASAA state competition in Anchorage on Saturday before the championship game against Dimond High School. The Crimson Bears would take sixth place overall.

Sports

JDHS boys fall to Dimond at state

Crimson Bears take 6th place in ASAA tournament.

The 2022-2023 JDHS Crimson Bears pose for a photo at ASAA state competition in Anchorage on Saturday before competing against TMHS in the championship game. JDHS finished in fourth place and TMHS went home in sixth. (Courtesy Photo / Tanya Nizich)

Sports

JDHS beats TMHS at state for one last showdown

Crimson Bears took fourth place and Falcons took sixth.

Hoonah’s Masters Bracket team poses for a group photo on Saturday after being crowned this year’s champs for the M bracket in the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at JDHS. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Hoonah crowned Gold Medal Masters Bracket champs

Hoonah’s Albert Hinchman named MVP.

Expert skateboarder Di’Orr Greenwood, an artist born and raised in the Navajo Nation in Arizona and whose work is featured on the new U.S. stamps, rides her skateboard next to her artworks in the Venice Beach neighborhood in Los Angeles Monday, March 20, 2023. On Friday, March 24, the U.S. Postal Service is debuting the “Art of the Skateboard,” four stamps that will be the first to pay tribute to skateboarding. The stamps underscore how prevalent skateboarding has become, especially in Indian Country, where the demand for designated skate spots has only grown in recent years. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Indigenous artists help skateboarding earn stamp of approval

Years ago, skateboarding was branded as a hobby for rebels or stoners in city streets, schoolyards and back…

JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl begins ascending for a dunk with Kayhi’s Jared Rhoads (15) and Marcus Stockhausen (34) in pursuit. Orion was named Player of the Game and led his team in scoring on Friday against Colony High School in this year’s state competition in Anchorage. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Sports

JDHS boys keep season alive with win against Colony

Crimson Bears play for fourth place Saturday.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File TMHS Kerra Baxter fights for the rebound against JDHS during Region V tournament play. The Lady Falcons won their game on Friday against Dimond in Anchorage as part of this year’s ASAA competition. TMHS will now face off against JDHS on Saturday.

Sports

Big day in Anchorage for Juneau high school basketball

JDHS vs. TMHS at state on Saturday.