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Janice Mason and Ian Graeme are once again on the starting line of one of North America’s most unusual and demanding adventure races as Race to Alaska launches June 17 in Victoria. (Courtesy Team Oaracle)

Sports

Crews ride the waves and battle the elements in epic Race to Alaska

Northbound Nutters make 750-mile trip from Victoria to Ketchikan in 5 days, 8 hours, 4 minutes

TJ Young’s 360-degree totem pole in front of Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau, Alaska. (Courtesy of the Sealaska Heritage Institute/photo by Brendan Sainsbury)

News

Alaska Native communites condemn social media trend ‘mocking’ totem poles

Native communites say cultural symbols are not tourist attractions created for public amusement

Responders examine a dead fin whale that had been found on the bow of a cruise ship that docked in Seward on June 19, 2026. The whale was towed to a nearby beach, where a necropsy was planned. The response has been coordinated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Alaska SeaLife Center. Royal Caribbean said in a statement that one of its ships struck the whale, a female that appeared to be pregnant. (Photo provided by NOAA Fisheries)

News

Dead fin whale carried into Alaska port on cruise ship bow, investigation underway

The case underscores the need for ship speed limits, an environmental activist says

The body of Dion McCabe was discovered June 19 off Sherwood Lane. (Courtesy of Juneau Police Department)

News

Body of missing man discovered in Juneau

Police investigating the circumstances surrounding Dion McCabe’s death

Capital City Fire Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire across from Sherwood Lane and Pavitts last week. (Capital City Fire Rescue)

News

Capital City Fire Rescue tackle blaze at abandoned structure

The structure was a complete loss and no injuries were reported

This eight-plex apartment complex in Juneau, seen Thursday, June 18, 2026, will be purchased by the Juneau Community Foundation and donated to the Alaska Legislature under a plan approved by lawmakers. (Claire Stremple photo/Alaska Beacon)

News

Nonprofit foundation gifts Alaska Legislature 16 apartments in Juneau

The new acquisition follows the Legislature’s acceptance of the Assembly Building by donation in 2022

A boat navigates a kelp farm in Jakolof Bay, Alaska. The farm, one of several in the region, was not part of the recent study on carbon-dioxide emissions. (Amanda Kelley photo)

News

Alaska study sees mixed results on links between kelp farms and CO2 levels

University of Alaska Fairbank study finds Alaska kelp farms have varied effects on marine CO2 levels

The Juneau Garden Club recently installed a large raised garden planter at the Pioneer Home. (Courtesy of Juneau Garden Club)

News

LETTER: Juneau Garden Club appreciates support for planter project

The Juneau Garden Club recently installed a large raised garden planter at the Pioneer Home. This makes a…

Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon Tourists walk to and from a viewpoint at the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center on May 14, 2025. Proposed changes would raise the day-use fee at the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center from $5 to $15 per person.

News

Juneau meeting to discuss fee increases for Tongass National Forest

June 24 meeting topics include fees for False Bay Cabin, Mendenhall Glacier and Ketchikan center

City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)

News

Juneau to review petition proposing rise in property tax mill rate cap

The petition proposes a charter amendment to raise Juneau’s property tax cap from nine mills to 12

Capital City Fire Rescue welcomed six new members at a June 14 ceremony. Juneau’s newest firefighters are Kajson Cunningham, Brendan Jackson, Sarah Kuhlen, Ian Mullett, Justus Paden and Lillian Thorington. (Courtesy of Capital City Fire Rescue)

Neighbors

Capital City Fire Rescue welcomes six new members

Six members of the Apprentice Firefighter Program transitioned from apprentices to firefighters

Visitors walk along the downtown cruise ship dock on May 14, 2025, the same day CBP officers discovered a passenger with stolen ID. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Man who used stolen ID on cruise to Juneau sentenced to 4 years

Enrico Ronquillo used another person’s credit card information to obtain money at the ship’s casino

An aerial view of Ketchikan, Alaska, Aug. 17, 2024. Heath Didier, 49, of Portland, Ore., who went missing during a hike in southeast Alaska over the weekend, was found dead after an apparent fall from a cliff in Ketchikan, June 15, 2026, authorities said. (Ash Adams/The New York Times File)

News

Lost Oregon hiker fell to death from cliff on Alaska trail, troopers say

An Oregon man who got lost during a hike in southeast Alaska over the weekend died after he…

A school bus drives by the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 21, 2026. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska districts close 12 schools this year, amid severe budget cuts

Officials point to declining enrollment and say state funding has not kept pace with skyrocketing costs

Capital City Fire Rescue was deployed to Mount Roberts Trail on June 12 to assist with the rescue of an 18-year-old hiker who suffered a significant lower leg injury while hiking. (Capital City Fire Rescue)

News

Injured hiker on Mount Roberts rescued by Capital City Fire Rescue

The 18-year-old hiker suffered a significant lower leg injury after hearing a ‘snap’ while hiking

Runners, many dressed in unconventional attire, take off from the starting line outside Centennial Hall during the 2024 Only Fools Run At Night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Costumed runners take to Juneau streets Saturday night

Only Fools Run at Night 5K and one-mile run begins at 9 p.m. Saturday from Centennial Hall

Capital City Fire Rescue’s special operations water team was deployed earlier this week for a rescue mission on the Mendenhall River after 10 individuals ended up stranded on a raft just north of Brotherhood Bridge. (CCFR)

News

Capital City Fire Rescue comes to aid of stranded rafters on Mendenhall River

10 people were stranded on a raft just north of Brotherhood Bridge

William Steadman, 35, was sentenced to 40 years June 16 for sexually abusing a young boy to produce child sexual abuse materials (Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice)

News

Juneau man sentenced to 40 years for recording sexual abuse of 10-year-old

William Steadman produced 43 images and 63 videos depicting abuse of boy, posting some to the dark web

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo Youths compete in a choker setter race during Juneau Gold Rush Days at Savikko Park.

News

34th annual Juneau Gold Rush Days set for this weekend

The event will celebrate the past, present, and future of Alaska’s mining and logging industries

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Ketchican rescue crews recover body of missing hiker

49-year-old Portland man went missing near Deer Mountain Trail Sunday night