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Protesters rally against the Trump administration’s deportation polices in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

‘Just give us a chance’: One Juneau refugee family puts faith in God, another flees as departure orders arrive

Both families arrived legally; validity of demands by Trump administration to depart being challenged

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Kenzie Simonson (7) scores under pressure from West Valley juniors Evyn Bowen (11), Anna Baysinger (4) and Lola Seitz (7) during the Crimson Bears’ 5-2 loss to the Wolfpack on Friday at Adair Kennedy Park. The teams play again at 10 a.m. Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).

Sports

Crimson Bears girls soccer falls to Wolfpack

Juneau-Douglas on low end of 5-2 match at Adair Kennedy Park

JDHS junior Jesper Bennetsen (8) clears a ball past West Valley senior Diego Guevara (11) as JDHS freshman Bryce Haygood (15) and senior Kellen Chester react during the Crimson Bears’ 1-0 win over the Wolfpack on Friday at Adair Kennedy Park. The teams play again at noon Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).

Sports

Crimson Bears battle conference rival Wolfpack on home pitch

Juneau-Douglas boys win 1-0 soccer showcase at Adair Kennedy Park

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Tatum Billings attempts a bunt against West Valley during the Crimson Bears’ 9-4 win over the Wolfpack on Friday at Adair Kennedy Park. The teams play again at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).

Sports

Crimson Bears win softball clash against Wolfpack

JDHS tops West Valley 9-4 at Adair Kennedy Park

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club members, left-to-right, Jaxin Jim (JDHS sophomore), Caleb Aube (JDHS freshman), Colton Cummins (JDHS senior) and Hayden Aube (JDHS senior) pose with their All-American Status diplomas and medals last week at the Adidas National Wrestling Tournament in Independence, Missouri. (Photo courtesy Loren Cummins)

Sports

JYWC sends seven grapplers to Adidas National tournament

Colton Cummins, Hayden and Caleb Aube, Jaxin Jim earn All-American Status.

A polar bear is spotted on a multiyear ice floe in the Beaufort Sea on Aug. 13, 2023. The Trump administration is planning to designate a new “High Arctic” region off Alaska for offshore oil and gas leasing. (Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Bice/U.S. Coast Guard)

News

Trump administration plans offshore oil leasing in Alaska’s ‘High Arctic’

Multiyear program will include a reconfigured Arctic area where future lease sales will be held.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other state of Alaska officials pose for a photo with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, and other government officials during Dunleavy’s trip to Taiwan last month. (Taiwan Office of the President photo)

News

Alaska’s governor flew to Taiwan to sell LNG. China’s not happy.

China says Dunleavy’s trip “sends a very wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”

The Norwegian Bliss docks downtown on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau’s leaders to discuss city’s long-term future, cruise industry in series of public meetings

Four sessions on CBJ’s 20-year plan on Tuesday and Wednesday; Assembly and cruise leaders meet Thursday.

Tina Martin, left and her daughter, Isabelle, 17, clean trash from a stream along Back Loop Road on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Carcasses, recliners and butts all part of a bustling annual Juneau spring cleaning

Cleanups throughout town include newcomers and those participating for decades.

Aleijah Fulmer, 6, deposits the plastic shells of eggs in a basket after removing the candy inside during the Molly of Denali EGG-Stravaganza at the University of Alaska Southeast on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

UAS celebrates ‘Molly of Denali’ Emmy win with watch party and Easter egg hunt

Award for Native language instructor who wrote episode gives university a reason to resurrect egg event.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s keeper and defense blocks the shot by Ketchikan’s Mary Jane Jasper during the Crimson Bears junior varsity team’s 8-0 loss to the Ketchikan varsity at Esther Shea Field on Thursday. (Photo by Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)

Sports

Crimson Bears soccer girls send JV to Ketchikan

JDHS team helps Kayhi with important competitions

Josh Chevalier, chief engineer of the MV Columbia, shows legislators the engine control room, and explains the control and monitoring systems on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

‘Out of sight, out of mind’: Engineers are the ones who keep state ferries moving

Challenges of workforce recruitment and retention persist in globally competitive maritime industry.

Dancers exit the main conference room at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall as part of the opening ceremonies for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s 90th Tribal Assembly on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Tlingit and Haida votes to give smaller Southeast communities more representation at tribal assembly

Change during constitutional convention significantly shrinks delegations in Anchorage and Seattle.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich (11) celebrates her home run with teammates during the Crimson Bears’ 8-4 win over the Colony Knights on Wednesday at Adair Kennedy Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS softball splits with conference foe Colony

Season of first begins at home on new field in new conference

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Dunleavy’s veto of education funding bill puts pressure on lawmakers during final month of session

Governor also previews new bill with $560 BSA increase, plus additional funds for policy initiatives.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on April 13, 1995. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending April 19

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and co-chair of the House Finance Committee, in charge of the operating budget, listens to debate Monday, April 14, 2025, on the operating budget. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska House votes down symbolic antiabortion budget language, passes amendment against trans care

Debate continues this week on draft state operating budget authored by the House of Representatives.

People and one of their pets depart the city’s cold-weather emergency shelter in Thane on Wednesday morning, the last day it is scheduled to be open until October. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Homeless unsure about their plans, JPD more certain about theirs as warming shelter closes until fall

Police will issue 48-hour vacate notices at campsites in public areas deemed problematic, chief says.

Gerald Thill, 7, inspects a weathered can before placing it in a litter bag during the annual citywide cleanup in 2023. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Community invited to come together to create a cleaner Juneau

Annual litter-free pickups from separate organizations take place Saturday in celebration of Earth Day.

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, talks to fellow legislators during a break in budget debates Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska House approves draft budget with large deficit and estimated $1,400 dividend

Under-construction state operating budget now goes to Senate, which is expected to make further cuts.