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Tribal elder lder Ilskyaalas Delores Churchill picks up black cod during a traditional foods distribution by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska in Hydaburg earlier this year. (CCTHITA photo)

News

Tlingit and Haida halts traditional foods distribution due to cancellation of federal funding

Providing of salmon, other foods to communities among multiple tribal cuts by Trump administration.

The chairs of the Senate Finance Committee huddle for a discussion after introducing their draft operating budget, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska Senate committee drops proposed 2025 PFD to $1,000 per recipient, an inflation-adjusted low

Amid a severe state budget deficit, the Alaska Senate Finance Committee is proposing the lowest Permanent Fund dividend…

Glacier Swim Club’s Valerie Peimann and Emma Fellman tied for first place for the 15-19 girls high-point award at the Alaska Swimming State Championships last weekend in Anchorage. At right is third-placer Lelaina Trembath of Chugiak Aquatics Club (Photo courtesy GSC).

Sports

GSC places second in Alaska Swimming State Championships

Glacier Swim Club wins honors as seniors swim final meet.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 1, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending May 3

Three decades of capital city coverage.

A dropoff box for ballots at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library during Juneau’s 2024 municipal election. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Petitions for mill rate cap, sales tax exemptions and in-person elections certified for signatures

Supporters have until May 30 to get 2,720 signatures to put measures on local fall ballot.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Shower (R-Wasilla), right, explains why he is changing his vote on a compromise education bill during Wednesday’s floor session at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Compromise education bill passes Legislature by veto-proof margin despite Dunleavy administration threats

Education commissioner tells school districts to support governor’s policy goals or risk losing funds.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears first baseman Taylor Williams puts out Sitka Wolves runner Vada West during softball action Wednesday at Moller Field in Sitka. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Sports

Crimson Bears devour Wolves 18-9, get nipped 10-9

Nizich home run highlights JDHS “rap sheet” in two game series.

The JACK Quartet, a modern experimental string ensemble, is scheduled to perform the world premier of a composition by John Luther Adams on May 14 at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse as part of Juneau Jazz and Classics’ 38th annual Spring Festival. (Photo courtesy of the JACK Quartet)

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Pulitzer and Grammy winners put spring into Juneau Jazz and Classics starting Saturday

Husband-wife folk team arrives straight from Carnegie; experimental quartet to perform world premiere.

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center as seen on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Laurie Craig)

News

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center: Preserving the past, greeting the future

Generations of architects and naturalists have navigated through mass evolution of visitors and ice.

Bottles of wine are displayed on June 29, 2022, at an Anchorage liquor store. Alaska is the first U.S. state to require that businesses post signs warning that alcohol consumption raises cancer risks. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska becomes first state to require warnings about alcohol link to colon, breast cancers

Correction: The headline and article have been corrected to reflect the fact that Alaska is the first state…

Glacier Swim Club senior Lucia Chapell (Colorado College signee), coach Lisa Jones, senior Pacific Ricke (Bates College signee), Coach of the Year Scott Griffith, Female Athlete of the Year Emma Fellman (University of Minnesota signee) and coach Seth Cayce are shown Friday at the 2025 Alaska State Swimming Championships in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy GSC)

Sports

Emma Fellman named Alaska Female Athlete of the Year

Glacier Swim Club captain and JDHS senior honored.

Sunlight gleams through the Tongass National Forest in Juneau on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Threads of the Tongass: Opinions split on whether there is a market for mass logging in Southeast

Some support revival of timber industry and jobs; others seek preservation of culture and ecosystem.

Geoff Kirsch and students from Sayéik Gastineau Community School sing during a rally for early education funding at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Spend more for programs or PFDs? Legislators say reality may mean less money for both.

As protesters plea for reverse to program cuts, Senate budget leader says PFD may shrink to $1,000.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich is celebrated at home plate after hitting a home run against visiting Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 16-1 win over the Malemutes on Saturday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS’ sweeps Lathrop Saturday at Melvin Park

Crimson Bears securing conference standings over Malemutes

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Riley Fick delivers a pitch against Sitka during the Crimson Bears 4-1 loss to the Wolves on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS in two battles Saturday with Sitka

Crimson Bears fall to Wolves in pair of pitching duels.

Juneau Assembly members and other city leaders get an overview of the proposed municipal budget for the coming fiscal year during meeting at City Hall on April 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

How city leaders collect and spend money from residents, visitors getting big night of scrutiny

CBJ and school budgets, mill rate and utility fee hikes, seasonal sales tax part of Wednesday’s agenda.

Electronic cigarette products are advertised on April 24, 2025, in the windows of a smoke shop in downtown Juneau. Alaska has no state tax on e-cigarette products, but bills pending in the Legislature seek to change that. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Tobacco use in Alaska continues to decline, though rates still above US averages

Smoking has steadily declined in Alaska over the past decades, evidence that coordinated health campaigns mounted over several…

State Sen. Löki Tobin (D-Anchorage) reviews an amendment on an education bill with other senators during a break in floor debate Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Effort to rush compromise education bill through Legislature hits snag due to ‘drafting error’

Bill returned to Senate, which passed it 19-1, to fix error in amendment; House vote expected by Wednesday

Works by artist Alec Dye will be featured at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center’s gallery as part of First Friday in May. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

News

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in May

A museum’s interactive exhibition featuring the works of a range of local performing artists, classical music performances at…

Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau honors namesakes at new Adair Kennedy Memorial Park

More than 430 players on 37 GCLL teams revisit tragic day in history with a field of dreams.