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Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears cheer team celebrate after being announced as the Division I 2025 ASAA Cheer State champions Tuesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center.

Sports

JDHS cheer team wins state championship

Crimson Bears spirit finger dynasty snatches fifth title in a row.

A plane flies over the town after taking off from the dirt runway on Sept. 14, 2019, in Kivalina. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

News

Possible Postal Service changes present challenge to Alaska Bypass Mail

Rural communities depend on service for food shipments.

John Boyle, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (center left), sits with staff in the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives as lawmakers debate the creation of a separate Alaska Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Speaking is Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska Legislature halts Dunleavy effort to create agriculture department

Legislators cancel executive order but say a bill to create the department is possible later this year.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich scores form past the arc over Bartlett senior Kaylee Lealaisalanoa (15) during the Crimson Bears’ 49-44 win over the Golden Bears on Wednesday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls defeat pesky Bartlett 49-44 to open state tourney

Crimson Bears defeat higher-seed Golden Bears in full-court action.

Ketchikan junior Jozaiah Dela Cruz (11) hits a three-point shot over Dimond sophomore Tavarius Wrice (14) during the Kings’ 52-48 first-round win over the Lynx on Wednesday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Ketchikan opens state with win

Kings survive tough first-round opponent Dimond.

The Columbia state ferry docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on March 4. (Laurie Craig / For the Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska Marine Highway’s long-range plan met with skepticism and concerns

Residents decry loss of service, Murkowski says “once-in-a-generation” funding opportunity in peril.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 16, 1995. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending March 22

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The Juneau Social Security Administration field office is seen in the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Update: Social Security to cut phone support, forces Alaskans online or to Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks

New policy announced Tuesday takes effect March 31; 60,000 rural Alaskans lack broadband.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka drives against Wasilla senior Mylee Anderson during a Feb. 7, 2025, game at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Southeast teams prepare for the state basketball tournament

Juneau-Douglas, Ketchikan, Mt. Edgecumbe and Sitka have hearty tasks

The Juneau Capitals 12U Minor Tier I hockey team pose after play in the Alaska State 2025 12U Minors hockey tournament in Fairbanks February 28-March 2. (Photo courtesy JDIA Capitals)

Sports

JDIA youth hockey team skates in Fairbanks

Capitals 12-and-under moves up a class in tournament.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new downtown development project. (City and Borough of Juneau)

News

Aak’w Landing private cruise ship dock advances to full Assembly for possible April vote

Modifications to proposed agreement include ship size limit, Coast Guard’s OK due to icebreaker.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Alaska) chats with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) before her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on March 18, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

News

Murkowski embraces many of Trump’s goals, but questions his methods

Senator addresses flood concerns, federal firings, Medicaid worries in annual speech to Legislature.

A 2.9-acre plot of land donated to Huna Totem Corp. by Norwegian Cruise Line is the site for the proposed Aak’w Landing private cruise ship dock. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Amendments to Huna Totem’s proposed private cruise dock to be taken up Monday night by the Assembly

A dozen proposals seek limits on ship size, fines for violations, setting various operational goals.

A storage shed on Meadow Lane catches fire Monday morning. (Photo by Chelsea Stonex)

News

Storage shed fire spreads to two vehicles, causing explosion, but no injuries reported

Two homes on Meadow Lane suffer broken windows and other damage, according to CCFR.

An aerial view of downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Local federal workers get mixed messages about returning to jobs after firings rescinded

DOT worker says he’s supposed to resume work Thursday; Forest Service worker says status still unclear.

Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, speaks Feb. 21, 2025, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska legislators ask feds to reinstate program that sent money to rural schools

The Alaska House of Representatives is asking Congress to fix a problem with a program that pays money…

Metlakatla senior Brody Booth (12) scores over Seward’s Lane Petersen and Jack Lindquisst (1) during their 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Metlakatla Chiefs fall in third-place game at state 2A basketball tournament

Girls from Metlakatla also come up short in 4th/6th-place game.

Kake’s Aiden Clark (25) puts up a shot against Tri-Valley’s Kole Lucas (33), Reid Williams (2) and Henry Miner (34) during their 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Kake boys fourth at state, Clark and Jackson tally double-doubles

Skagway Panthers win consolation final for seventh place over Nunamiut.

Wrangell senior Lucas Schneider (15) fights for a loose ball with Susitna Valley’s Earl Davidson during the Wolves 53-50 loss to the Rams in the 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Wolves battle Rams in 2A state tournament’s final day

Wrangell falls to Susitna Valley in 4th/6th-place game.

‘Wáats’asdiyei Joe Yates, Raye Lankford, X̱’unei Lance Twitchell and Rochelle Adams pose with the Children’s and Family Emmy Award award Lankford and Twitchell won for co-writing the an episode of the PBS animated children’s show “Molly of Denali.” (Photo courtesy of ‘Wáats’asdiyei Joe Yates)

News

‘Molly of Denali’ episode wins best writing honor at 2025 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards

First Emmy win for animated PBS show goes to episode co-writers X̱’unei Lance Twitchell and Raye Lankford.