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The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 23, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending March 1

Three decades of capital city coverage.

(Photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)

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Alaska property crimes decline over long term, but violent crime rates remains ‘exceptionally’ high

National crime data for 2023 shows Alaska’s overall violent crime rate was more than 540% the national rate.

Officials prepare to move Ashley Rae Johnston from the street where she was fatally shot by police on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2025, near the Mendenhall Valley Breeze In. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Investigation: Fatal shooting of woman with hatchet by JPD officer on Christmas Day justified

Ashley Rae Johnston threatened customers outside store and then police, state report finds.

Kake freshman Aurora Davis and sophomore Eden Hallingstad and Angoon junior Lisa Kookesh-Booth go for a loose ball during the Lady Thunderbirds 54-12 win over the Eagles on Wednesday during the 2025 Alaska Airlines Region V 1A Girls Basketball Tournament at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Region 1A tournament starts with a slam

Skagway dunks Thorne Bay, Kake presses Angoon

Skagway radio announcer Mason Jennings, 13, and his father Nathan Jennings calling action at the Region V 1A tournament on Wednesday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

The voice of Lynn Canal giving listeners hoops

Skagway 13-year-old Mason Jennings calling Region V 1A basketball tournament action.

Hydaburg junior Tyrone Carlson (1) shoots over an Angoon defender in the Warriors 48-45 win over the Eagles during the 2025 Alaska Airlines Region V 1A Boys Basketball Tournament at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Hard challenges finish Wednesday regional tournament play

Hydaburg boys nip Angoon, Hoonah girls topple Hydaburg.

Daniel Nichols, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, presents results from the organization’s Infrastructure Report Card for Alaska during a presentation Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska improves slightly to a C on Infrastructure Report Card, state ferries still at bottom with a D

Authors say Biden-era funding bills a key reason for improvement, ponder impact of Trump’s cuts.

The Alaska Senate Finance Committee chambers are seen on April 22, 2022. (Photo by Rashah McChesney)

News

With bipartisan support, Alaska Senate panel again proposes new ‘75/25’ PFD formula

Proposal directing money mostly to state spending would mean about $1,420 per recipient this year.

Huna Totem Corp. team members meet with the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly in a work session on the company’s proposed Aak’w Landing project on Feb. 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

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Assembly takes step forward on Aak’w Landing tideland lease by 5-4 vote

Brainstormed amendments include additional data on traffic and navigation.

Juneau Assembly members and other visitors examine a meeting room in the Michael J. Burns Building formerly used by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Assembly OKs negotiations to relocate city offices to Burns building; concerns about cost linger

Building owners asking $12M for space assessed at $9.3M; city manager says alternatives are limited.

This file photo shows Klawock senior Lea Armour (23), eighth grader Jayla Edenshaw and senior Kaiya Marvin defending Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Bergen Erickson (12) during this season's Capital City Classic in the George Houston Gymnasium. The Region V 1A basketball championships begin Wednesday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Region V 1A basketball championships in Juneau

Small schools, big plays set to start Wednesday at TMMS.

U.S. House Speaker Speaker Mike Johnson put down revolts on a budget bill Tuesday among centrist Republicans who feared that the plan would require deep cuts to Medicaid and conservatives who wanted more reductions. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

News

U.S. House passes GOP budget teeing up enormous tax and spending cuts

Officials say cuts may result in 100,000 Alaskans losing Medicaid coverage, 70,000 losing SNAP benefits.

State Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) discuss budget, education and other issues during a press availability Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Two top Alaska GOP leaders on Trump: ‘It’s like Christmas every day’…‘if all you expect is coal in your stocking’

Gov. Dunleavy cheery about state’s prospects; some Republican legislators grim about lost jobs, funds.

Tourists walk along Juneau’s harbor on April 26, 2024, next to the docked Carnival Spirit, a ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Cruise ship visitation to Alaska has increased in recent years, and so have measured violations of wastewater standards. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

More cruise traffic in Alaska is followed by more wastewater violations, officials say

Violations roughly triple after elimination of ocean ranger program by Dunleavy in 2019.

The Craig Tribal Association visits the Tongass National Forest to harvest a cultural tree in April of 2024. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

News

Reviews range widely to Forest Service’s draft ‘biography’ of Tongass as part of management plan update

Comment period ends Monday for assessment of forest — but will plan’s direction change under Trump?

A state-run fish hatchery in Anchorage. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)

News

Dunleavy’s bill to legalize fish farms seen as flaky by many lawmakers, interest groups

Governor responds to widespread opposition with video emphasizing salmon not among species allowed.

Juneau Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen listens to a discussion during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. She was named the Municipal Clerk of the Year by the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks the previous week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau City Clerk Beth McEwen announces retirement after nearly 30 years with CBJ

Winner of statewide Municipal Employee of the Year in 2015 and Municipal Clerk of the Year in 2023.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski team at the 2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Nordic Ski State Championships at Fairbanks Birch Hill Recreation Area. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski team)

Sports

Lamb gives JDHS cross-country ski team historic finish at state tournament

Senior is first Crimson Bear to place during Nordic tournament; JDHS girls win Academic Award.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Addison Wilson (10) is defended by Monroe sophomore Leila Church as Monroe coach Travis Cortez gives directions during the Crimson Bears’ 40-33 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls fall to Monroe 40-33 on Saturday

Crimson Bears lose in physical contest to visiting Rams.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2) attempts a steal as Monroe senior Jett McCullough (4) dribbles behind his back during the Crimson Bears’ 71-55 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Crimson Bears battle, but are butted by Rams

JDHS falls to Monroe Catholic for the second night in a row