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Juneau Assembly members hear a report from Eaglecrest Ski Area leaders during a Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Assembly taking on pretty much the entire town with 59-item agenda Monday night

Items include mutitude of projects, faster release of police bodycams, stopping Mendenhall Glacier from being sold.

 

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Nick Iverson wins the boys’ 800-meter run with a time of 1:55.27 during the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS track record falls at Ketchikan meet

Iverson speeds to 800 mark, Connally chases 100.

 

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior JJ McCormick is honored during the Crimson Bears baseball senior night against Ketchikan Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears baseball team sweeps Kayhi

JDHS underclassmen step up to honor seniors.

 

In this file photo from last week’s home win against Soldotna the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé back defense of Ryan Thibodeau (12), keeper Callen Walker, Elliott Welch (35), Bryce Haygood (15), Reed Maier (19) heading the ball, Erik Thompson (24) and Owen Rumsey defend the box in a win over the Stars. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Crimson Bears soccer teams battle through Fairbanks

JDHS boys win two more, girls fall in two close matches.

In this file photo from last week’s home win against Soldotna the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé back defense of Ryan Thibodeau (12), keeper Callen Walker, Elliott Welch (35), Bryce Haygood (15), Reed Maier (19) heading the ball, Erik Thompson (24) and Owen Rumsey defend the box in a win over the Stars. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Skylar Oliva pitches against Wasilla during the Crimson Bears’ 13-7 win over the Warriors on Saturday at Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Skylar Oliva pitches against Wasilla during the Crimson Bears’ 13-7 win over the Warriors on Saturday at Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)
The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Republican opposition kills bill intended to fix Alaska’s absentee voting problems

Senate Bill 64 passed the Senate this week, but the House doesn’t have enough time to address it, legislators said.

The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Fu Bao Hartle (center), a Juneau Special Olympics athlete, crosses a bridge with family and supporters during the annual Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

Community spirit shines at Juneau’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

Energy was high at race to fundraise to send Juneau’s athletes to Anchorage Summer Games.

Fu Bao Hartle (center), a Juneau Special Olympics athlete, crosses a bridge with family and supporters during the annual Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
Steve Whitney (left) is sworn in as a Juneau Board of Education member by Superior Court Judge Amy Mead in the library at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after five candidates were interviewed by the other board members to fill the seat vacated when Will Muldoon resigned last month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Steve Whitney returns to Juneau school board six years after departure to temporarily fill vacant seat

Fisheries manager and parent selected from among five candidates to serve until October’s election.

Steve Whitney (left) is sworn in as a Juneau Board of Education member by Superior Court Judge Amy Mead in the library at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after five candidates were interviewed by the other board members to fill the seat vacated when Will Muldoon resigned last month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen behind a curtain of blooming branches on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Most state services will see no new funding in final Alaska state budget draft

Flat funding, combined with inflation, will mean service cuts in many places across the state.

The Alaska State Capitol is seen behind a curtain of blooming branches on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A used gondola purchased from an Austrian ski resort is seen as the key to Eaglecrest Ski Area’s year-round operations and a secure financial future. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Board chair: Eaglecrest’s gondola pushing limits of 2028 completion deadline under Goldbelt agreement

Company can nix $10M deal if work not finished on project ski area calls vital to its financial future.

A used gondola purchased from an Austrian ski resort is seen as the key to Eaglecrest Ski Area’s year-round operations and a secure financial future. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Two spawning pink salmon head upstream in shallow water in Cove Creek in Whittier on Aug. 5, 2024. While last year’s pink salmon runs and harvests were weak, big increases are expected this year. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska officials forecast improvements for the state’s commercial salmon harvest

Total catch is projected to be twice the size of last year’s weak harvest.

Two spawning pink salmon head upstream in shallow water in Cove Creek in Whittier on Aug. 5, 2024. While last year’s pink salmon runs and harvests were weak, big increases are expected this year. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé's Ida Meyer runs in the girls' 3,200 meter, finishing third during the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)

Kestel, Leuahli win opening track events at Kayhi

First day of Ketchikan Invitational Track meet ends.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé's Ida Meyer runs in the girls' 3,200 meter, finishing third during the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Noah Lewis slides safely into home plate as Ketchikan pitcher Owen Mendoza attempts a tag during the Crimson Bears’ 17-7 win over the Kings on Friday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. The ball was jarred loose on the play. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears baseball team swats Kings

JDHS wins first game of three-game home stand.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Noah Lewis slides safely into home plate as Ketchikan pitcher Owen Mendoza attempts a tag during the Crimson Bears’ 17-7 win over the Kings on Friday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. The ball was jarred loose on the play. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau law enforcement officers stand in formation while Alaska Wildlife Trooper Sgt. Branden Forst reads the names of Southeast Alaska’s fallen officers on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fallen officers remembered in annual ceremony during National Police Week

Memorial recognizes their sacrifice and the highest officer assault rate in the past decade.

Juneau law enforcement officers stand in formation while Alaska Wildlife Trooper Sgt. Branden Forst reads the names of Southeast Alaska’s fallen officers on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors, from left, Jacob Katasse, Christian Nelson and JJ McCormick will be honored Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park after the Crimson Bears 4 p.m. game against Ketchikan and before their 7 p.m. game with the Kings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS baseball team to honor senior players Saturday

Crimson Bears seniors are Jacob Katasse, JJ McCormick and Christian Nelson

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors, from left, Jacob Katasse, Christian Nelson and JJ McCormick will be honored Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park after the Crimson Bears 4 p.m. game against Ketchikan and before their 7 p.m. game with the Kings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Adam Telle, nominee for assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, answers questions during a confirmation hearing this week. (Senate Armed Services Committee photo)

Trump’s nominee to head Army Corps of Engineers vows ‘expedited’ fix for Juneau’s glacial outburst floods

Adam Telle says “it’s going to require creativity,” without offering a specific timeline, at confirmation hearing.

Adam Telle, nominee for assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, answers questions during a confirmation hearing this week. (Senate Armed Services Committee photo)
Lupita Alvarez, a teacher at Montessori Borealis Children’s House, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Educators, the ‘backbone of our schools,’ are breaking

Teachers say district contract counteroffer with less pay sends the message they should leave.

Lupita Alvarez, a teacher at Montessori Borealis Children’s House, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
People visit an open house on the Juneau Douglas North Crossing on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Final public comments requested before next phase of Juneau Douglas North Crossing

After three years, the project advances to NEPA process.

People visit an open house on the Juneau Douglas North Crossing on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The six members of a joint House-Senate conference committee appointed to resolve differences in their versions of next year’s proposed state budget sign documents at their initial meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

PFD of $1,000 or $1,400? Ban on abortion funds or not? Fate of state’s budget now in hands of six legislators

Conference committee seeks to resolve 400 differences in House, Senate budgets as session nears end.

The six members of a joint House-Senate conference committee appointed to resolve differences in their versions of next year’s proposed state budget sign documents at their initial meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Fishing and other vessels docked in Haines. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

New mystery showcases characters, scenes of 1980s salmon troll fishery

Southeast Alaska’s picturesque peaks and larger-than-life characters have made their way into stories for centuries. Don Stuart’s latest novel “Secret Places” is one of the… Continue reading

Fishing and other vessels docked in Haines. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)