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Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence, foreground, and Deb Riddle, division operations manager for the state Department of Education and Early Development, explain details of bills to restrict mentioning sex/gender in schools and give teachers year-end retention bonuses during a House Education Committee meeting Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bill limiting sex, gender talk in schools gets first public hearing

Testimony limited to supporters who refer to indoctrination, religion in arguing parents know best.

Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence, foreground, and Deb Riddle, division operations manager for the state Department of Education and Early Development, explain details of bills to restrict mentioning sex/gender in schools and give teachers year-end retention bonuses during a House Education Committee meeting Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. President Joe Biden will prevent or limit oil drilling in 16 million acres of Alaska and the Arctic Ocean, an administration official said on Sunday, March 12, 2023. The expected announcement comes as regulators prepare to announce a final decision on the controversial Willow project. (ConocoPhillips)

Biden OKs Willow project

Move comes after the administration said it would bar or limit drilling in other areas.

This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. President Joe Biden will prevent or limit oil drilling in 16 million acres of Alaska and the Arctic Ocean, an administration official said on Sunday, March 12, 2023. The expected announcement comes as regulators prepare to announce a final decision on the controversial Willow project. (ConocoPhillips)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver (11) holds string from the championship net after a win against Ketchikan High School, making the Crimson Bears this year’s Region V 4A Tournament champs. Oliver finished the game with 30 points, six 3-pointers and a fourth-quarter slam dunk. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears crowned Region V champs

State to be held March 22-25 in Anchorage.

JDHS junior Sean Oliver (11) holds string from the championship net after a win against Ketchikan High School, making the Crimson Bears this year’s Region V 4A Tournament champs. Oliver finished the game with 30 points, six 3-pointers and a fourth-quarter slam dunk. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Haines players celebrate their 45-35 win over Craig in the 2A Region V Runner Up game on Saturday at Juneau's Thunder Mountain High School. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Haines girls earn state berth over Craig

Lady Glacier Bears defeat Lady Panthers for second Southeast seed.

Haines players celebrate their 45-35 win over Craig in the 2A Region V Runner Up game on Saturday at Juneau's Thunder Mountain High School. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
State Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, testifies about his proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Permanent Fund earnings are allocated during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Saturday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee spent two hours taking testimony almost entirely by phone from residents statewide about five proposals related to the Permanent Fund and dividends, which continued the long historical pattern of strongly divided feelings about how much money to use for dividends vs. state government programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

PFD proposals polarize and puzzle

Residents all over Alaska’s map are also all over the policy map during hearing on various proposals

State Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, testifies about his proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Permanent Fund earnings are allocated during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Saturday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee spent two hours taking testimony almost entirely by phone from residents statewide about five proposals related to the Permanent Fund and dividends, which continued the long historical pattern of strongly divided feelings about how much money to use for dividends vs. state government programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Emotions were high as JDHS cheer took home the 4A division championship title for the third year in a row during the annual Region V 2A/4A dance adjudication competition hosted at Juneau-Douglas High School:Yadaa.at Kalé Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Southeast stuntin’: Region V dance and cheer teams gather for annual dance adjudication

JDHS cheer takes home first-ever three-peat competition win

Emotions were high as JDHS cheer took home the 4A division championship title for the third year in a row during the annual Region V 2A/4A dance adjudication competition hosted at Juneau-Douglas High School:Yadaa.at Kalé Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Metlakatla Chiefs pose for a team photo after winning the Region V championship over Petersburg on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla boys win physical region title over Petersburg

Chiefs defeat Vikings for third Region V championship in a row.

The Metlakatla Chiefs pose for a team photo after winning the Region V championship over Petersburg on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Frantic Friday: A roundup of photos from a wild day of basketball

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Region V tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship, this article —and all 2023… Continue reading

(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A high school basketball rests on a gym floor at Thunder Mountain High School, which this week will be the site of the 2A and 4A Region V tournaments. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Update: Saturday schedule shifts

A schedule and brackets for the upcoming tournament.

A high school basketball rests on a gym floor at Thunder Mountain High School, which this week will be the site of the 2A and 4A Region V tournaments. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Metlakatla's Kennedy Cook (3) shoots against Wrangell's Aubrey Wynne (32) and Kiara Harrison (11) during the Region V tournament on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Let’s Day 2: A roundup of photos from the Region V tournament’s first day

See pictures from Wednesday’s games.

Metlakatla's Kennedy Cook (3) shoots against Wrangell's Aubrey Wynne (32) and Kiara Harrison (11) during the Region V tournament on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Metlakatla coach Julian Russell waves the MisChiefs Region V Championship net on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla girls defeat Craig for Region V championship

MisChiefs play with emotion in win over Lady Panthers.

Metlakatla coach Julian Russell waves the MisChiefs Region V Championship net on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl rips down a board in a close contest against Ketchikan. The game took 36 minutes of gametime to resovle and ended 72-64 in Kayhi's favor. The Crimson Bears and Kings will play for the Region V 4A title at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan edges JDHS in overtime

Crimson Bears look to rebound Saturday at 8:15 p.m.

JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl rips down a board in a close contest against Ketchikan. The game took 36 minutes of gametime to resovle and ended 72-64 in Kayhi's favor. The Crimson Bears and Kings will play for the Region V 4A title at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, shown in this photo, was recently selected to be new chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast.

Q&A: Get to know the next UAS chancellor

Incoming chancellor talks workforce development, fiscal sustainability and student access

University of Alaska Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, shown in this photo, was recently selected to be new chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast.
Haines senior Grace Long Godinez (2) passes around the defense of Wrangell senior Kiara Harrison (11) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Haines girls run past Wrangell in overtime

Lady Glacier Bears eliminate Lady Wolves from tournament

Haines senior Grace Long Godinez (2) passes around the defense of Wrangell senior Kiara Harrison (11) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich puts the ball up for a layup against Ketchikan High School on Friday during the two team’s final matchup in the 4A Region V Tournament. Nizich finished the game with a total of 6 points.

JDHS girls hang on to earn title game against TMHS

Cross-town rivals face off at 6:30 p.m.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich puts the ball up for a layup against Ketchikan High School on Friday during the two team’s final matchup in the 4A Region V Tournament. Nizich finished the game with a total of 6 points.
Haines senior Luke Davis (2) transitions down court under pressure from Wrangell senior Jacen Hay (23) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For Juneau Empire)

Wrangell boys eliminate Haines in overtime

Wolves need extra gear to bite Glacier Bears 57-50

Haines senior Luke Davis (2) transitions down court under pressure from Wrangell senior Jacen Hay (23) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For Juneau Empire)
A by-mail general ballot is sent to an Alaska voter in October of 2020. Concern is being expressed by some state lawmakers about such ballots frequently being received and used by people who became residents of other states many years ago. Officials with the state Division of Elections said keeping such people on voter rolls is based on an intention to return to Alaska, which often cannot be definitely determined. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

State may end membership in voter anti-fraud organization

Group falsely attacked by Trump is costly, better options may exist, new elections director says

A by-mail general ballot is sent to an Alaska voter in October of 2020. Concern is being expressed by some state lawmakers about such ballots frequently being received and used by people who became residents of other states many years ago. Officials with the state Division of Elections said keeping such people on voter rolls is based on an intention to return to Alaska, which often cannot be definitely determined. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
The sun beams down on a clock and nearby melting snow. A bill that calls for Alaska to choose to remain in Daylight Saving Time for the entirety of the year and say farewell to the switch to Standard Time has been reintroduced to the Alaska Legislature this session. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

It’s about time: With the switch to Daylight Saving Time on the horizon, Alaska lawmakers push to make the change permanent

It’s a time sensitive issue…

The sun beams down on a clock and nearby melting snow. A bill that calls for Alaska to choose to remain in Daylight Saving Time for the entirety of the year and say farewell to the switch to Standard Time has been reintroduced to the Alaska Legislature this session. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A sign in 2019 urges Alaska lawmakers to fund a “full” Permanent Fund Dividend — or else. Some legislators this year are hoping tough times since then due to the COVID.19 pandemic and other events will make residents willing to accept proposals that result in lower dividends so some of the money can be used for purposes such as increasing education spending. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, file)

PFD plans poised for public pontificating

Five proposals to be subject of Saturday hearing.

A sign in 2019 urges Alaska lawmakers to fund a “full” Permanent Fund Dividend — or else. Some legislators this year are hoping tough times since then due to the COVID.19 pandemic and other events will make residents willing to accept proposals that result in lower dividends so some of the money can be used for purposes such as increasing education spending. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, file)
Ketchikan High School’s Marcus Stockhausen takes the ball in for a layup against Thunder Mountain for their final match up in this year’s 4A Region V tournament. Ketchikan advances to play JDHS Friday night for the championship game. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

TMHS ends season with loss to Ketchikan

The Kings play JDHS Friday at 8:15 p.m.

Ketchikan High School’s Marcus Stockhausen takes the ball in for a layup against Thunder Mountain for their final match up in this year’s 4A Region V tournament. Ketchikan advances to play JDHS Friday night for the championship game. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)