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Kayhi’s Lindsay Byron (21) tries to block Juneau’s Skylar Tuckwood (13) as she attempts a layup Friday at Ketchikan High School. Juneau won 40 to 33. Photo by Christopher Mullen Ketchikan Daily News

JDHS girls net big conference wins in Ketchikan

Crimson Bears girls find two wins against Lady Kings.

Kayhi’s Lindsay Byron (21) tries to block Juneau’s Skylar Tuckwood (13) as she attempts a layup Friday at Ketchikan High School. Juneau won 40 to 33. Photo by Christopher Mullen Ketchikan Daily News
A by-mail ballot asks voters in 2020 to approve a measure calling for rank choice voting, which was approved. A petition is now circulating calling for another ballot measure to repeal rank choice, with the second-place candidates in both of Alaska’s most recent Congressional races among the most prominent supporters of the repeal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Ranked choice repeal petition begins circulating

Kelly Tshibaka joins Sarah Palin as election losers leading effort to return to traditional voting

A by-mail ballot asks voters in 2020 to approve a measure calling for rank choice voting, which was approved. A petition is now circulating calling for another ballot measure to repeal rank choice, with the second-place candidates in both of Alaska’s most recent Congressional races among the most prominent supporters of the repeal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
JPD offers Internet Safety class on Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as a way of helping parents and caring adults stay informed on how to best keep kids safe online. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JPD to host internet safety class for parents

Feb. 7 is Safer Internet Day.

JPD offers Internet Safety class on Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as a way of helping parents and caring adults stay informed on how to best keep kids safe online. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Sophomore Addison Wilson races toward the basket late in TMHS' comeback win. Wilson was one of four players on her team to score 9 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain girls storm back for a Saturday night win

They play again at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sophomore Addison Wilson races toward the basket late in TMHS' comeback win. Wilson was one of four players on her team to score 9 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo with Gladys Castaños during an inaugural celebration for the governor and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom on Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

All’s a ball for reelected governor

Dunleavy celebrates “peaceful transfer of power…to myself” at inaugural party Friday

Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo with Gladys Castaños during an inaugural celebration for the governor and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom on Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
TMHS junior Samuel Lockhart makes his way past the outstretched arm of a Colony defender on his way to the hoop during a Thursday night home game. Lockhart would finish the game with a team-leading 17 points in the 52-41 loss. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS boys lose pair of home games to Colony

It wasn’t their Knights.

TMHS junior Samuel Lockhart makes his way past the outstretched arm of a Colony defender on his way to the hoop during a Thursday night home game. Lockhart would finish the game with a team-leading 17 points in the 52-41 loss. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)

Lawsuit says Alaska Department of Health exposed thousands to hunger risk by not giving food aid

Complaint filed Friday alleges some families have waited four months for nutrition assistance.

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Little chairs sit in stacks after the temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. Now, providers are speaking out about the dire situation the industry finds itself in and what needs to be done to fix it.

A child care conundrum: Closures make local shortage worse, and providers say solutions may take a while.

“The crisis that we are having and experiencing right now, we are not alone in it.”

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Little chairs sit in stacks after the temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. Now, providers are speaking out about the dire situation the industry finds itself in and what needs to be done to fix it.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Senate Finance Committee Chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, left, discusses the state’s revenue forecast following a presentation of the report Friday at the Alaska State Capitol.

Fiscal forecast both calm and stormy

Lawmakers told mid-case scenario for state is smooth, but global events may again shake things up.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Senate Finance Committee Chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, left, discusses the state’s revenue forecast following a presentation of the report Friday at the Alaska State Capitol.
This image is a screen grab of an interactive online map that outlines the different pieces of vacant and underdeveloped property in Juneau. According to the map website, privately owned vacant parcels are highlighted yellow, CBJ Lands and Resources owned vacant parcels are highlighted pink and private developed properties below maximum allowable housing density are highlighted green. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)

City hopes new interactive map of vacant properties will expand housing opportunities

“It’s one more tool in the toolbox.”

This image is a screen grab of an interactive online map that outlines the different pieces of vacant and underdeveloped property in Juneau. According to the map website, privately owned vacant parcels are highlighted yellow, CBJ Lands and Resources owned vacant parcels are highlighted pink and private developed properties below maximum allowable housing density are highlighted green. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire The National Labor Relations Board meets with representatives of Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and its employees on Friday via Zoom to further discuss the matter of whether employees are in a position to unionize.

Hearing held in SEACC union dispute

No decision made on Friday.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire The National Labor Relations Board meets with representatives of Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and its employees on Friday via Zoom to further discuss the matter of whether employees are in a position to unionize.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A handful of workers clean the floors of the Centennial Hall ballroom Wednesday evening as renovations continue. According to project’s manager, the renovation are expected to be completed in early August.

Ballroom blitz: Centennial Hall space takes on a new look amid closure for renovations.

Rennovations expected to complete in early August

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A handful of workers clean the floors of the Centennial Hall ballroom Wednesday evening as renovations continue. According to project’s manager, the renovation are expected to be completed in early August.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Arsenio “Pastor” Credo and other Alaska Native veterans listen to a presentation Thursday afternoon how to apply for up to 160 acres of the more than 27 million acres of public land available to Alaska Native veterans who were unable to apply for their acres of in-state land due to serving during the Vietnam War.

Millions of acres are available for Vietnam-era Alaska Native veterans, but many in Southeast don’t want it

‘We want Southeast Alaska.’

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Arsenio “Pastor” Credo and other Alaska Native veterans listen to a presentation Thursday afternoon how to apply for up to 160 acres of the more than 27 million acres of public land available to Alaska Native veterans who were unable to apply for their acres of in-state land due to serving during the Vietnam War.
Moving boxes are stacked outside the offices of state Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, and former House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, on the second floor of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday morning following their demotion to minority status after a Republican-led majority excluding Stutes was named Tuesday. As minority members, they will have no official say on the location of their new offices. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Moving day for House as committees set

Hannan, Bush Caucus get prized finance seats as Republican-led majority shakes up status quo.

Moving boxes are stacked outside the offices of state Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, and former House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, on the second floor of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday morning following their demotion to minority status after a Republican-led majority excluding Stutes was named Tuesday. As minority members, they will have no official say on the location of their new offices. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks with local residents and people involved with this year’s legislative session during an annual welcoming reception hosted by city government and business leaders Tuesday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Dunleavy is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the State address, the first of his second term, to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at 7 p.m. Monday.

Rallies and State of the State set for Monday at the Capitol

Dunleavy to deliver annual address following two big-issue demonstrations.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks with local residents and people involved with this year’s legislative session during an annual welcoming reception hosted by city government and business leaders Tuesday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Dunleavy is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the State address, the first of his second term, to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at 7 p.m. Monday.
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl takes the ball down court while being closely guarded by two defenders on Wednesday night’s game. Dybdahl led the Crimson Bears in scoring with 19 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS loses close game against Colony

Wednesday night’s game was Suicide Prevention Awareness.

JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl takes the ball down court while being closely guarded by two defenders on Wednesday night’s game. Dybdahl led the Crimson Bears in scoring with 19 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
State Rep. Cathy TIlton, R-Wasilla, takes to gavel from State Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiaġvik, after she is elected speaker of the Alaska State House on Wednesday. She was elected by a 26-14 bipartisan vote, but the initial majority consists of 19 Republicans and four members of the Bush Caucus. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Tilton elected House speaker in unusual vote

Wasilla Republican elected by 26-14 bipartisan vote, but initial majority has 23 members

State Rep. Cathy TIlton, R-Wasilla, takes to gavel from State Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiaġvik, after she is elected speaker of the Alaska State House on Wednesday. She was elected by a 26-14 bipartisan vote, but the initial majority consists of 19 Republicans and four members of the Bush Caucus. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Kyle Worl gets launched into the air as he demonstrates the blanket toss at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the 2020 Traditional Games, March 6, 2020. The 2023 Traditional Games will take place at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday and Sunday, April 1-2. Registration is now open. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Traditional Games are returning to Juneau

Registration is now open and games will be livestreamed.

Kyle Worl gets launched into the air as he demonstrates the blanket toss at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the 2020 Traditional Games, March 6, 2020. The 2023 Traditional Games will take place at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday and Sunday, April 1-2. Registration is now open. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, right, listens to an overview of Alaska’s past and projected oil production by Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle during Kiehl’s first meeting as a member of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Business as usual underway in the Senate

Key committees meetings start with optimistic tone about working with House, governor

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, right, listens to an overview of Alaska’s past and projected oil production by Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle during Kiehl’s first meeting as a member of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-based photographer Mark Kelley smiles next to a photo he took that was a part of his award-winning portfolio featured in the 2022 National Wildlife Magazine photo contest. The annual competition that receives more than 30,000 photos submitted by over 3,100 photographers with images coming in from across the globe. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau resident wins prestigious wildlife photography award

“I think for a wildlife photographer it’s the world’s highest compliment.”

Juneau-based photographer Mark Kelley smiles next to a photo he took that was a part of his award-winning portfolio featured in the 2022 National Wildlife Magazine photo contest. The annual competition that receives more than 30,000 photos submitted by over 3,100 photographers with images coming in from across the globe. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)