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Signs at the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, indicate a designated entrance for legislators and their staff, and direct members of the public to a separate door. The signs were in anticipation of a security screening policy that was put on hold, but on Monday a similar policy was approved by the Legislative Council. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Airport-style security screening coming soon to Alaska State Capitol after Legislative Council’s OK

“It will probably be a couple weeks before it’s all in place,” says Rep. Sara Hannan, the council’s chair.

Signs at the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, indicate a designated entrance for legislators and their staff, and direct members of the public to a separate door. The signs were in anticipation of a security screening policy that was put on hold, but on Monday a similar policy was approved by the Legislative Council. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A Capital City Transit Center electric bus (left) and diesel bus (right) wait for passengers at the Downtown Transit Center on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Capital Transit is constructing a charging station for its new electric buses

Capital Transit superintendent says fleet offering better experience than first electric bus received in 2020.

A Capital City Transit Center electric bus (left) and diesel bus (right) wait for passengers at the Downtown Transit Center on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Ritter, 1st Lt. aboard Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore, supervises his crew after the launch of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association weather buoy near the Hinchinbrook Entrance to Prince William Sound in Alaska, Dec. 10, 2018. The buoy will record and transmit weather data. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA1 Nate Littlejohn)

Resolution pending in Alaska Legislature urges more federal support for NOAA weather buoys

Too many of the weather buoys floating in the waters off Alaska are out of service and the federal government should devote more resources to… Continue reading

Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Ritter, 1st Lt. aboard Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore, supervises his crew after the launch of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association weather buoy near the Hinchinbrook Entrance to Prince William Sound in Alaska, Dec. 10, 2018. The buoy will record and transmit weather data. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA1 Nate Littlejohn)
William Steadman, a Juneau resident, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of producing child pornography, according to law enforcement officials. (Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice)

Juneau man faces minimum 25-year sentence after guilty plea to federal child pornography charge

William Steadman, 35, has prior child pornography conviction from 2018.

William Steadman, a Juneau resident, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of producing child pornography, according to law enforcement officials. (Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice)
President Donald Trump signs the Save Our Seas Act in the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, Oct. 11, 2018. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), is second from the left. Both Republican politicians got relatively high favorable ratings in a poll of Alaskans published this month. (Gabriella Demczuk/The New York Times)

Statewide poll: Trump, Murkowski provoke strongest feelings; Sullivan most popular among delegation

Alaskans also split on continuing aid to Ukraine, agree Russia started war, oppose Canada/Mexico tariffs.

President Donald Trump signs the Save Our Seas Act in the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, Oct. 11, 2018. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), is second from the left. Both Republican politicians got relatively high favorable ratings in a poll of Alaskans published this month. (Gabriella Demczuk/The New York Times)
Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, explains to Assembly members the financial impacts of various adjustments to the mill rate during a Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Proposed CBJ budget eyes increase to 10.19 mills due to school building takeover, other costs

Unknowns as Assembly begins two-month process are contract negotiations, federal funding.

Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, explains to Assembly members the financial impacts of various adjustments to the mill rate during a Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Sitka’s Syd Eubanks (13) scores between Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) and Dave Buss (22) during the Masters Bracket Championship Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Masterful win by Sitka earns Gold Medal Championship

Sitka tops Klukwan 73-59 for tournament title.

Sitka’s Syd Eubanks (13) scores between Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) and Dave Buss (22) during the Masters Bracket Championship Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Hydaburg’s Darren Edenshaw is pressured by Metlakatla’s Bryan Hayward and Chris Bryant during the C Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Hydaburg tops Metlakatla 85-70 for C Bracket title

MVP Darren Edenshaw scores 31 in Gold Medal Championship

Hydaburg’s Darren Edenshaw is pressured by Metlakatla’s Bryan Hayward and Chris Bryant during the C Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Angoon’s Dominic Brinson (21) scores over Haines’ Kyle Rush (13) and James Hart during the B Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Angoon defends B bracket Gold Medal championship

Repeat champions ball out in 79-66 win over Haines

Angoon’s Dominic Brinson (21) scores over Haines’ Kyle Rush (13) and James Hart during the B Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Craig’s Nani Weimer (10) hits a shot past the arc during the Women’s Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

MVP Weimer leads Craig women to Gold Medal title

Craig runs past Hooper Bay for Womens Bracket Championship

Craig’s Nani Weimer (10) hits a shot past the arc during the Women’s Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-AML’s Mahina Toutaiolepo (24) scores over Mt. Edgcumbe’s Jaylin Prince (42) during the Open Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

MVP Tompkins leads Juneau to Gold Medal title

Juneau-AML tops Mt. Edgecumbe 90-84 in Open Bracket

Juneau-AML’s Mahina Toutaiolepo (24) scores over Mt. Edgcumbe’s Jaylin Prince (42) during the Open Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Lesley Thompson asks a question during a town hall with the three members of Juneau’s state legislative delegation Thursday night at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Local legislators emphasize wise navigation on bumpy state and federal policy highways during town hall

Federal shakeups affecting medical care, fiscal stability, schools and other legislative issues loom large.

Lesley Thompson asks a question during a town hall with the three members of Juneau’s state legislative delegation Thursday night at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Filcom’s Tony Yadao runs Mt. Edgecumbe defender Tyrell Cromer through a screen by Garrett Bryant (31) during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 86-79 A Bracket elimination game win Friday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Championships set for Gold Medal tournament on Saturday

Juneau v. Mt. Edgecumbe; Craig v. Hooper Bay; Sitka v. Klukwan; Metlakatla v. Hydaburg; Angoon v. Haines.

Filcom’s Tony Yadao runs Mt. Edgecumbe defender Tyrell Cromer through a screen by Garrett Bryant (31) during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 86-79 A Bracket elimination game win Friday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District administrative office inside Thunder Mountain Middle School on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Students and staff affected by PowerSchool data breach offered two years of identity protection services

The complimentary identity protection services apply to all impacted students and educators.

The Juneau School District administrative office inside Thunder Mountain Middle School on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
A sign in front of The Waterfront on Glacier advertises being open for reservations on Wednesday morning, two days after city officials shut it down due to building work done without a proper permit.

Waterfront on Glacier hotel abruptly closed, guests evicted, by city due to building permit issues

“We just are not confident that that building is safe for occupants,” community development director says.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
A sign in front of The Waterfront on Glacier advertises being open for reservations on Wednesday morning, two days after city officials shut it down due to building work done without a proper permit.
An undeveloped lot next to Safeway is the designated site for a three-story dental clinic propose by the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium as part of its Vintage Park Campus. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Three-story SEARHC dental clinic next to Vintage Park medical center gets Planning Commission OK

Nearly 20,000-square-foot facility would be part of campus where employee housing is also planned.

An undeveloped lot next to Safeway is the designated site for a three-story dental clinic propose by the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium as part of its Vintage Park Campus. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Tom Dawson touches a 57-millimeter Bofors gun during a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Tom Dawson touches a 57-millimeter Bofors gun during a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
(Illustration by Stephanie Harold)

Woven Peoples and Place: Seals, science and sustenance

Xunaa (Hoonah) necropsy involves hunters and students

(Illustration by Stephanie Harold)
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Glenfarne takes majority stake of Alaska LNG Project, will lead development

The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation announced Thursday they had reached an agreement with the New York-based company.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) blocks a shot by Metlakatla’s Danny Marsden as Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt and Brian Friske look on during their 65-63 Masters Bracket elimination game win over Metlakatla on Thursday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday Gold Medal play features semifinal action

Big guns fill half the championship final berths, four more teams exit tourney

Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) blocks a shot by Metlakatla’s Danny Marsden as Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt and Brian Friske look on during their 65-63 Masters Bracket elimination game win over Metlakatla on Thursday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)