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Juneau state Rep. Andi Story (left) and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl (standing) participate in a legislative town hall at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Monday, June 9, 2025. Both are among the six legislators named to an education task force on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature forms six-member education task force, including two from Juneau, to study funding and policy

School accountability, absenteeism and open enrollment among issues members will consider.

Juneau state Rep. Andi Story (left) and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl (standing) participate in a legislative town hall at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Monday, June 9, 2025. Both are among the six legislators named to an education task force on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, speaks to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. At background are Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak (left) and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham (right). (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Begich joins US House Republicans in voting to claw back public broadcasting money

Clawback, formally known as a rescission, subject to approval by Senate in a simple majority vote.

Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, speaks to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. At background are Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak (left) and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham (right). (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Kai Ciambor, a 2025 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, in action against West Anchorage during the ASAA Division I Soccer State Championships at Colony High School on May 30. Ciambor was selected the Gatorade Alaska Boys Soccer Player of the Year on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kai Ciambor named Gatorade Alaska Boys Soccer Player of the Year

Crimson Bears 2025 graduate earns top honor in high school sports.

Kai Ciambor, a 2025 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, in action against West Anchorage during the ASAA Division I Soccer State Championships at Colony High School on May 30. Ciambor was selected the Gatorade Alaska Boys Soccer Player of the Year on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé track and field coach Jesse Stringer, 2025 JDHS graduate Nick Iverson, JDHS sophomore to be Bella Connally, and JDHS assistant track and field coaches Jennifer Strumfeld and Tina Martin pose for a photo on Wednesday at the JDHS auxiliary gym after Iverson and Connally had school records noted. (Photo courtesy Chris Connally)

Crimson Bears Iverson, Connally place names on record wall

JDHS track and field stars new school records registered on high.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé track and field coach Jesse Stringer, 2025 JDHS graduate Nick Iverson, JDHS sophomore to be Bella Connally, and JDHS assistant track and field coaches Jennifer Strumfeld and Tina Martin pose for a photo on Wednesday at the JDHS auxiliary gym after Iverson and Connally had school records noted. (Photo courtesy Chris Connally)
Four adult female mountain goats climb in mid-winter through snow and ice covered cliffs on the Takshanuk Ridge in Haines, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Kevin White)

Avalanches impact mountain goat populations

Mountain goats seek safety from predators in steep terrain, but they are not immune to winter dangers.

Four adult female mountain goats climb in mid-winter through snow and ice covered cliffs on the Takshanuk Ridge in Haines, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Kevin White)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 11, 1995. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 11, 1995. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the Juneau School District, discusses the new cellphone policy on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

School board OKs limits on student cellphone use

New regulation seeks to reduce distractions, sparks privacy concerns for some members.

Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the Juneau School District, discusses the new cellphone policy on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Rain falls on a salmonberry bush on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

April showers bring May showers

Drier days forecasted after two unseasonably wet months, but potential drought concerns linger.

Rain falls on a salmonberry bush on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Protesters gather outside the Anchorage Correctional Complex on June 11, 2025. It was the third consecutive day that protesters gathered at the jail site in response to Trump administration immigration actions. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaskans plan widespread pro-democracy protests, joining national movement

Events planned Saturday have gained new support after President Trump ordered National Guard into L.A.

Protesters gather outside the Anchorage Correctional Complex on June 11, 2025. It was the third consecutive day that protesters gathered at the jail site in response to Trump administration immigration actions. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
People browse at the Hearthside Books branch in the Nugget Mall on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Hearthside Books and Toys finishes No. 8 in USA Today’s ‘10 Best Independent Bookstores’ poll

“I didn’t believe we were really going to make it,” owner says about newspaper’s Readers’ Choice Awards list.

People browse at the Hearthside Books branch in the Nugget Mall on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Grace Dumas approaches the finish of the East Glacier Trail Tangle on Tuesday. The 4.9-mile race follows part of Under Thunder Trail around East Glacier Trail and back. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Morely, Tanel top East Glacier Trail Tangle

Sprints, climbs, descents and bears overcome.

Grace Dumas approaches the finish of the East Glacier Trail Tangle on Tuesday. The 4.9-mile race follows part of Under Thunder Trail around East Glacier Trail and back. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Adam Strom, head coach for the Haskell Indian Nations University women’s basketball team, coaches the team to a March 1, 2025, win against Washington Adventist University (Maryland) during the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference women’s basketball championship. After he was laid off Feb. 14, 2025, as a result of mass federal layoffs by the Trump administration, Strom continued to coach without pay until he was rehired on March 6, 2025. (Lauren Richey/Special to ICT)

Trump seeks 90% funding cut for tribal colleges and universities

Officials say impact would be “extremely dire” for campuses across U.S., including Alaska.

Adam Strom, head coach for the Haskell Indian Nations University women’s basketball team, coaches the team to a March 1, 2025, win against Washington Adventist University (Maryland) during the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference women’s basketball championship. After he was laid off Feb. 14, 2025, as a result of mass federal layoffs by the Trump administration, Strom continued to coach without pay until he was rehired on March 6, 2025. (Lauren Richey/Special to ICT)
Juneau International Airport. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Two Juneau airport manager finalists set for meet-and-greets, interviews on Wednesday and Thursday

One is a longtime municipal and military aviation manager, the other a longtime airport and Alaska DOT manager.

Juneau International Airport. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
The entrance to the Anchorage Correctional Complex is seen on Aug. 29, 2022. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska detained 42 men arrested by ICE and flown in from out of state, amid federal crackdown

DOC released names and countries of origin of detainees in Anchorage, two transferred out of state.

The entrance to the Anchorage Correctional Complex is seen on Aug. 29, 2022. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The Matanuska state ferry, seen here docked when it was scheduled to begin its annual winter overhaul in October of 2022, has been out of service ever since. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

Advisory board recommends ending Matanuska’s career with state ferry system

Full-body scan finds extensive rust and other faults officials say are too costly to fix.

The Matanuska state ferry, seen here docked when it was scheduled to begin its annual winter overhaul in October of 2022, has been out of service ever since. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Trump threatens that any protesters at Saturday’s military parade will be met with ‘very big force’

Warning makes no distinction between peaceful demonstrations and violent confrontations.

  • Jun 10, 2025
  • By Erica L. Green and Maggie Haberman ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Donald Trumpprotest
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
Stinky Rats’ Jason Norat is congratulated by teammates as he finishes the Seacoast Relay at the Eagle Beach State Park outer beach picnic shelter on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Stinky Rats find burritos at Seacoast Relay

13 teams share in the spoils of winners’ bounty.

Stinky Rats’ Jason Norat is congratulated by teammates as he finishes the Seacoast Relay at the Eagle Beach State Park outer beach picnic shelter on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
National Guard members put on hazmat suits before entering the simulation area on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

National Guard exercise begins simulation of foreign terrorist attacks

Operation ORCA brings 100 personnel to Juneau, disrupts traffic around Capitol

National Guard members put on hazmat suits before entering the simulation area on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (right) confers with city administrative leaders during a break at a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly approves budget that hikes mill rate to 10.24; also OKs 5% annual increase in utilities fees

City leaders reject cuts proposed by mayor, who expresses concern about tax-limiting ballot measures.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (right) confers with city administrative leaders during a break at a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Fishing boats are seen in Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor on Oct. 3, 2022. Deep job cuts at NOAA Fisheries will negatively affect the scientific work normally done to support fishery management, agency officials warned. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

NOAA firings, cuts will reduce services used to manage Alaska fisheries, officials say

Data analysis, salmon research and other services will be impacted, officials say.

Fishing boats are seen in Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor on Oct. 3, 2022. Deep job cuts at NOAA Fisheries will negatively affect the scientific work normally done to support fishery management, agency officials warned. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)