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A ConocoPhillips sign covered in ice at the Colville-Delta 5, or as it's more commonly known, CD5, is seen at a drilling site on Alaska's North Slope on Feb. 9, 2016. ConocoPhillips has detailed reasons and remedies following a natural gas leak last year on the North Slope that caused 300 employees to be evacuated. Company officials spoke Thursday, March 23, 2023, during an Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission hearing into the leak at its Alpine field. It said pumping 170 barrels of diesel fuel into a disposal well to prevent freezing caused a component to fail. The leak went unnoticed for days but was corrected. A company official says no one was harmed by the leak. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

ConocoPhillips details gas leak cause, remedies at hearing

ANCHORAGE — ConocoPhillips, which last week received U.S. government approval for the massive Willow oil drilling project in Alaska, detailed reasons for a natural gas… Continue reading

A ConocoPhillips sign covered in ice at the Colville-Delta 5, or as it's more commonly known, CD5, is seen at a drilling site on Alaska's North Slope on Feb. 9, 2016. ConocoPhillips has detailed reasons and remedies following a natural gas leak last year on the North Slope that caused 300 employees to be evacuated. Company officials spoke Thursday, March 23, 2023, during an Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission hearing into the leak at its Alpine field. It said pumping 170 barrels of diesel fuel into a disposal well to prevent freezing caused a component to fail. The leak went unnoticed for days but was corrected. A company official says no one was harmed by the leak. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File TMHS Kerra Baxter fights for the rebound against JDHS during Region V tournament play. The Lady Falcons won their game on Friday against Dimond in Anchorage as part of this year’s ASAA competition. TMHS will now face off against JDHS on Saturday.

Big day in Anchorage for Juneau high school basketball

JDHS vs. TMHS at state on Saturday.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File TMHS Kerra Baxter fights for the rebound against JDHS during Region V tournament play. The Lady Falcons won their game on Friday against Dimond in Anchorage as part of this year’s ASAA competition. TMHS will now face off against JDHS on Saturday.
Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during the next decade to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislators eye oil and sales taxes due to fiscal woes

Bills to collect more from North Slope producers, enact new sales taxes get hearings next week.

Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during the next decade to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl begins ascending for a dunk with Kayhi’s Jared Rhoads (15) and Marcus Stockhausen (34) in pursuit. Orion was named Player of the Game and led his team in scoring on Friday against Colony High School in this year’s state competition in Anchorage. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

JDHS boys keep season alive with win against Colony

Crimson Bears play for fourth place Saturday.

JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl begins ascending for a dunk with Kayhi’s Jared Rhoads (15) and Marcus Stockhausen (34) in pursuit. Orion was named Player of the Game and led his team in scoring on Friday against Colony High School in this year’s state competition in Anchorage. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Expert skateboarder Di’Orr Greenwood, an artist born and raised in the Navajo Nation in Arizona and whose work is featured on the new U.S. stamps, rides her skateboard next to her artworks in the Venice Beach neighborhood in Los Angeles Monday, March 20, 2023. On Friday, March 24, the U.S. Postal Service is debuting the “Art of the Skateboard,” four stamps that will be the first to pay tribute to skateboarding. The stamps underscore how prevalent skateboarding has become, especially in Indian Country, where the demand for designated skate spots has only grown in recent years. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Indigenous artists help skateboarding earn stamp of approval

Years ago, skateboarding was branded as a hobby for rebels or stoners in city streets, schoolyards and back alleys. Those days are long gone. Skateboarding,… Continue reading

Expert skateboarder Di’Orr Greenwood, an artist born and raised in the Navajo Nation in Arizona and whose work is featured on the new U.S. stamps, rides her skateboard next to her artworks in the Venice Beach neighborhood in Los Angeles Monday, March 20, 2023. On Friday, March 24, the U.S. Postal Service is debuting the “Art of the Skateboard,” four stamps that will be the first to pay tribute to skateboarding. The stamps underscore how prevalent skateboarding has become, especially in Indian Country, where the demand for designated skate spots has only grown in recent years. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Hoonah’s Albert Hinchman defends as hot by Sitka’s Patrick Miller (40) as Hoonah’s Andy Gray, Louie White Jr. and Joe Coronell look on during Thursday action at the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Hoonah Masters battle Sitka in Gold Medal

Hoonah withstands ferocious Sitka defense and sends them home.

  • Mar 24, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe For the Juneau Empire
Hoonah’s Albert Hinchman defends as hot by Sitka’s Patrick Miller (40) as Hoonah’s Andy Gray, Louie White Jr. and Joe Coronell look on during Thursday action at the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
A simulated photo shows the tailings stack and other features of Hecla Greens Creek Mine under the most aggressive of four alternatives for expanding the mine in an environmental impact assessment published Thursday by the U.S Forest Service. The tailings stack is modestly to drastically smaller in the other alternatives. The public comment period for the study is from March 24 to May 8. (U.S. Forest Service)

New study digs into alternatives for Greens Creek Mine expansion

Public comment starts Friday on four options that could extend mine’s life up to 40 years

A simulated photo shows the tailings stack and other features of Hecla Greens Creek Mine under the most aggressive of four alternatives for expanding the mine in an environmental impact assessment published Thursday by the U.S Forest Service. The tailings stack is modestly to drastically smaller in the other alternatives. The public comment period for the study is from March 24 to May 8. (U.S. Forest Service)
Juneau’s Chase Saviers extends for a scoop shot late in a Juneau win against Hydaburg. Saviers finished the Thursday night B Bracket game with 16 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau slips past Hydaburg in Gold Medal B Bracket

Juneau advances to Saturday championship, Hydaburg falls into Friday elimination game

  • Mar 24, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe For the Juneau Empire
  • Basketball
Juneau’s Chase Saviers extends for a scoop shot late in a Juneau win against Hydaburg. Saviers finished the Thursday night B Bracket game with 16 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Daylight Saving Time just started, but Juneau's Jim Carson turned back the clock late in the second quarter of a Masters Bracket game against Klukwan. Carson finished the Thursday night contest with 16 points, and Juneau prevailed 48-39. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Masters bully Klukwan at Gold Medal

Battle of undefeated teams sees Juneau win 48-39

  • Mar 24, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe For the Juneau Empire
  • Basketball
Daylight Saving Time just started, but Juneau's Jim Carson turned back the clock late in the second quarter of a Masters Bracket game against Klukwan. Carson finished the Thursday night contest with 16 points, and Juneau prevailed 48-39. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Filcom’s Alex Heumann (24) puts up a jump shot against Klukwan on Thursday for the second C bracket game of the day in this year’s Gold Medal basketball tournament. Heumann finished the game with 27 points, and his team netted a C Bracket win. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Filcom advances to Saturday’s championship game

Klukwan plays again Friday at 6 p.m.

Filcom’s Alex Heumann (24) puts up a jump shot against Klukwan on Thursday for the second C bracket game of the day in this year’s Gold Medal basketball tournament. Heumann finished the game with 27 points, and his team netted a C Bracket win. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Angoon’s Aquino Brinson looks for an open pass against Haines on Thursday for an elimination game inside the B bracket for this year’s Gold Medal basketball tournament. Brinson finished the game with a total of 10 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Angoon puts a stop to Haines in B Bracket

Angoon plays again on Friday at 8 p.m.

Angoon’s Aquino Brinson looks for an open pass against Haines on Thursday for an elimination game inside the B bracket for this year’s Gold Medal basketball tournament. Brinson finished the game with a total of 10 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Prince of Wales Michaela Demmert (23) drives the lane for a 2 point shot against Yakutat for the second W bracket game on Thursday for Gold Medal basketball. Demmert would finish the game with 11 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Prince of Wales women advance to championship game

POW plays Saturday at 2 p.m.

Prince of Wales Michaela Demmert (23) drives the lane for a 2 point shot against Yakutat for the second W bracket game on Thursday for Gold Medal basketball. Demmert would finish the game with 11 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
The FBI Anchorage Field Office is seeking information about this man in relation to a Wednesday bank robbery in Anchorage, the agency announced Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information regarding the bank robbery can contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441 or tips.fbi.gov. Tips can be submitted anonymously. (FBI)

FBI seeks info in Anchorage bank robbery

The robbery took place at 1:24 p.m. on Wednesday.

  • Mar 23, 2023
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
The FBI Anchorage Field Office is seeking information about this man in relation to a Wednesday bank robbery in Anchorage, the agency announced Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information regarding the bank robbery can contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441 or tips.fbi.gov. Tips can be submitted anonymously. (FBI)
Kuspuks of varying colors displayed at a tribal consultation meeting in Anchorage on Sept. 21 represent Indigenous victims of violence. From left, the colors are red for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, orange for victims of boarding schools, the baby kuspuk for children who will never be born, purple for victims of domestic violence, turquoise for victims of sexual assault, multicolor for LGBTQ victims and black for men who are victims. The kuspuks were arrayed at the Justice Department's annual tribal consultation conference required under the Violence Against Woman Act. In testimony Wednesday to the state House Tribal Affairs Special Committee, members of a working group listed several practical steps they said could improve safety of Indigenous people. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Budget items and policy changes recommended to help protect Indigenous women and girls

Dangers can be addressed through the budget and through other practical actions, activists said.

Kuspuks of varying colors displayed at a tribal consultation meeting in Anchorage on Sept. 21 represent Indigenous victims of violence. From left, the colors are red for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, orange for victims of boarding schools, the baby kuspuk for children who will never be born, purple for victims of domestic violence, turquoise for victims of sexual assault, multicolor for LGBTQ victims and black for men who are victims. The kuspuks were arrayed at the Justice Department's annual tribal consultation conference required under the Violence Against Woman Act. In testimony Wednesday to the state House Tribal Affairs Special Committee, members of a working group listed several practical steps they said could improve safety of Indigenous people. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Hoonah’s DJ Lindstrom drives against Angoon on Thursday for an elimination game in the C Bracket for this year’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. Lindstrom finished the game with 6 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Revamped Hoonah offense sparks 46-point victory against Angoon in C Bracket play

Hoonah plays again Friday at 6 p.m.

Hoonah’s DJ Lindstrom drives against Angoon on Thursday for an elimination game in the C Bracket for this year’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. Lindstrom finished the game with 6 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Angoon's Carmeleeda Estrada is pressured by Kake's Willow Jackson during Thursday action at the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Angoon holds off late Kake Gold Medal rally

Angoon continues elimination game run as last-second Kake shot just misses.

  • Mar 23, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe For the Juneau Empire
  • Basketball
Angoon's Carmeleeda Estrada is pressured by Kake's Willow Jackson during Thursday action at the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
A graph shows projected monetary losses and gains for government and private stakeholders in the Willow oil field project, which for the state is expected to reach a break-even point in 2030, a year after production is scheduled to begin. But a complex set of tax structures and unknown variables may cause those predictions to differ considerably. (Alaska Department of Natural Resources)

State offers brighter financial forecast for Willow

Instead of losing $1B during first decade, Alaska will break-even by 2030, revised forecast shows

A graph shows projected monetary losses and gains for government and private stakeholders in the Willow oil field project, which for the state is expected to reach a break-even point in 2030, a year after production is scheduled to begin. But a complex set of tax structures and unknown variables may cause those predictions to differ considerably. (Alaska Department of Natural Resources)
Angoon’s Ladonna Byers fights for the rebound against Hoonah on Wednesday night for an elimination game in the W bracket for this year’s Gold Medal basketball tournament. Byers would finish the game with 11 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Angoon knocks Hoonah out of Womens Bracket

Angoon vs. Kake at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Angoon’s Ladonna Byers fights for the rebound against Hoonah on Wednesday night for an elimination game in the W bracket for this year’s Gold Medal basketball tournament. Byers would finish the game with 11 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohentstatt / Juneau Empire File The JDHS cheer team puts paws up for a free throw shot during a Crimson Bears Region V 4A Tournament game. JDHS cheer team is celebrating its third state championship title in a row after competing in Anchorage on Tuesday. From front to back, Angelina Hammons, Summer Lucas, Reuben Grimes, Emily Delgado, Ryan Shattuck, Mila Griffin and Emma Busby.

Three cheers for title-winning JDHS squad

Cheer team three-peats as state champs.

Ben Hohentstatt / Juneau Empire File The JDHS cheer team puts paws up for a free throw shot during a Crimson Bears Region V 4A Tournament game. JDHS cheer team is celebrating its third state championship title in a row after competing in Anchorage on Tuesday. From front to back, Angelina Hammons, Summer Lucas, Reuben Grimes, Emily Delgado, Ryan Shattuck, Mila Griffin and Emma Busby.
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

JDHS girls fall to Colony at state

Crimson Bears have another chance on Friday.

(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)