Home

The chairs of the Senate Finance Committee huddle for a discussion after introducing their draft operating budget, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate committee’s draft budget cuts $206 million from House plan but still has deficit

Proposal eliminates proposals for new troopers, help for education and would cut prison space.

The chairs of the Senate Finance Committee huddle for a discussion after introducing their draft operating budget, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
University of Alaska Anchorage freshman Edgar Vera-Alvarado (143) runs in the 2024 GNAC XC Championships on Oct. 26, 2024 at the Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham, Washington. Freshman teammate Anthony Porter (138) from Colorado Springs, Colorado, runs behind. (Photo courtesy UAA)

Edgar Jesus Vera Alvarado finding running groove at UAA

Crimson Bears’ “Juneau Juggernaut” now part of talented Seawolves team.

University of Alaska Anchorage freshman Edgar Vera-Alvarado (143) runs in the 2024 GNAC XC Championships on Oct. 26, 2024 at the Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham, Washington. Freshman teammate Anthony Porter (138) from Colorado Springs, Colorado, runs behind. (Photo courtesy UAA)
Mike Verdoorn, Patrick Bracken and Richard Ward of The Segal Group Inc. provide an overview of their study of Alaska state employee salaries to the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Shortcomings revealed in state employee salary study won’t be addressed until at least next year

Legislators and state administrators dispute who is underpaid and by how much, but agree fix is complex.

Mike Verdoorn, Patrick Bracken and Richard Ward of The Segal Group Inc. provide an overview of their study of Alaska state employee salaries to the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A 74-pound cabbage grown by Keevan Dinkel of Wasilla is displayed on Sept. 2, 2018, at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Palmer legislator proposes Alaska’s record-setting giant cabbage as official state vegetable

Nomination could raise recognition for Alaska agriculture, says Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer.

A 74-pound cabbage grown by Keevan Dinkel of Wasilla is displayed on Sept. 2, 2018, at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
An Alaska Airlines plane passes above participants in the annual Turkey Trot run/walk next to Juneau International Airport on Thanksgiving Day of 2022. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska Airlines issues warning amidst travel industry downturn due to Trump-fueled uncertainty

Company reports $166M loss during first quarter of year, won’t release an outlook for 2025.

An Alaska Airlines plane passes above participants in the annual Turkey Trot run/walk next to Juneau International Airport on Thanksgiving Day of 2022. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
A vote board shows a veto override attempt Tuesday by the Alaska Legislature on a $1,000 increase to per-student education funding falling short of the necessary two-thirds majority with a 33-27 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Senate adds $700 BSA hike to school phone policy bill a day after veto override on $1,000 increase fails

Lawmakers say quick floor vote by Senate, concurrence by House may set up another override session.

A vote board shows a veto override attempt Tuesday by the Alaska Legislature on a $1,000 increase to per-student education funding falling short of the necessary two-thirds majority with a 33-27 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), co-chair of the House Education Committee, speaks in favor of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of an education funding bill during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature fails to override Dunleavy’s veto of $1,000 increase in per-student education spending

Lawmakers supporting veto note state’s financial shortfall, suggest smaller BSA increase or new revenue.

Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), co-chair of the House Education Committee, speaks in favor of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of an education funding bill during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors JJ McCormick and Jacob Katasse pose for a photo at the Crimson Bears practice Tuesday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. McCormick, a former Thunder Mountain player, and Katasse, a returning JDHS player, signify the new combined team building for the Crimson Bears. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears open home stand on new baseball turf

JDHS “sandlot” boys now in 322-foot home plate to center dirt-free ballpark.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors JJ McCormick and Jacob Katasse pose for a photo at the Crimson Bears practice Tuesday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. McCormick, a former Thunder Mountain player, and Katasse, a returning JDHS player, signify the new combined team building for the Crimson Bears. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Bliss cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ballot petition to restrict daily and annual cruise passengers in Juneau certified for signatures

Opponent of measure argues it violates due process, free travel and other constitutional rights.

The Norwegian Bliss cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sarah Palin arriving at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Andres Kudacki / For The New York Times)

Jury rules against Palin in libel case against the New York Times

After two hours of deliberation, claim rejected she was defamed in newspaper’s 2017 editorial.

  • Apr 22, 2025
  • By Katie Robertson and David Enrich, ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • lawsuitSarah Palin
Sarah Palin arriving at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Andres Kudacki / For The New York Times)
Lee Hart puts her jacket back on while talking with security officer Rayme Vinson after going through the new security screening process at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TSA-style security screenings now required for visitors at Alaska State Capitol

Lawmakers, family, staff and other with keycards can bypass scans that began Monday.

Lee Hart puts her jacket back on while talking with security officer Rayme Vinson after going through the new security screening process at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Workers process pollock. (Photo provided by Thompson and Co. PR on behalf of the Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance)

Murkowski and other US lawmakers seek guest worker visa exception for seafood industry

Legislation would exempt seafood companies from a cap on the number of H-2B visa workers.

Workers process pollock. (Photo provided by Thompson and Co. PR on behalf of the Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Dance Team seniors Serena Crupi and Stella Moran perform “Vienna” at the JDHS dance team Showtime 2025 on Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS dance team gives Juneau a spectacular season finish

No seats needed when audience stands in enthusiastic approval

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Dance Team seniors Serena Crupi and Stella Moran perform “Vienna” at the JDHS dance team Showtime 2025 on Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Will Muldoon’s official campaign profile photo as a Juneau Board of Education candidate in the 2024 municipal election. Muldoon resigned from the board on Monday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Former write-in candidate Will Muldoon resigns from Juneau Board of Education

Muldoon, first write-in to win local election in 29 years in 2021, won easily reelection last fall.

Will Muldoon’s official campaign profile photo as a Juneau Board of Education candidate in the 2024 municipal election. Muldoon resigned from the board on Monday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Dancers exit the main conference room at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall as part of the opening ceremonies for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s 90th Tribal Assembly on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida votes to give smaller Southeast communities more representation at tribal assembly

Change during constitutional convention significantly shrinks delegations in Anchorage and Seattle.

Dancers exit the main conference room at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall as part of the opening ceremonies for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s 90th Tribal Assembly on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Aleijah Fulmer, 6, deposits the plastic shells of eggs in a basket after removing the candy inside during the Molly of Denali EGG-Stravaganza at the University of Alaska Southeast on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
Aleijah Fulmer, 6, deposits the plastic shells of eggs in a basket after removing the candy inside during the Molly of Denali EGG-Stravaganza at the University of Alaska Southeast on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players await junior home run hitter Alayna Echiverri during the Crimson Bears’ 12-6 win over the West Valley Wolfpack on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).

JDHS softball sweeps Railbelt conference rival West Valley

Fundamental fielding, power hitting, earn another win Saturday.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players await junior home run hitter Alayna Echiverri during the Crimson Bears’ 12-6 win over the West Valley Wolfpack on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) works for a ball among West Valley defenders during the Crimson Bears’ 4-1 win over the Wolfpack on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).

JDHS boys soccer topples West Valley for weekend sweep

Crimson Bears feed undefeated streak against Railbelt opponents.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) works for a ball among West Valley defenders during the Crimson Bears’ 4-1 win over the Wolfpack on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) touches what would be a scoring shot over West Valley junior keeper Kyle Sharpton (1) during the Crimson Bears 2-1 win over the Wolfpack Saturday at Adair Kennedy Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).

Crimson Bears girls flip the pitch against Wolfpack

Juneau-Douglas wins in second home clash with West Valley.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) touches what would be a scoring shot over West Valley junior keeper Kyle Sharpton (1) during the Crimson Bears 2-1 win over the Wolfpack Saturday at Adair Kennedy Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).
The Norwegian Bliss docks downtown on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s leaders to discuss city’s long-term future, cruise industry in series of public meetings

Four sessions on CBJ’s 20-year plan on Tuesday and Wednesday; Assembly and cruise leaders meet Thursday.

The Norwegian Bliss docks downtown on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)