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A walrus mother and calf rest on an ice floe in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea in 2010. Other resting walruses are in the background. Sea ice extent is tracked by the National Snow and Ice Data Center, a Colorado-based facility that uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Sarah Sonsthagen/U.S. Geological Survey)

Trump administration stopping NOAA data service used to monitor sea ice off Alaska

Scientists worry as services for historic data on sea ice, glaciers, other Arctic conditions discontinued.

A walrus mother and calf rest on an ice floe in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea in 2010. Other resting walruses are in the background. Sea ice extent is tracked by the National Snow and Ice Data Center, a Colorado-based facility that uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Sarah Sonsthagen/U.S. Geological Survey)
The Alaska and American flags fly in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska governor’s staff warns executive branch away from state Capitol in session’s last days

Legislators say Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration isn’t answering questions about a key revenue bill.

The Alaska and American flags fly in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Juneau Youth Wrestling Club pose with other clubs at the Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle State Championships on May 1-3 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JYWC)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club grapplers takedown state in style(s)

Team competes at Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle championships.

The Juneau Youth Wrestling Club pose with other clubs at the Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle State Championships on May 1-3 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JYWC)
Selah Judge, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences, gives the student speech at the University of Alaska Southeast commencement on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Selah Judge, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences, gives the student speech at the University of Alaska Southeast commencement on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Telephone Hill on Monday evening (top) and in an architect’s rendering under a development plan advanced by the Juneau Assembly. (Top photo Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire; bottom illustration by First Forty Feet / City and Borough of Juneau)

Telephone Hill residents will need to vacate homes Oct. 1 under demolition plan advanced by Assembly

Proposal calls for city to demolish neighborhood this fall, prepare site for development next summer.

Telephone Hill on Monday evening (top) and in an architect’s rendering under a development plan advanced by the Juneau Assembly. (Top photo Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire; bottom illustration by First Forty Feet / City and Borough of Juneau)
About 81% of travelers passing through T.S.A. checkpoints already have identification that complies with the Real ID law, which was enacted in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, said. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Travelers without a Real ID will still be allowed to fly, Noem says

People without a federally recognized document will face additional screening.

  • May 6, 2025
  • By Michael Levenson ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Air Travel
About 81% of travelers passing through T.S.A. checkpoints already have identification that complies with the Real ID law, which was enacted in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, said. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Phil Huebschen is departing as executive director of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council on May 14. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council photo)

Phil Huebschen stepping down after two years as head of Juneau Arts and Humanities Council

No reason stated for departure, which comes after JAHC faces DEI and funding pressure from Trump.

Phil Huebschen is departing as executive director of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council on May 14. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Milina Mazon signs a Northwest Athletic Conference Letter of Intent on Monday in the JDHS commons to attend Edmonds College in Lynnwood, Washington, and play soccer for the Tritons. Shown from left are mother Heidi, sister Asianna, Milina, brother Sam and father Sonny. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Milina Mazon signs to play college soccer

JDHS senior commits to Edmonds College Tritons.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Milina Mazon signs a Northwest Athletic Conference Letter of Intent on Monday in the JDHS commons to attend Edmonds College in Lynnwood, Washington, and play soccer for the Tritons. Shown from left are mother Heidi, sister Asianna, Milina, brother Sam and father Sonny. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, at left, and former state Sen. Click Bishop, at right, have each filed letters of intent signaling they will run for governor in 2026. (Alaska Beacon file photos)

Republicans Nancy Dahlstrom and Click Bishop are first to file for 2026 Alaska governor’s race

Bishop says he plans listening sessions with voters across the state before campaigning in earnest.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, at left, and former state Sen. Click Bishop, at right, have each filed letters of intent signaling they will run for governor in 2026. (Alaska Beacon file photos)
Tessa Hulls, an author who moved to Juneau during the winter, at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday after her graphic novel “Feeding Ghosts” won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in the Memoir or Autobiography category. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau author Tessa Hulls wins Pulitzer Prize for graphic memoir ‘Feeding Ghosts’

Book entwines grandmother, mother and author on journey of politics and identity from China to points worldwide.

Tessa Hulls, an author who moved to Juneau during the winter, at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday after her graphic novel “Feeding Ghosts” won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in the Memoir or Autobiography category. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Zuill Bailey, artistic director for the Juneau Jazz and Classics festival, performs on cello during the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday. JJAC is among the organizations receiving a termination notice Friday of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Local arts and culture programs in crosshairs of latest cuts by Trump administration

Perseverance Theatre, music programs, public library’s statewide remote services hit by fund cancellations.

Zuill Bailey, artistic director for the Juneau Jazz and Classics festival, performs on cello during the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday. JJAC is among the organizations receiving a termination notice Friday of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An Arctic “fogbow” is seen from the deck of the Coast Guard cutter Healy during the 2016 Hidden Ocean mission to the High Arctic area known as the Chukchi Borderland. The Healy cruise was part of a project carried out over several years to map the extended continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean beyond the nation’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. That extended area includes the Chukchi Borderland. (Photo provided by Caitlin Bailey/Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration)

Trump administration plans for oil deep in Arctic Ocean, where US claim has yet to be recognized

President seeks to designate High Arctic offshore area beyond the 200-mile limit.

An Arctic “fogbow” is seen from the deck of the Coast Guard cutter Healy during the 2016 Hidden Ocean mission to the High Arctic area known as the Chukchi Borderland. The Healy cruise was part of a project carried out over several years to map the extended continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean beyond the nation’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. That extended area includes the Chukchi Borderland. (Photo provided by Caitlin Bailey/Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration)
Noatak, just after midnight. (Ash Adams / The New York Times)

Congress’ fight over Trump’s agenda runs through Alaska

Clashes inclue repealing Biden-era clean energy tax credits that are a lifeline for some constituents.

  • May 5, 2025
  • By Catie Edmondson ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Donald Trump
Noatak, just after midnight. (Ash Adams / The New York Times)
Laa.éi Kathleen John leads the Yées Ḵu.oo dance group through the Haida entrance song at the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Laa.éi Kathleen John leads the Yées Ḵu.oo dance group through the Haida entrance song at the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) puts a shot past West Anchorage senior Porter Youngman (19) and sophomore Nathan Conlon (12) during the Crimson Bears’ 7-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys pitched 7-1 by West Anchorage

Crimson Bears outplayed, but not overmatched against Eagles.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) puts a shot past West Anchorage senior Porter Youngman (19) and sophomore Nathan Conlon (12) during the Crimson Bears’ 7-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
West Anchorage and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players react to the Eagles’ game-winning goal by senior Hattie Luckasson (5) during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls soccer team falls 2-1 to West Anchorage

Crimson Bears score first, Eagles win second half.

West Anchorage and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players react to the Eagles’ game-winning goal by senior Hattie Luckasson (5) during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center as seen on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Laurie Craig)

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center: Preserving the past, greeting the future

Generations of architects and naturalists have navigated through mass evolution of visitors and ice.

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center as seen on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
The State Office Building in downtown Juneau on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

State, employees’ union reach tentative agreement on 11% pay hike over three years

Deal will also significantly boost state’s health insurance contribution if OK’d by workers, lawmakers.

The State Office Building in downtown Juneau on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A path leading from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 1962. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

The original road to the glacier

Despite the flurry of activity and development proposals in the 1960s, the first road to the glacier was not constructed for scenic access. It was… Continue reading

A path leading from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 1962. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore June Troxel catches a pop-up during the Crimson Bears’ 10-5 loss to Ketchikan at Dudley Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)

Rain dampens JDHS softball play at Ketchikan

Crimson Bears lose rain delayed doubleheader to Kings.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore June Troxel catches a pop-up during the Crimson Bears’ 10-5 loss to Ketchikan at Dudley Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)