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Phase One of the HESCO barriers ends in the backyard of this residence on Rivercourt Way on Monday, May 12, 2025. The next extension, Phase One A, will install the barriers along the river adjacent to Dimond Park from the end of Rivercourt Way, interconnecting through a gap in the back fence. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Assembly approves extending HESCO barriers

After reviewing flood-fighting inundation maps, additional short-term mitigation deemed necessary.

Phase One of the HESCO barriers ends in the backyard of this residence on Rivercourt Way on Monday, May 12, 2025. The next extension, Phase One A, will install the barriers along the river adjacent to Dimond Park from the end of Rivercourt Way, interconnecting through a gap in the back fence. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Alaska Senate watch the votes for and against Senate Bill 26 on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska senators vote to end daylight saving time, ask feds to put state on Pacific Standard Time

Alaska would be on the same time zone as Seattle for four months of the year is bill becomes law.

Members of the Alaska Senate watch the votes for and against Senate Bill 26 on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy orders freeze on state employee hiring, travel and new regulations due to fiscal crunch

Exemptions allowed for certain occupations and “mission-critical” purposes.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
State Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage) speaks during a candlelight vigil Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol by participants calling upon federal lawmakers not to cut Medicaid funding (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Proposed Medicaid cuts in Alaska: A protest, a Senate resolution and where things currently stand

Some Republicans in D.C. balk at full $880B reduction; work requirements, other trims still in play.

State Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage) speaks during a candlelight vigil Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol by participants calling upon federal lawmakers not to cut Medicaid funding (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Republicans have toiled under House Speaker Mike Johnson to find $880 billion in savings over a decade and assemble a number of cuts large enough to meet that goal. (Tierney L. Cross / For The New York Times)

Republicans propose paring Medicaid coverage, but steer clear of deeper cuts

House panel’s plan would still leave millions without health coverage or facing higher costs.

  • May 12, 2025
  • By Margot Sanger-Katz and Catie Edmondson ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Medicaid
Republicans have toiled under House Speaker Mike Johnson to find $880 billion in savings over a decade and assemble a number of cuts large enough to meet that goal. (Tierney L. Cross / For The New York Times)
In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Bella Connally, Ketchikan senior Clara Odden and Sitka junior Adalyna Moore race to the finish of the 4x100 relay during the Capital City Invitational Track & Field Meet in Juneau on April 26. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS track team rises in the rain to challenge at Sitka

Crimson Bears compete with defending state champs Wolves.

In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Bella Connally, Ketchikan senior Clara Odden and Sitka junior Adalyna Moore race to the finish of the 4x100 relay during the Capital City Invitational Track & Field Meet in Juneau on April 26. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Axel Baumann films and Max Osadchenko captures sounds of Juneau Alaska Music Matters students performing a “Gratitude” concert at the Sealaska Heritage Institute Clan House on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The event was a wrapup performance after the film crew followed JAMM participants for two weeks as part of a feature-length documentary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Filmmakers seek to share cultural lessons of Juneau Alaska Music Matters with a wider audience

Crew spends two weeks with students after following similar program in Texas for full-length documentary.

Axel Baumann films and Max Osadchenko captures sounds of Juneau Alaska Music Matters students performing a “Gratitude” concert at the Sealaska Heritage Institute Clan House on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The event was a wrapup performance after the film crew followed JAMM participants for two weeks as part of a feature-length documentary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team pose with their third-place trophy Saturday at the 2025 Blue & Gold Softball Tournament in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)

Crimson Bears place third in Blue & Gold play

JDHS gets taste of possible state tournament matchups.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team pose with their third-place trophy Saturday at the 2025 Blue & Gold Softball Tournament in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)
A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)

Conservation group lawsuit seeks to speed listing of Alaska king salmon under Endangered Species Act

Lawsuit asks a judge to order national fisheries service to “promptly issue” decision on petition

A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)
Cottongrass wafts over the tundra in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 2, 2006. (Steve Hillebrand/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Arctic refuge oil exploration could begin as soon as this winter, court documents indicate

Alaska’s state-owned investment bank could get permission to start oil exploration work in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as soon as the third quarter of… Continue reading

Cottongrass wafts over the tundra in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 2, 2006. (Steve Hillebrand/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
A drill rig at the Palmer deposit in the Chilkat River valley near Haines. (Lex Treinen/Chilkat Valley News)

A contentious mining project in SE Alaska just changed hands. Its new owner already wants to sell.

Opponents are celebrating the news as a setback for the Palmer Project near Haines.

  • May 10, 2025
  • By Max Graham, Northern Journal
  • mining
A drill rig at the Palmer deposit in the Chilkat River valley near Haines. (Lex Treinen/Chilkat Valley News)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior first baseman Riley Fick (22) attempts to catch an errant throw as Petersburg senior Brian Peterson (7) runs out a hit during the Crimson Bears’ 12-7 win over the Vikings on Friday at Mort Fryer Ball Park in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas sweeps road games at Petersburg

Crimson Bears best Vikings in rainy two-game series.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior first baseman Riley Fick (22) attempts to catch an errant throw as Petersburg senior Brian Peterson (7) runs out a hit during the Crimson Bears’ 12-7 win over the Vikings on Friday at Mort Fryer Ball Park in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

In unusual move, Alaska House declines to honor conservative political writer

Suzanne Downing, founder of Must Read Alaska and former Juneau Empire managing editor, spurned by 21-17 vote.

The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A collage of the flood inundation maps shows eight feet without barriers, 16 feet with barriers, 18 feet with barriers, and 20 feet without barriers. The study by Michael Baker International considers the Mendenhall River’s changed topography. (Maps provided by City and Borough of Juneau)
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Updated flood-fighting inundation maps show effectiveness of HESCO barriers

Maps show worst-case scenarios, future flood potential continues to be studied.

A collage of the flood inundation maps shows eight feet without barriers, 16 feet with barriers, 18 feet with barriers, and 20 feet without barriers. The study by Michael Baker International considers the Mendenhall River’s changed topography. (Maps provided by City and Borough of Juneau)
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Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy threatens unprecedented veto of education funds in budget unless his policy goals are met

Line-item veto could leave districts with less money for months; legality of such action is questioned

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 12, 1995. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 12, 1995. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A scene from the PBS children’s series “Molly of Denali.” (WGBH Educational Foundation photo)

‘Molly of Denali’ and other PBS children’s programs on hold as Trump cancels funds

Emmy-winning Juneau writer of “Molly” says PBS told creators the series isn’t being renewed.

A scene from the PBS children’s series “Molly of Denali.” (WGBH Educational Foundation photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) has his shot blocked by Soldotna junior keeper Luke Hillyer during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS Crimson Bears boys outshine Soldotna Stars in 3-0 home win

Two keepers, one new and one old, one wins and one loses, both highlight.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) has his shot blocked by Soldotna junior keeper Luke Hillyer during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) has a shot stopped by Soldotna sophomore keeper Ryan Queen (55) as Stars senior Kendra Rose trails the play during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe/ Juneau Empire)

JDHS soccer girls fall 2-1 to Soldotna

Crimson Bears dampened by Stars in home loss.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) has a shot stopped by Soldotna sophomore keeper Ryan Queen (55) as Stars senior Kendra Rose trails the play during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe/ Juneau Empire)
Staff at the Juneau Public Library’s downtown branch sort materials on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly moves to keep Juneau libraries open daily by providing funds after federal cuts

Money would prevent branches from closing one day a week, but won’t restore statewide loan program

Staff at the Juneau Public Library’s downtown branch sort materials on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)