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Athletes from the Petersburg High School track and field team run sprints at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday. The Vikings don’t have a true sized track and field facility and have made the trip to Juneau in past preseasons as well. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

No track, no problem for Petersburg Vikings

PHS track and field team hones skills at Thunder Mountain

Athletes from the Petersburg High School track and field team run sprints at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday. The Vikings don’t have a true sized track and field facility and have made the trip to Juneau in past preseasons as well. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau), left, confers with Rep. Alyse Galvin (I-Anchorage) during a break in a House floor session on March 10, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau lawmaker’s bill allowing ‘snow classics’ as statewide charitable gaming activity passes House

Local Nordic ski club among groups hoping to use snowfall guessing contests as fundraisers.

Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau), left, confers with Rep. Alyse Galvin (I-Anchorage) during a break in a House floor session on March 10, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives are seen on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska House votes to cut proposed dividend, but huge deficit remains unresolved

Surpise vote with three Republicans absent drops proposed dividend to about $1,400 per recipient.

The chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives are seen on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A school bus passes in front of the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Legislature passes $1,000 per student funding boost, despite governor vowing to veto it

The Alaska Legislature on Friday passed a major increase to K-12 education funding, worth $1,000 in the state’s per-student funding formula. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has… Continue reading

A school bus passes in front of the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Workers begin to install an airport-style security system inside the front entrance of the Alaska State Capitol on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Installation of airport-style security system underway at Alaska State Capitol

Most visitors will need to pass through screening starting around April 21, officials say.

Workers begin to install an airport-style security system inside the front entrance of the Alaska State Capitol on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Workers install HESCO barriers along the Mendenhall River. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Lawsuit by property owner seeks to ban CBJ from installing HESCO barriers

Plaintiff argues city didn’t get proper federal authorization; municipal attorney says claims are errant.

Workers install HESCO barriers along the Mendenhall River. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Lucy Nieboer brings an audience member to the stage at the Crystal Saloon in Juneau Tuesday night for an imrpomptu speech about the Haines Pool. That was during the set of relevantly-named Keep the Pool Open (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

Musicians travel to Juneau to play for ‘Haines Night’ at 50th Folk Festival

Festival continues through Sunday at Centennial Hall and JACC, along with related music around downtown.

Lucy Nieboer brings an audience member to the stage at the Crystal Saloon in Juneau Tuesday night for an imrpomptu speech about the Haines Pool. That was during the set of relevantly-named Keep the Pool Open (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)
U.S. Forest Service Juneau District Ranger Michael Downs and Barb Miranda, acting supervisor for the Tongass National Forest, answer questions at a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Tourism leaders in Juneau expect the unexpected for the 2025 visitor season

Impacts of tariffs and federal firings will be navigated this summer by both tourists and locals.

U.S. Forest Service Juneau District Ranger Michael Downs and Barb Miranda, acting supervisor for the Tongass National Forest, answer questions at a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Alaska State Employees Association and AFSCME Local 52 hold a protest at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

State employee salaries fall short of levels intended to be competitive, long-delayed study finds

31 of 36 occupation groups are 85%-98% of target level; 21 of 36 are below public/private sector average.

Members of the Alaska State Employees Association and AFSCME Local 52 hold a protest at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Four petitions seeking to put proposals on the fall municipal election ballot were filed this week with the Juneau city clerk’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Group hopes to put mill rate cap, food and utility tax exemptions, in-person elections on local fall ballot

Three petitions submitted Thursday by Affordable Juneau Coalition now under CBJ review.

Four petitions seeking to put proposals on the fall municipal election ballot were filed this week with the Juneau city clerk’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sign seen on Wednesday advertises rental availability at an apartment building in Anchorage’s Turnagain neighborhood. Residential rental costs in Alaska are now on par with the national median, a change from the past, when Alaska was had the most expensive residental rental prices, state economists have found. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

In turnaround, median rental cost in Alaska is now down to the national median

Rental costs have risen nationwide, but the increases in Alaska have been slower than elsewhere.

A sign seen on Wednesday advertises rental availability at an apartment building in Anchorage’s Turnagain neighborhood. Residential rental costs in Alaska are now on par with the national median, a change from the past, when Alaska was had the most expensive residental rental prices, state economists have found. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on April 9, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on April 9, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team poses Thursday after their first win of the season over Wasilla at the Sitka Invitational. Front row left-to-right are sophomore Lily Hayes, sophomore June Troxel, senior Tatum Billings, senior Bryanna Eakes, junior Alayna Echiverri and sophomore Skylar Oliva. Back row l-r are freshman Sadie Lockhart, junior Gwen Nizich, senior Taiya Bentz, sophomore Brynn Wheeler, sophomore Taylor Williams and sophomore Cassie Chenoweth. (Photo courtesy Crimson Bears softball)

Crimson Bears awaken in Sitka softball tourney

JDHS opens with split, topping Wasilla, falling to Chugiak.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team poses Thursday after their first win of the season over Wasilla at the Sitka Invitational. Front row left-to-right are sophomore Lily Hayes, sophomore June Troxel, senior Tatum Billings, senior Bryanna Eakes, junior Alayna Echiverri and sophomore Skylar Oliva. Back row l-r are freshman Sadie Lockhart, junior Gwen Nizich, senior Taiya Bentz, sophomore Brynn Wheeler, sophomore Taylor Williams and sophomore Cassie Chenoweth. (Photo courtesy Crimson Bears softball)
The Alaska State Senate meets Thursday, where a bill boosting per-student education funding by $1,000 was introduced on the floor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Education bill with $1,000 BSA hike — and nothing else — gets to Senate floor; veto by Dunleavy expected

Senate president says action on lower per-student education funding increase likely if veto override fails.

The Alaska State Senate meets Thursday, where a bill boosting per-student education funding by $1,000 was introduced on the floor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Venezuelan migrants waiting to cross into the United States after receiving an asylum hearing through the CBP One app in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. (Alejandro Cegarra / For The New York Times)

White House moves to cancel migrants’ legally-obtained Social Security numbers to force self-deportation

Trump administration seeks to cut off access to credit cards, bank accounts, employment.

  • Apr 10, 2025
  • By Alexandra BerzonHamed AleazizNicholas NehamasRyan Mac and Tara Siegel Bernard, ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Donald Trumprefugee
Venezuelan migrants waiting to cross into the United States after receiving an asylum hearing through the CBP One app in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. (Alejandro Cegarra / For The New York Times)
Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks at a House majority news conference, April 8, 2025, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage; Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage; Edgmon; and Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, are seated left to right. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska lawmakers are divided over state budget, stuck without agreement over dividend, schools

House majority leaders appeal to GOP minority, Gov. Dunleavy for agreement on spending plan.

Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks at a House majority news conference, April 8, 2025, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage; Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage; Edgmon; and Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, are seated left to right. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Students swing on a playground at Meadow Lakes Head Start in Wasilla, Alaska. It closed in 2024 due to funding and staffing challenges. (Image by Lela Seiler, courtesy of CCS Early Learning)

Alaska Head Start programs in limbo after regional office closed by U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy

Tribal programs such as Tlingit and Haida’s not affected by closures.

Students swing on a playground at Meadow Lakes Head Start in Wasilla, Alaska. It closed in 2024 due to funding and staffing challenges. (Image by Lela Seiler, courtesy of CCS Early Learning)
The planned restriction on phone services were expected to route more people to Social Security field offices as their staff levels were being cut. (Adriana Zehbrauskas / For The New York Times)

Social Security rolls back restrictions on filing for benefits by phone

Widely criticized plan would have limited Alaskans to filing online or in one of three major cities.

  • Apr 10, 2025
  • By Tara Siegel Bernard ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Donald Trump
The planned restriction on phone services were expected to route more people to Social Security field offices as their staff levels were being cut. (Adriana Zehbrauskas / For The New York Times)
Contractors continue work on the new SEARHC medical center on Japonski Island. The completion estimate has been pushed back to the spring of 2026. (James Poulson / Sitka Daily Sentinel)

Pent-up complaints heard by SEARHC during annual “listening session” in Sitka

Concerns voiced about faulty care, home health for elders, waits for service and hard-to-navigate system.

Contractors continue work on the new SEARHC medical center on Japonski Island. The completion estimate has been pushed back to the spring of 2026. (James Poulson / Sitka Daily Sentinel)
Chum salmon are delivered to Alaska Glacier Seafoods on July 25, 2017. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Chinook harvest limits to be almost 40% lower than ‘24

Allocation is “the lowest chinook harvest limit on record” for Southeast, ADF&G official says.

  • Apr 10, 2025
  • By Anna Laffrey, Daily Sitka Sentinel
  • salmon
Chum salmon are delivered to Alaska Glacier Seafoods on July 25, 2017. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)