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U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Begich supports Trump’s federal cutbacks, but ‘I recognize the process won’t be perfect’

Congressman says cutting most Mendenhall Glacier staff may have been hasty; also wants faster flood fix.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Ski Club’s coach Kevin Stell, Elaine Duvall, Marin Lowell, coach Brock Tabor and McKinley Burgess-Fitzpatrick pose Friday at the Alyeska Cup races in Girdwood. (Photo courtesy JSC)

Juneau Ski Club takes 14 athletes to Alyeska

Andrews, Stell highlight four top five JSC finishes

Juneau Ski Club’s coach Kevin Stell, Elaine Duvall, Marin Lowell, coach Brock Tabor and McKinley Burgess-Fitzpatrick pose Friday at the Alyeska Cup races in Girdwood. (Photo courtesy JSC)
In this 2014 photo Thunder Mountain High School senior Ben Jahn (32) and Juneau-Douglas senior Kevin Guimmayen (10) shake hands before their game. Guimmayen passed from leukemia in 2017. Funds from Saturday’s game will go to help Cancer Connection and childhood cancer awareness. Friday’s game will support mental health through Take A Timeout To Talk supported by Find Your Fire and Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Weekend home basketball welcomes Monroe

Series will feature mental health and cancer awareness.

In this 2014 photo Thunder Mountain High School senior Ben Jahn (32) and Juneau-Douglas senior Kevin Guimmayen (10) shake hands before their game. Guimmayen passed from leukemia in 2017. Funds from Saturday’s game will go to help Cancer Connection and childhood cancer awareness. Friday’s game will support mental health through Take A Timeout To Talk supported by Find Your Fire and Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A ranger watches a bear cross a path at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Officials and former employees say nearly all of the staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center have been fired by the Trump administration during the past week. (Photo courtesy of Megan Whitesall)

Only two employees left at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center after 80% of staff fired, official says

Tourism industry, city officials say they are uncertain about next steps as cruise season approaches.

A ranger watches a bear cross a path at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Officials and former employees say nearly all of the staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center have been fired by the Trump administration during the past week. (Photo courtesy of Megan Whitesall)
Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks on the House floor on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Education funding bill unexpectedly advances again, nears House floor vote amid affordability concerns

HB 69 clears Finance Committee at first hearing as minority says discussions there are not worthwhile.

Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks on the House floor on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 19, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 19, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

Murkowski takes tough questions at virtual town hall, but doesn’t connect with all constituents

Alaska senator critical of many Trump actions; questioners ask what she’s doing about it beyond words.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)
Wrangell senior Della Churchill applauds the effort of a Stikine Middle School wrestler during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Championships at Thunder Mountain Middle School last week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Della Churchill finds solace and perseverance on the mat

Wrangell senior’s strength through adversity a mark of her wrestling character

Wrangell senior Della Churchill applauds the effort of a Stikine Middle School wrestler during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Championships at Thunder Mountain Middle School last week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A pilot flies over Denali National Park and Preserve in an undated photo. (iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Federal Aviation Administration withdraws from Alaska groups that work on safety

On Feb. 5, one day before the crash of Bering Air Flight 445, the Federal Aviation Administration informed a group of Alaska air carriers that… Continue reading

A pilot flies over Denali National Park and Preserve in an undated photo. (iStock/Getty Images Plus)
A worker aboard a commercial fishing vessel. (Photo provided by NOAA Fisheries)

Alaska fisheries observers experience harassment at much higher than reported rates, study says

Researchers estimate 22% to 38% of observers experience victimization each year.

A worker aboard a commercial fishing vessel. (Photo provided by NOAA Fisheries)
Greens Creek is one of the largest silver mines in the world. It recently lost access to its supply of hydroelectric power, which its owner, Hecla, says could cost the company $5 million to replace with diesel generation. (Hecla Greens Creek Mine)

Juneau’s push to expand renewable power could boost the region’s mines — or cost them

Proposals to electrify cruise docks and build hydroelectric plant may help one mine, hurt another.

  • Feb 20, 2025
  • By Max Graham, Northern Journal
  • mining
Greens Creek is one of the largest silver mines in the world. It recently lost access to its supply of hydroelectric power, which its owner, Hecla, says could cost the company $5 million to replace with diesel generation. (Hecla Greens Creek Mine)
Glacier Swim Club’s Levi Phelps, center, was 1st place high point winner for 14 year old boys at the Alaska Age Group Champs in Fairbanks over the weekend. At left is third place Noah Unks of Chugiak Aquatics Club and at right is second place Haoran Zhang of Midnight Sun Swim Team. (Photo courtesy GSC)

Glacier Swim Club thaws out Fairbanks pool with second-place team finish

Phelps, Soboleff, Woodruff pace team at Age Group Championships.

Glacier Swim Club’s Levi Phelps, center, was 1st place high point winner for 14 year old boys at the Alaska Age Group Champs in Fairbanks over the weekend. At left is third place Noah Unks of Chugiak Aquatics Club and at right is second place Haoran Zhang of Midnight Sun Swim Team. (Photo courtesy GSC)
Alaska State House members confer about a proposal to advance an education funding bill during a break in Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Education funding bill advances in House as majority shortcuts committee process due to stalemate

Bill held up in Education Committee due to absent member now skips ahead to Finance Committee.

Alaska State House members confer about a proposal to advance an education funding bill during a break in Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
2024 Thunder Mountain High School graduate James Polasky (34) is shown in action for St. Olaf College against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this past November in the Oles gym in Minnesota. (Photo courtesy St. Olaf College)

Basketball a piece of cake for former TMHS star James Polasky

St. Olaf freshman has found taste for college.

2024 Thunder Mountain High School graduate James Polasky (34) is shown in action for St. Olaf College against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this past November in the Oles gym in Minnesota. (Photo courtesy St. Olaf College)
The Hubbard and LeConte state ferries. (Alaska Marine Highway System photo)

Ailing state ferry system with 24% employee vacancy rate facing government cuts and freezes

Trump may yank funds for vessel upgrades; lawsuit says governor is trying to cut state worker pay.

The Hubbard and LeConte state ferries. (Alaska Marine Highway System photo)
U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

‘This is no town hall. This is propaganda’; Begich takes heat at first virtual constituent forum

Congressman set to deliver his first joint address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Thunder Mountain Middle School’s Minali Reid works a pin on Schoenbar Knights grappler Loriel Zapanta in the girls 106-pound championship match during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at TMMS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Falcons claim Southeast Middle School Championship

Inspired by heroes, wrestlers grapple for medals and titles.

Thunder Mountain Middle School’s Minali Reid works a pin on Schoenbar Knights grappler Loriel Zapanta in the girls 106-pound championship match during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at TMMS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Local organizers and speakers at a “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest lead a drum chant and dance Monday in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘No Kings on Presidents Day’ protest of Trump draws more than 400 to Alaska State Capitol

Firing of federal workers, elimination of DEI and LGBTQ+ policies among objections of participants.

Local organizers and speakers at a “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest lead a drum chant and dance Monday in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser testifies in support of a Base Student Allocation increase on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Superintendent suggests Juneau school board assume a $400 BSA increase in district’s budget

Some board members hesitant to depart from no-increase policy, express concern about Trump’s actions.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser testifies in support of a Base Student Allocation increase on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Runners start the Sweetheart Relay on Saturday at Sandy Beach. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sweetheart race, a run for love and waffles

Saturday race features appetites aplenty in diverse field.

Runners start the Sweetheart Relay on Saturday at Sandy Beach. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)