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Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and co-chair of the House Finance Committee, in charge of the operating budget, listens to debate Monday, April 14, 2025, on the operating budget. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska House votes down symbolic antiabortion budget language, passes amendment against trans care

Debate continues this week on draft state operating budget authored by the House of Representatives.

Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and co-chair of the House Finance Committee, in charge of the operating budget, listens to debate Monday, April 14, 2025, on the operating budget. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Haines seniors, left-to-right, Ari’el Godinez Long, Ashlyn Ganey and Emma Dohrn pose at the AABC Alaska Senior All-Star Game on Saturday at Anchorage’s Grace Christian High School. (Photo courtesy Ashlyn Ganey)

Local senior hoopsters play last minutes as all-stars

AABC 16th annual event showcases Alaska basketball talent

Haines seniors, left-to-right, Ari’el Godinez Long, Ashlyn Ganey and Emma Dohrn pose at the AABC Alaska Senior All-Star Game on Saturday at Anchorage’s Grace Christian High School. (Photo courtesy Ashlyn Ganey)
A map shows the area to the west of Lynn Canal where state transportation officials are seeking proposals to study a road and/or other transportation linking Juneau and other communities. (Google Maps)

Senate claws back $37 million in Juneau Access funds to help pass next year’s capital budget

Funds rediverted for statewide use a month after DOT seeks new studies for “dead” access project.

A map shows the area to the west of Lynn Canal where state transportation officials are seeking proposals to study a road and/or other transportation linking Juneau and other communities. (Google Maps)
Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson, president of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, delivers his State of the Tribe speech to delegates during the opening of the 89th annual Tribal Assembly on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. This year’s three-day tribal assembly is scheduled to start Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson, president of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, delivers his State of the Tribe speech to delegates during the opening of the 89th annual Tribal Assembly on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. This year’s three-day tribal assembly is scheduled to start Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Local collaborators cruise through first day of visitor season

U.S. Forest Service, partners optimistic about ability to provide a high-quality visitor experience.

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Power remained on in downtown Juneau on Sunday night, while two damaged poles left much of the rest of the town in the dark. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Damaged power poles knocks out electricity to Valley, other northern parts of Juneau

Repairs to outage that occurred Sunday evening expected by midnight, ALE&P says.

Power remained on in downtown Juneau on Sunday night, while two damaged poles left much of the rest of the town in the dark. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Welcome messages in multiple languages are painted on windows at the University of Alaska Anchorage at the start of the semester in January. (University of Alaska Anchorage photo)

Juneau refugee family gets ‘leave immediately’ notice; four people affiliated with UAA have visas revoked

Actions part of nationwide sweep as Trump ignores legal orders against detentions, deportations.

Welcome messages in multiple languages are painted on windows at the University of Alaska Anchorage at the start of the semester in January. (University of Alaska Anchorage photo)
Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, the featured guest artists for the 50th Alaska Folk Festival, perform the final concert of the weeklong event at Centennial Hall on Sunday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

50th Alaska Folk Festival is one for the records

Capacity crowds, Grammy-winning artists, sellout of merchandise, future film make for resounding week.

Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, the featured guest artists for the 50th Alaska Folk Festival, perform the final concert of the weeklong event at Centennial Hall on Sunday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan during her defamation lawsuit against The New York Times on Feb. 4 2022. Palin’s yearslong defamation case against The New York Times, potentially testing the extent of First Amendment protections for journalists, will soon go to trial in federal court in Manhattan.(Stephanie Keith/The New York Times)

Palin v. New York Times heads back to trial

The case centers on the former Alaska governor’s claim that an editorial published in 2017 defamed her.

  • Apr 13, 2025
  • By David Enrich and Katie Robertson ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Sarah Palin
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan during her defamation lawsuit against The New York Times on Feb. 4 2022. Palin’s yearslong defamation case against The New York Times, potentially testing the extent of First Amendment protections for journalists, will soon go to trial in federal court in Manhattan.(Stephanie Keith/The New York Times)
(Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS softball finishes Sitka Tournament

Crimson Bears go 3-3-1 on the road, now prepare to host.

(Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears track team had a strong showing against the Kodiak Bears in the Bears Dual On The Rock meet at Kodiak over the weekend. (Photo courtesy JDHS track)

Traveling Crimson Bears tear up Kodiak Bears

JDHS wins Bears Dual On The Rock track invitational

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears track team had a strong showing against the Kodiak Bears in the Bears Dual On The Rock meet at Kodiak over the weekend. (Photo courtesy JDHS track)
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)