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In this April 22, 2021, photo, signs of spring thaw appear along the Tazlina River in Tazlina, Alaska. The Catholic Church wants to sell 462 acres that once housed the Copper Valley mission school to the Native Village of Tazlina, a federally recognized tribe. The tribe is scrambling to raise the nearly $1.9 million asking price so it can regain stewardship of its ancestral land. (John Tierney/Indian Country Today)

Alaska village eyes return of ancestral lands

A federally recognized tribe is scrambling to raise funds to regain stewardship of the lands.

In this April 22, 2021, photo, signs of spring thaw appear along the Tazlina River in Tazlina, Alaska. The Catholic Church wants to sell 462 acres that once housed the Copper Valley mission school to the Native Village of Tazlina, a federally recognized tribe. The tribe is scrambling to raise the nearly $1.9 million asking price so it can regain stewardship of its ancestral land. (John Tierney/Indian Country Today)
Courtesy photo/University of Alaska Fairbanks Pat Pitney, president of the University of Alaska system, will give the keynote address Sunday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé commencement. She said her remarks will focus on the future ahead of the graduates as well as the skills they learned during COVID.

‘You can do hard things’: Commencement address comes together

UA President Pat Pitney said she was humbled to be selected.

Courtesy photo/University of Alaska Fairbanks Pat Pitney, president of the University of Alaska system, will give the keynote address Sunday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé commencement. She said her remarks will focus on the future ahead of the graduates as well as the skills they learned during COVID.
Members of the class of 2021, including Anna Wu, JDHS (left), Chemery Marte,TMHS (second from left), Connor Carroll (center right), and Yarrow Platt, (far right) from YDHS. (Courtesy Photos)

Seniors reflect, look forward

Graduation day evokes a wide variety of feelings

Members of the class of 2021, including Anna Wu, JDHS (left), Chemery Marte,TMHS (second from left), Connor Carroll (center right), and Yarrow Platt, (far right) from YDHS. (Courtesy Photos)
Hikers traverse the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes on the Alaska Peninsula, walking on a sheet of ash and volcanic rock more than 500-feet thick. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Bringing the world to a standstill

On a fine June day about 100 years ago, the world fell apart.

Hikers traverse the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes on the Alaska Peninsula, walking on a sheet of ash and volcanic rock more than 500-feet thick. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Leslie Ishii, artistic director for Perseverance Theatre; Dennis Arashiro, Board President of the Alaska Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League; and Adriana Li, program coordinator and instructor for IMPACT; will be featured on a conversation panel that will be held in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. (Courtesy Photos)

Community conversation to spotlight Alaska’s AAPI community

“We have to take a look at how we humanize each other.”

Leslie Ishii, artistic director for Perseverance Theatre; Dennis Arashiro, Board President of the Alaska Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League; and Adriana Li, program coordinator and instructor for IMPACT; will be featured on a conversation panel that will be held in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. (Courtesy Photos)
Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Special session begins, aims to solve Alaska’s fiscal deficit for good

Get ready in May for August.

Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Teaser

Opinion: The plague of intellectual laziness

What’s become increasingly lazy, is our political discourse.

  • May 21, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
Teaser
Thunder Mountain High School player Meki Toutaoilepo, battles for a basket. (Courtesy Photo/Heather Holt)

TMHS boys basketball recognizes players with end of season awards

TMHS had a young team this year.

Thunder Mountain High School player Meki Toutaoilepo, battles for a basket. (Courtesy Photo/Heather Holt)
This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports the state has added jobs but has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels of employment. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska gains jobs but doesn’t reach pre-pandemic levels

Numbers still lagged what they were before the pandemic, per state report.

This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports the state has added jobs but has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels of employment. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Six people were arrested and charged following an investigation into a drug ring in Juneau on May 21, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

6 arrested and indicted in drug ring bust

Those arrested allegedly distributed drugs across the Southeast.

Six people were arrested and charged following an investigation into a drug ring in Juneau on May 21, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
House Speaker Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, left, and House Finance Committee co-chair Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, speak with reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The Alaska State Legislature worked until past midnight Wednesday on the state’s budget bill which will now be negotiated in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget bill goes to committee for deliberation

Changes to be made.

House Speaker Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, left, and House Finance Committee co-chair Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, speak with reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The Alaska State Legislature worked until past midnight Wednesday on the state’s budget bill which will now be negotiated in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Pearl, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. Big-deck cruise ships may be seen in Juneau this year yet as a bill allowing them to bypass Canada passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 20, 2021. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

US House passes bill that could allow an Alaska cruise season

The bill would allow cruise ships to skip Canada on their way north.

The Norwegian Pearl, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. Big-deck cruise ships may be seen in Juneau this year yet as a bill allowing them to bypass Canada passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 20, 2021. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke to reporters in his office on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to discuss next steps after the Senate debated the state budget until just before midnight the night before. Senators voted for a Permanent Fund Dividend of $2,300, the largest in history, but negotiations with the House of Representatives are still to come. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Senate votes for $2,300 PFD, but the amount could change

It would be the largest PFD in state history.

Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke to reporters in his office on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to discuss next steps after the Senate debated the state budget until just before midnight the night before. Senators voted for a Permanent Fund Dividend of $2,300, the largest in history, but negotiations with the House of Representatives are still to come. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
On Wednesday night, the City and Borough of Juneau’s finance committee voted to keep the city’s property tax mill rate steady amid news of increasing commercial valuations and the associated increased tax revenue as well as an influx of federal money that has buoyed the city’s overall financial situation heading into the new fiscal year. (File Photo)

Committee votes to keep property tax rate the same

Finance Committee stands pat on mill rate

On Wednesday night, the City and Borough of Juneau’s finance committee voted to keep the city’s property tax mill rate steady amid news of increasing commercial valuations and the associated increased tax revenue as well as an influx of federal money that has buoyed the city’s overall financial situation heading into the new fiscal year. (File Photo)
Members of the Gonzalo Bergara Trio perform in the atrium of the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building as part of Juneau Jazz & Classics on Friday, May 10, 2019. The music festival continues through May 18. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival kicks off next week

Audiences deprived of live music spur sell outs, but opportunities remain

Members of the Gonzalo Bergara Trio perform in the atrium of the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building as part of Juneau Jazz & Classics on Friday, May 10, 2019. The music festival continues through May 18. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky, D-Bethel, urges her colleagues to vote for a bill to have the state recognize the Alaska’s 229 already federally recognized tribes on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. The bill was one of dozens heard Wednesday as lawmakers tried to pass as much legislation on the last day of the legislative session. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget debate takes lawmakers into evening

More time for debate.

Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky, D-Bethel, urges her colleagues to vote for a bill to have the state recognize the Alaska’s 229 already federally recognized tribes on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. The bill was one of dozens heard Wednesday as lawmakers tried to pass as much legislation on the last day of the legislative session. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz briefs volunteer searchers in the search for missing woman Geraldine Nelson on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Search continues for missing woman close and far from home

Volunteers searched Nelson’s neighborhood and checked out possible sightings.

Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz briefs volunteer searchers in the search for missing woman Geraldine Nelson on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Southeast Alaska is filled with forest service cabins that provide unique places to spend a weekend and connect with previous visitors. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Popping the bubble

A good weekend off the grid will put your focus on the cluttered chaos of nature.

Southeast Alaska is filled with forest service cabins that provide unique places to spend a weekend and connect with previous visitors. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bill to create new AMHS board heads to governor

It’s been a years-long effort.

The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A sign reading “Masks Required” lies on the ground near a softball field at Melvin Park on Tuesday morning. In a community briefing, city officials clarified why the mask mandate changed last week and what to expect going forward.

Frequently masked questions: City shares information about when and where to wear one

Keep a mask in tow.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A sign reading “Masks Required” lies on the ground near a softball field at Melvin Park on Tuesday morning. In a community briefing, city officials clarified why the mask mandate changed last week and what to expect going forward.