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Jessie Holmes, former reality TV star, wins longest-ever Iditarod dog race: ‘It’s a magical feeling’

Jessie Holmes, a former reality television star on “Life Below Zero,” won the longest-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Friday morning, crossing under the… Continue reading

  • Mar 14, 2025
  • By Lauren Merola ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Iditarod
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Kake’s Deontay Jackson (33) is fouled by Shishmaref’s Frederick Olana (11) during the Thunderbirds 68-67 loss to the Northern Lights in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kake state championship hopes fall by a point

Klawock girls, Skagway boys stay alive; Hoonah, Haines girls lose first games.

Kake’s Deontay Jackson (33) is fouled by Shishmaref’s Frederick Olana (11) during the Thunderbirds 68-67 loss to the Northern Lights in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 9, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 9, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Cable Innovator docks in Juneau on Wednesday, March 13, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Subsea communications cable repair ship makes port stop in Juneau between Southeast projects

Cable Innovator wraps up work in Sitka, now heads for Angoon following regional outage.

The Cable Innovator docks in Juneau on Wednesday, March 13, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Wrangell coach Cody Angerman talks in a huddle during the Wolves 57-30 loss to the Seahawks during the opening day of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. The Wolves wore warmup shirts in honor of coach Angerman’s father Fred Angerman Jr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wrangell boys fall in emotional first game at state tournament

Wolves honor coach’s father and Southeast legend “Fast Freddy” following his recent death.

Wrangell coach Cody Angerman talks in a huddle during the Wolves 57-30 loss to the Seahawks during the opening day of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. The Wolves wore warmup shirts in honor of coach Angerman’s father Fred Angerman Jr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

New firings gut nearly half of U.S. Education Department, 25% of NOAA; Forest Service staff get 45-day reprieve

Trump administration moves quickly on additional mass firings, despite some being declared illegal.

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Office of Personnel Management in Washington. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Judge orders Trump administration to rehire thousands of fired workers; at least some to get back pay

Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Interior departments affected by order.

The Office of Personnel Management in Washington. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
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Former Dunleavy aide files libel lawsuit against news organizations, reporters

Jeremy Cubas, representing himself in the suit, resigned from the governor’s office in 2023.

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The Alaska State Capitol is seen in partial morning sun on May 10, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

New Alaska revenue forecast worsens state’s big projected budget deficits

The state of Alaska is still facing a significant budget deficit despite a revised state revenue forecast published Wednesday by the Alaska Department of Revenue.… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen in partial morning sun on May 10, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Kake’s Keontay Jackson (33) attempts a dunk during the Thunderbirds 61-41 win over the King Cove T-Jacks in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast teams open 1A state tournament play

Kake boys, Hoonah girls win; Skagway boys, Klawock girls fall.

Kake’s Keontay Jackson (33) attempts a dunk during the Thunderbirds 61-41 win over the King Cove T-Jacks in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) offers an overview of House Bill 69 during Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House passes education bill with $1,000 BSA increase as state’s fiscal situation grows bleaker

Senate majority likely to trim hike to $680 while legislators also seek policy deal with governor.

Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) offers an overview of House Bill 69 during Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nicole Herbert, who this month became the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, explains details of next year’s proposed budget to the Juneau Board of Education on Tuesday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau School District leaders plan final vote Thursday on ‘conservative’ budget for next year

Plan assumes $400 BSA hike and no staff vacancies; actual figures likely to be more financially favorable.

Nicole Herbert, who this month became the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, explains details of next year’s proposed budget to the Juneau Board of Education on Tuesday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Multiple vehicles are engulfed by fire Monday night at 30 Mile Glacier Highway. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo)

Multiple vehicles consumed by fire at Mile 30 Glacier Highway

Fire department says no injuries reported; no further action planned since site is outside fire district.

Multiple vehicles are engulfed by fire Monday night at 30 Mile Glacier Highway. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo)
A mother and baby sperm whale swim together in a photo taken in 2013. (Photo by Gabriel Barathieu, under a Creative Commons license)
A mother and baby sperm whale swim together in a photo taken in 2013. (Photo by Gabriel Barathieu, under a Creative Commons license)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Reps. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), left, and Andi Story (D-Juneau), who co-chair the House Education Committee, confer during a break in a floor session Monday focusing on an omnibus education bill.

Republicans get chance to take a whack at omnibus state education bill as it reaches the House floor

Dozens of amendments ranging from more homeschool funds to discipline policies fall short.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Reps. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), left, and Andi Story (D-Juneau), who co-chair the House Education Committee, confer during a break in a floor session Monday focusing on an omnibus education bill.
School buses arrive at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Classroom fire at Dzantik’i Heeni Campus forces evacuation due to electrical wiring risk

Students transported to Dimond Park Field House for pickup or to catch buses home

School buses arrive at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Lebanon Valley College sophomore forward Anna Dale (7) slaps a shot past a Stevenson University defender during Middle Atlantic Conference hockey action this year. (Photo courtesy Lebanon Valley College)

JDHS grad Anna Dale nets Offensive Player of the Year as sophomore at Lebanon Valley College

2023 graduate helps NCAA DIII Dutchmen reach Middle Atlantic Conference semifinals.

Lebanon Valley College sophomore forward Anna Dale (7) slaps a shot past a Stevenson University defender during Middle Atlantic Conference hockey action this year. (Photo courtesy Lebanon Valley College)
Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds participate in Juneau LGBTQ+ rally as Trump administration seeks to erase letters and rights

President’s actions to stop “woke” are putting people’s safety and health at risk, participants say.

Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fired and current federal employees find solidarity as community offers support

Trump administration seeks to make government more efficient; fired employees say opposite will happen.

Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in front of snow-covered Mount Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

As Alaska Legislature tackles education funding, a bigger budget debate looms

State faces short-term and long-term fiscal problems this year, with many options being considered.

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in front of snow-covered Mount Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)