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Flags fly at half staff at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy orders flags at state facilities to fly at full height during Trump’s inauguration day

Governor joins other pols ordering interruption of 30-day half-staff period for former President Carter.

Flags fly at half staff at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears pep band perform during a home game at the George Houston Gymnasium earlier this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS pep band takes its beat to a new level of size and sound

62-member Crimson Bears orchestra keeps homecourt rocking as musicians prepare for festivals, competitions

Members of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears pep band perform during a home game at the George Houston Gymnasium earlier this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Jenny Thomas, a parent of a student at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, testifies on school safety concerns at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

High school fights in Juneau beginning to decline, but parents want more action

Juneau Board of Education hears requests for their members to be leaders in school safety.

Jenny Thomas, a parent of a student at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, testifies on school safety concerns at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May of 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Rules for short-term housing such as Airbnbs getting another long look from new CBJ task force

11-member group seeks to present Juneau Assembly with recommendations by March 31.

Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May of 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 16, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Jan. 18

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 16, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Huskies Ring of Honor winner Jayden Johnson, left, stands with Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos and brother Jamal Johnson after the Huskies award banquet. Jamal Johnson is a 2023 Thunder Mountain High School graduate and also a Ring of Honor recipient. He is currently playing for Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. (Photo courtesy Juneau Huskies)

Jayden Johnson named to Ring of Honor as Juneau Huskies football players honored at team banquet

Awards also given to offensive, defensive, special teams, most-improved and academic standouts.

Juneau Huskies Ring of Honor winner Jayden Johnson, left, stands with Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos and brother Jamal Johnson after the Huskies award banquet. Jamal Johnson is a 2023 Thunder Mountain High School graduate and also a Ring of Honor recipient. He is currently playing for Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. (Photo courtesy Juneau Huskies)
A map shows where five proposed totem poles would be placed at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (U.S. Forest Service)

Five new totem poles proposed at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center as part of stewardship agreement

Open house Wednesday to discuss project intended to “represent several Tlingit and Haida clans.”

A map shows where five proposed totem poles would be placed at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (U.S. Forest Service)
Alaska Grown-labeled salad greens are offered for sale on Jan. 14, 2025, at Natural Pantry, a health food store in Anchorage. Grocery shoppers are willing to pay a premium for locally sourced lettuce, researchers have found. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Grocery shoppers willing to pay more for Alaska Grown produce, study finds

How much are Alaskans willing to pay for produce that is homegrown? A newly published study has some answers: a significant premium, especially when they… Continue reading

Alaska Grown-labeled salad greens are offered for sale on Jan. 14, 2025, at Natural Pantry, a health food store in Anchorage. Grocery shoppers are willing to pay a premium for locally sourced lettuce, researchers have found. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
In an undated image provided by Chris Miller, an image of the northern lights in Juneau shows what a camera with a longer exposure captures. As astrotourism booms, the northern lights get a boost from digital photography. (Chris Miller via The New York Times)

Is the aurora borealis really that mind-blowing? Or is it just your cellphone photos?

In August, over a calm Michigan lake, Karl Duesterhaus, 34, of Chicago, was treated to an unusual phenomenon: the northern lights, which appeared as hazy… Continue reading

In an undated image provided by Chris Miller, an image of the northern lights in Juneau shows what a camera with a longer exposure captures. As astrotourism booms, the northern lights get a boost from digital photography. (Chris Miller via The New York Times)
Kristin Garot asks a question to members of Juneau’s legislative delegation at a town hall in the Dzantik’i Heeni school commons on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Expect tighter budget, but more say in how the money is spent, local legislators say

Juneau lawmakers cite familiar issues of education, pensions as priorities at pre-session town hall

Kristin Garot asks a question to members of Juneau’s legislative delegation at a town hall in the Dzantik’i Heeni school commons on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Stikine River Flats area in the Tongass National Forest viewed by helicopter. The nearby community of Wrangell has received federal funding, through the Secure Rural Schools Act program, designed to assist communities impacted by the declining timber industry. (Alicia Stearns/U.S. Forest Service)

Rural schools in Southeast Alaska face funding shortfall after U.S. House fails to pass bipartisan bill

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act is aimed at schools near federal lands.

The Stikine River Flats area in the Tongass National Forest viewed by helicopter. The nearby community of Wrangell has received federal funding, through the Secure Rural Schools Act program, designed to assist communities impacted by the declining timber industry. (Alicia Stearns/U.S. Forest Service)
Mike Bethers and his wife, Astrid, turn over two fish to Alysha Reeves, dock chair at the Auke Nu weighing station during the final day of the 78th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dozens of Board of Fisheries proposals affecting Southeast Alaska reviewed by Upper Lynn Canal AC

159 proposals for meeting between Jan. 28 and Feb. 9 involve hatcheries, crabs, rockfish and more.

Mike Bethers and his wife, Astrid, turn over two fish to Alysha Reeves, dock chair at the Auke Nu weighing station during the final day of the 78th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Elliot Welch (36) takes a shot against Bartlett senior Dylan Beals (19) and junior Phillip Deguzman (12) in a Crimson Bears win earlier this season at Juneau’s Treadwell Ice Arena. Welch scored three goals Friday and two Saturday at Homer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Crimson Bears ice Mariners

JDHS overpowers Northern Lights opponent.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Elliot Welch (36) takes a shot against Bartlett senior Dylan Beals (19) and junior Phillip Deguzman (12) in a Crimson Bears win earlier this season at Juneau’s Treadwell Ice Arena. Welch scored three goals Friday and two Saturday at Homer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cailynn Baxter (23) is fouled by Soldotna senior Brooke Walters during the Crimson Bears 63-26 win over the Stars on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears girls finish sweep of Stars

JDHS girls undefeated in Alaska as conference play approaches.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cailynn Baxter (23) is fouled by Soldotna senior Brooke Walters during the Crimson Bears 63-26 win over the Stars on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys basketball team pose at the home of the Palmer Moose during the Palmer Elks Tournament at Palmer. (Photo courtesy JDHS)

JDHS boys fall to Palmer 66-64 in tournament title game

Crimson Bears’ Saceda-Hurt, B. Casperson, Gasga all-tourney selections.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys basketball team pose at the home of the Palmer Moose during the Palmer Elks Tournament at Palmer. (Photo courtesy JDHS)
Rep. Sara Hannan (left) and Rep. Andi Story, both Juneau Democrats, talk during a break in floor debate Sunday, May 12, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Bans on cellphones for students, abortion, styrofoam food containers among Legislature’s first prefiled bills

Two members of Juneau’s delegation reintroduce bills for students, public employees, crime victims.

Rep. Sara Hannan (left) and Rep. Andi Story, both Juneau Democrats, talk during a break in floor debate Sunday, May 12, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Commercial fishing boats are lined up at the dock at Seward’s harbor on June 22, 2024. A legislative task force has come up with preliminary recommendations to help the ailing Alaska seafood industry. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Legislative task force offers possible actions to rescue troubled Alaska seafood industry

Boosting international marketing, developing new products, more support for workers, other steps.

Commercial fishing boats are lined up at the dock at Seward’s harbor on June 22, 2024. A legislative task force has come up with preliminary recommendations to help the ailing Alaska seafood industry. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka and freshman Lydia Goins (15) defend Soldotna senior Anika Jedlicka (4) as JDHS senior Cailynn Baxter (23) and junior Gwen Nizich (11) follow the play during the Crimson Bears 65-28 win over the Stars on Friday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears girls run past Stars

JDHS spoils visiting Soldotna’s undefeated-in-Alaska season

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka and freshman Lydia Goins (15) defend Soldotna senior Anika Jedlicka (4) as JDHS senior Cailynn Baxter (23) and junior Gwen Nizich (11) follow the play during the Crimson Bears 65-28 win over the Stars on Friday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A combined crew from the Yakutat City and Borough and Tongass National Forest began pilot treatment of willows to improve moose browsing habitat in August of 2023. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

Tongass Forest Plan Revision draft released, starting clock on 45-day comment period

Plan seeks to balance range of tribal, environmental, industrial and climate goals.

A combined crew from the Yakutat City and Borough and Tongass National Forest began pilot treatment of willows to improve moose browsing habitat in August of 2023. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Joren Gasga (12) guarding Ketchikan’s Edward Dela Cruz last weekend. Gasga was part of JDHS’ defensive pressure in Friday’s 71-46 win over Homer at the Palmer Elks Tournament in Palmer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS defeats Homer despite low shot percentage

Crimson Bears sink Mariners 71-46 at Palmer Elks tournament.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Joren Gasga (12) guarding Ketchikan’s Edward Dela Cruz last weekend. Gasga was part of JDHS’ defensive pressure in Friday’s 71-46 win over Homer at the Palmer Elks Tournament in Palmer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)