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Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cailyn Baxter won the girls long jump with a 16’1” effort during Saturday’s Capital City Invitational Track and Field meet at Juneau’s Thunder Mountain Middle School field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Capital City Invitational ends with Saturday flourish

Athletes got funky as times shortened and distances lengthened

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cailyn Baxter won the girls long jump with a 16’1” effort during Saturday’s Capital City Invitational Track and Field meet at Juneau’s Thunder Mountain Middle School field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
High school junior Jubilee Lewis is all smiles as she and other Mt. Edgecumbe High School Yupik Dancers take the stage at the BJ McGillis Gym to teach a dance to members of high school student governments from across Alaska on Thursday. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Student government convention in Sitka petitions for $1,000 BSA hike, inflation adjustments

About 250 high schoolers seek same funding vetoed by governor, as Legislature now eyes lower amount.

High school junior Jubilee Lewis is all smiles as she and other Mt. Edgecumbe High School Yupik Dancers take the stage at the BJ McGillis Gym to teach a dance to members of high school student governments from across Alaska on Thursday. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau honors namesakes at new Adair Kennedy Memorial Park

More than 430 players on 37 GCLL teams revisit tragic day in history with a field of dreams.

Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé batter Cassie Chenoweth eyes a pitch against Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 6-3 win over the Malemutes on Friday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ softball team splits with Lathrop

Crimson Bears top Malemutes 6-3, fall 11-1 at Miller Park.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé batter Cassie Chenoweth eyes a pitch against Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 6-3 win over the Malemutes on Friday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé shortstop Brandon Casperson tags out Sitka runner Tyson Bartolaba on a throw from catcher JJ McCormick during the Crimson Bears’ 5-1 loss to the Wolves on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS nine hold their own against Sitka

Crimson Bears fall to Wolves in opening home game 5-1.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé shortstop Brandon Casperson tags out Sitka runner Tyson Bartolaba on a throw from catcher JJ McCormick during the Crimson Bears’ 5-1 loss to the Wolves on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sitka’s Marina Dill leads the girls 3,200 during the Capital City Invitational on Friday. At far left is Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Sigrid Eller and junior Siena Farr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Personal records set in opening day of Capital City Invite

Track athletes from around Southeast will compete through Saturday.

Sitka’s Marina Dill leads the girls 3,200 during the Capital City Invitational on Friday. At far left is Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Sigrid Eller and junior Siena Farr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man in prison on federal weapons charges gets 13 years on additional state charges

Clyde Pasterski, 44, was convicted by a jury last November for drug and assault offenses.

A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Protesters rally against the Trump administration’s deportation polices in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

‘Just give us a chance’: One Juneau refugee family puts faith in God, another flees as departure orders arrive

Both families arrived legally; validity of demands by Trump administration to depart being challenged

Protesters rally against the Trump administration’s deportation polices in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Kenzie Simonson wins a ball against Eagle River’s Madalyn Portell (19) during the Crimson Bears 5-0 win over the Wolves at Adair Kennedy Field on April 5. Simonson won the team’s Hard Hat award for her play Thursday at Houston in an 8-0 win. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS soccer teams start successful road trip

Crimson Bears win openers and now play conference foe Colony.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Kenzie Simonson wins a ball against Eagle River’s Madalyn Portell (19) during the Crimson Bears 5-0 win over the Wolves at Adair Kennedy Field on April 5. Simonson won the team’s Hard Hat award for her play Thursday at Houston in an 8-0 win. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Tuesday, April 18, 1995. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Tuesday, April 18, 1995. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Liz Harpold, a staff member for Sen. Donny Olson (D-Golovin)​, explains changes to a bill increasing per-student education funding and making various policy changes during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Revised education bill with $700 BSA hike gets new policy measures, advances to Senate floor

Changes easing charter school rules, adding new district evaluations fall short of governor’s agenda.

Liz Harpold, a staff member for Sen. Donny Olson (D-Golovin)​, explains changes to a bill increasing per-student education funding and making various policy changes during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Russell Benford, representative for Royal Caribbean Group, answers questions from Mayor Beth Weldon on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Assembly tries to clear the air with cruise line officials as tensions rise about future projects

City leaders seek missing details from Royal Caribbean on proposed west Douglas port.

Russell Benford, representative for Royal Caribbean Group, answers questions from Mayor Beth Weldon on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
An officer from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector office, which has assigned two permanent officers to Juneau as of December. (U.S. Border Patrol photo)

Higher-than-normal border crossings north of Haines last month defy national trends

The number of passengers entering the country at the Dalton Cache border crossing last month was higher than normal, according to U.S. Customs and Border… Continue reading

An officer from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector office, which has assigned two permanent officers to Juneau as of December. (U.S. Border Patrol photo)
The chairs of the Senate Finance Committee huddle for a discussion after introducing their draft operating budget, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate committee’s draft budget cuts $206 million from House plan but still has deficit

Proposal eliminates proposals for new troopers, help for education and would cut prison space.

The chairs of the Senate Finance Committee huddle for a discussion after introducing their draft operating budget, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
University of Alaska Anchorage freshman Edgar Vera-Alvarado (143) runs in the 2024 GNAC XC Championships on Oct. 26, 2024 at the Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham, Washington. Freshman teammate Anthony Porter (138) from Colorado Springs, Colorado, runs behind. (Photo courtesy UAA)

Edgar Jesus Vera Alvarado finding running groove at UAA

Crimson Bears’ “Juneau Juggernaut” now part of talented Seawolves team.

University of Alaska Anchorage freshman Edgar Vera-Alvarado (143) runs in the 2024 GNAC XC Championships on Oct. 26, 2024 at the Sudden Valley Golf Course in Bellingham, Washington. Freshman teammate Anthony Porter (138) from Colorado Springs, Colorado, runs behind. (Photo courtesy UAA)
Mike Verdoorn, Patrick Bracken and Richard Ward of The Segal Group Inc. provide an overview of their study of Alaska state employee salaries to the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Shortcomings revealed in state employee salary study won’t be addressed until at least next year

Legislators and state administrators dispute who is underpaid and by how much, but agree fix is complex.

Mike Verdoorn, Patrick Bracken and Richard Ward of The Segal Group Inc. provide an overview of their study of Alaska state employee salaries to the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A 74-pound cabbage grown by Keevan Dinkel of Wasilla is displayed on Sept. 2, 2018, at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Palmer legislator proposes Alaska’s record-setting giant cabbage as official state vegetable

Nomination could raise recognition for Alaska agriculture, says Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer.

A 74-pound cabbage grown by Keevan Dinkel of Wasilla is displayed on Sept. 2, 2018, at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
An Alaska Airlines plane passes above participants in the annual Turkey Trot run/walk next to Juneau International Airport on Thanksgiving Day of 2022. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska Airlines issues warning amidst travel industry downturn due to Trump-fueled uncertainty

Company reports $166M loss during first quarter of year, won’t release an outlook for 2025.

An Alaska Airlines plane passes above participants in the annual Turkey Trot run/walk next to Juneau International Airport on Thanksgiving Day of 2022. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
A vote board shows a veto override attempt Tuesday by the Alaska Legislature on a $1,000 increase to per-student education funding falling short of the necessary two-thirds majority with a 33-27 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Senate adds $700 BSA hike to school phone policy bill a day after veto override on $1,000 increase fails

Lawmakers say quick floor vote by Senate, concurrence by House may set up another override session.

A vote board shows a veto override attempt Tuesday by the Alaska Legislature on a $1,000 increase to per-student education funding falling short of the necessary two-thirds majority with a 33-27 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), co-chair of the House Education Committee, speaks in favor of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of an education funding bill during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature fails to override Dunleavy’s veto of $1,000 increase in per-student education spending

Lawmakers supporting veto note state’s financial shortfall, suggest smaller BSA increase or new revenue.

Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), co-chair of the House Education Committee, speaks in favor of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of an education funding bill during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)