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Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders listen to comments from residents during a forum June 13 about proposed cuts to some services, after officials said the reductions were necessary to keep the hospital from going bankrupt within a few years. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Bartlett rebounds from years of losses with profits past six months; staffing down 12% during past year

Hospital’s balance sheet shows dramatic bottom-line turnaround starting in May as services cut.

Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders listen to comments from residents during a forum June 13 about proposed cuts to some services, after officials said the reductions were necessary to keep the hospital from going bankrupt within a few years. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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A street in a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood is closed following record flooding on Aug. 6 that damaged nearly 300 homes. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Flood district protection plan faces high barrier if enough property owners protest $6,300 payments

Eight of nine Assembly members need to OK plan if enough objections filed; at least two already have doubts.

A street in a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood is closed following record flooding on Aug. 6 that damaged nearly 300 homes. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Sunset hues color the sky and the snow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on Feb. 26, 2024. The University of Alaska system and the union representing nearly 1,100 faculty members and postdoctoral fellows are headed into federal mediation in January. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

University of Alaska-faculty contract negotiations head for federal mediation

Parties say they’re hopeful; outcome will depend on funding being included in the next state budget.

Sunset hues color the sky and the snow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on Feb. 26, 2024. The University of Alaska system and the union representing nearly 1,100 faculty members and postdoctoral fellows are headed into federal mediation in January. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The newly named Ka-PLOW is seen with other Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities equipment in Juneau in a video announcing the names of three local snowplows in a contest featuring more than 400 entries. (Screenshot from Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities video)

Newly named DOT snowplows probably won’t visit Juneau neighborhoods until after Christmas

Berminator, Salt-O-Saurus Rex, Ka-PLOW selected as winners in contest with more than 400 entries.

The newly named Ka-PLOW is seen with other Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities equipment in Juneau in a video announcing the names of three local snowplows in a contest featuring more than 400 entries. (Screenshot from Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities video)
Hoonah senior Krista Howland points to the crowd after pinning Soldotna’s Rowan Peck in the girls 126-pound title match during the 2024 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Wrestling State Championships on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast girls bring state championships home

Tournament celebrates 10th year of girls’ sanctioned wrestling.

Hoonah senior Krista Howland points to the crowd after pinning Soldotna’s Rowan Peck in the girls 126-pound title match during the 2024 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Wrestling State Championships on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Justus Darbonne pins Soldotna’s Ryatt Weed in the 152-pound fifth-place match during the 2024 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Wrestling State Championships on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wrestlers represent Southeast well at state

Mt. Edgecumbe wins DII team title, JDHS puts three on DI podium

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Justus Darbonne pins Soldotna’s Ryatt Weed in the 152-pound fifth-place match during the 2024 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Wrestling State Championships on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Denali as seen in a picture distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2015 when the nation’s tallest mountain was renamed from Mount McKinley. (National Park Service photo)

Trump vows name of highest mountain in U.S. will be changed from Denali back to Mt. McKinley

Similar declaration by Trump in 2016 abandoned after Alaska’s U.S. senators expressed opposition.

Denali as seen in a picture distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2015 when the nation’s tallest mountain was renamed from Mount McKinley. (National Park Service photo)
State Rep. Sara Hannan talks with visitors outside her office at the Alaska State Capitol during the annual holiday open house hosted by Juneau’s legislative delegation on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A moving holiday season for Juneau’s legislators

Delegation hosts annual open house as at least two prepare to occupy better offices as majority members.

State Rep. Sara Hannan talks with visitors outside her office at the Alaska State Capitol during the annual holiday open house hosted by Juneau’s legislative delegation on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, Dec. 18, 2024. The Senate passed bipartisan legislation early Saturday that would give full Social Security benefits to a group of public sector retirees who currently receive them at a reduced level, sending the bill to President JOE Biden. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Congress OKs full Social Security benefits for public sector retirees, including 15,000 in Alaska

Biden expected to sign bill that eliminates government pension offset from benefits.

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, Dec. 18, 2024. The Senate passed bipartisan legislation early Saturday that would give full Social Security benefits to a group of public sector retirees who currently receive them at a reduced level, sending the bill to President JOE Biden. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
Pauline Plumb and Penny Saddler carry vegetables grown by fellow gardeners during the 29th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy says he plans to reestablish state Department of Agriculture via executive order

Demoted to division status after statehood, governor says revival will improve food production policies.

Pauline Plumb and Penny Saddler carry vegetables grown by fellow gardeners during the 29th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alan Steffert, a project engineer for the City and Borough of Juneau, explains alternatives considered when assessing infrastructure improvements including utilities upgrades during a meeting to discuss a proposed fee increase Thursday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hike of more than 60% in water rates, 80% in sewer over next five years proposed by CBJ utilities

Increase needed due to rates not keeping up with inflation, officials say; Assembly will need to OK plan.

Alan Steffert, a project engineer for the City and Borough of Juneau, explains alternatives considered when assessing infrastructure improvements including utilities upgrades during a meeting to discuss a proposed fee increase Thursday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President-elect Donald Trump (left) will be working as chief executives at opposite ends of the U.S. next year, a face constructed of rocks on Sandy Beach is seen among snow in November (center), and KINY’s prize patrol van (right) flashes its colors outside the station this summer. (Photos, from left to right, from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office, Elliot Welch via Juneau Parks and Recreation, and Mark Sabbatini via the Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s 10 strangest news stories of 2024

Governor’s captivating journey to nowhere, woman who won’t leave the beach among those making waves.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President-elect Donald Trump (left) will be working as chief executives at opposite ends of the U.S. next year, a face constructed of rocks on Sandy Beach is seen among snow in November (center), and KINY’s prize patrol van (right) flashes its colors outside the station this summer. (Photos, from left to right, from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office, Elliot Welch via Juneau Parks and Recreation, and Mark Sabbatini via the Juneau Empire)
Rep. Alyse Galvin, an Anchorage independent, takes a photo with Meadow Stanley, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on April before they took part in a march protesting education funding from the school to the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Drops in Alaska’s student test scores and education funding follow similar paths past 20 years, study claims

Fourth graders now are a year behind their 2007 peers in reading and math, author of report asserts.

Rep. Alyse Galvin, an Anchorage independent, takes a photo with Meadow Stanley, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on April before they took part in a march protesting education funding from the school to the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls basketball team pose at the Ceasar’s Palace fountain in Las Vegas during the Tarkanian Classic Tournament. (Photo courtesy JDHS Crimson Bears)

Crimson Bears girls win second in a row at Tarkanian Classic

JDHS continues to impress at prestigious Las Vegas tournament.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls basketball team pose at the Ceasar’s Palace fountain in Las Vegas during the Tarkanian Classic Tournament. (Photo courtesy JDHS Crimson Bears)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team pose in the bleachers at Durango High School in Las Vegas during the Tarkanian Classic Tournament. (Photo courtesy JDHS Crimson Bears)

JDHS boys earn win at Tarkanian Classic tournament

Crimson Bears find defensive “science” in crucial second half swing.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team pose in the bleachers at Durango High School in Las Vegas during the Tarkanian Classic Tournament. (Photo courtesy JDHS Crimson Bears)
The cover image from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s “Alaska Priorities For Federal Transition” report. (Office of the Governor)

Loch Ness ducks or ‘vampire grebes’? Alaska governor report for Trump comes with AI hallucinations

A ChatGPT-generated image of Alaska included some strange-looking waterfowl.

The cover image from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s “Alaska Priorities For Federal Transition” report. (Office of the Governor)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy (left) talks with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and local leaders during an Aug. 7 visit to a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood hit by record flooding. (Photo provided by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy (left) talks with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and local leaders during an Aug. 7 visit to a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood hit by record flooding. (Photo provided by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office)
Bartlett Regional Hospital, along with Juneau’s police and fire departments, are partnering in a new behavioral health crisis response program announced Thursday. (Bartlett Regional Hospital photo)

New local behavioral health crisis program using hospital, fire and police officials debuts

Mobile crisis team of responders forms five months after hospital ends crisis stabilization program.

Bartlett Regional Hospital, along with Juneau’s police and fire departments, are partnering in a new behavioral health crisis response program announced Thursday. (Bartlett Regional Hospital photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 18, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 18, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The icebreaker originally known as the Aiviq, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about three weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs photo)

First of Coast Guard’s new Polar Security Cutters likely delayed until at least 2030, U.S. House panel says

Delay means Juneau-based icebreaker may play stopgap role longer than expected.

The icebreaker originally known as the Aiviq, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about three weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs photo)