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President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., on the House steps as they leave after attending an annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon gathering at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 17, 2023. Facing the risk of a government default as soon as June 1, President Joe Biden has invited the top four congressional leaders to a White House meeting for talks on Tuesday, May 9. (AP File Photo / Alex Brandon)

McCarthy: Debt deal needed next week to avoid default

Remarks come ahead of high-stakes meeting.

  • May 9, 2023
  • By Zeke Miller, Seung Min Kim, Josh Boak and Lisa Mascaro Associated Press
  • Nation-World
President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., on the House steps as they leave after attending an annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon gathering at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 17, 2023. Facing the risk of a government default as soon as June 1, President Joe Biden has invited the top four congressional leaders to a White House meeting for talks on Tuesday, May 9. (AP File Photo / Alex Brandon)
E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in New York. A jury in New York City is set to begin deliberations in a civil trial over Carroll’s claims that Donald Trump raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store.(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse, awards accuser $5M

Verdict announced in a federal courtroom in New York City on the first day of jury deliberations.

E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in New York. A jury in New York City is set to begin deliberations in a civil trial over Carroll’s claims that Donald Trump raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store.(AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Snow covers the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria as it sits scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area in February. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. will invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Gondola project to get $10M boost by July

Assembly OKs revised revenue agreement with Goldbelt, construction expected next summer

Snow covers the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria as it sits scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area in February. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. will invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Kiara Kookesh holds a Northwest Indian College jersey after signing to play college basketball for the Bellingham, Washington, school on Monday while flanked by her mother Marcie Kookesh and TMHS coach Andy Lee. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kookesh signs to play at Northwest Indian College

TMHS Falcons defensive ace will hound NWIC Eagles opponents

Thunder Mountain High School senior Kiara Kookesh holds a Northwest Indian College jersey after signing to play college basketball for the Bellingham, Washington, school on Monday while flanked by her mother Marcie Kookesh and TMHS coach Andy Lee. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Ana Scopel, Kylie Morris, Mackenzie Olver, Mercedes Cordero, Samantha Mead, Brooke McAndrews, Lillian Palmer-Stears, Kaelin Tibbles. (Courtesy Photo / Cindy Eriksen)

Coaches Corner: Thunder Mountain girls soccer senior edition

“As senior night approaches, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the seniors…”

Ana Scopel, Kylie Morris, Mackenzie Olver, Mercedes Cordero, Samantha Mead, Brooke McAndrews, Lillian Palmer-Stears, Kaelin Tibbles. (Courtesy Photo / Cindy Eriksen)
Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer seniors are (back row left to right) Gabe Cheng, Micah Brown, Kean Buss, Jack Schwarting and Tommy Pearson. (Front, left to right) Will Robinson and Tayten Bennetsen.

Crimson Bears soccer boys honor seniors tonight

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hosts Thunder Mountain

Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer seniors are (back row left to right) Gabe Cheng, Micah Brown, Kean Buss, Jack Schwarting and Tommy Pearson. (Front, left to right) Will Robinson and Tayten Bennetsen.
Fallen trees line the beginning of the West Douglas Pioneer Road in late April. On Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal for the second time from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly votes down proposed Pioneer Road e-bike tours — again

The proposal was orginally rejected in late April.

Fallen trees line the beginning of the West Douglas Pioneer Road in late April. On Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal for the second time from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
High school and Little League baseball and softball teams bow their heads during invocation for Gastineau Channel Little League's opening day Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau empire

Pure Sole: The Little League

It’s the Little League season.

High school and Little League baseball and softball teams bow their heads during invocation for Gastineau Channel Little League's opening day Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau empire
Firefighters were called Monday evening to the site of a structure fire on Meander Way. Three human occupants and a dog made it out of the residence without suffering injuries, according to Capital Citer Fire/Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager, but a cate that was inside the home at the time of the fire was unaccounted for immediately after firefighters extinguished the blaze. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Fire causes extensive damage to Mendenhall Valley area residence

Intentional cause not ruled out, according to fire marshal.

Firefighters were called Monday evening to the site of a structure fire on Meander Way. Three human occupants and a dog made it out of the residence without suffering injuries, according to Capital Citer Fire/Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager, but a cate that was inside the home at the time of the fire was unaccounted for immediately after firefighters extinguished the blaze. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
State House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, and House Rules Committee Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, talk to reporters in the speaker’s office Friday afternoon about the House’s priorities during the last 13 days of this year’s scheduled legislative session. Both legislators said a cap on spending is a priority of the Republican-led House majority as the budget for next year and the size of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend remain the biggest unresolved issues. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House Speaker declares spending cap a priority

Budget-cutting measure has ties to Senate’s plan to reduce PFDs — but it’s not a trade-off, leaders say

State House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, and House Rules Committee Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, talk to reporters in the speaker’s office Friday afternoon about the House’s priorities during the last 13 days of this year’s scheduled legislative session. Both legislators said a cap on spending is a priority of the Republican-led House majority as the budget for next year and the size of this year’s Permanent Fund dividend remain the biggest unresolved issues. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, explains the details of his bill banning PFAS chemicals for most firefighting during the Senate floor session on Monday. The bill passed unanimously and now goes to the House for consideration. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Kiehl’s ‘no new spills’ PFAS bill passes Senate

Unanimous vote comes after years of effort by Juneau lawmaker to limit harm of “forever chemicals”

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, explains the details of his bill banning PFAS chemicals for most firefighting during the Senate floor session on Monday. The bill passed unanimously and now goes to the House for consideration. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Bethany Marcum, executive director of the Alaska Policy Forum, responds to questions from the Senate Education Committee on March 14 about her nomination to the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. Her organization’s conservative policies, including backing a budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that proposed a 40% cut to the university system, made her one of the most controversial nominees who will be considered during a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers raise questions ahead of joint Legislative confirmation session

UA Regents nominee among those expected to face opposition in Tuesday’s votes.

Bethany Marcum, executive director of the Alaska Policy Forum, responds to questions from the Senate Education Committee on March 14 about her nomination to the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. Her organization’s conservative policies, including backing a budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that proposed a 40% cut to the university system, made her one of the most controversial nominees who will be considered during a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway in early May. On Friday the Juneau District Board of Education voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau Education Association, which OK’d the contract earlier in the week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

School board accepts teachers union contract

Friday marked the end of over a year of drawn-out negotiations

A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway in early May. On Friday the Juneau District Board of Education voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau Education Association, which OK’d the contract earlier in the week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A breeze lifts flags hanging outside of the Andrew Hope Building in downtown Juneau Monday afternoon. The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced Monday morning its withdrawal from the Alaska Federation of Natives. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida withdraws from the Alaska Federation of Natives

The move goes into effect immediately, according to the tribe’s president.

A breeze lifts flags hanging outside of the Andrew Hope Building in downtown Juneau Monday afternoon. The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced Monday morning its withdrawal from the Alaska Federation of Natives. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)

TEMSCO assists with weekend grass fire

Cause of fire is still under investigation.

TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)
TMHS sophomore Kajson Cunningham (30) dribbles the ball against Ketchikan High School who traveled to Juneau for two games on Friday and Saturday. Cunningham plays for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

TMHS boys soccer team gains experience with Kayhi games

Falcons play JDHS next on Tuesday, May 9.

TMHS sophomore Kajson Cunningham (30) dribbles the ball against Ketchikan High School who traveled to Juneau for two games on Friday and Saturday. Cunningham plays for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

A pitch-perfect opening day for Gastineau Channel Little League

A big day for Little League touches on local program’s history.

Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club finds gold in Wasilla

USA Wrestling Alaska State Championship held from May 3-7.

Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)
Izabelle Ith, second from left, poses with her Alaska High School Hall of Fame plaque. At left is ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland. Second from right is Jo Ann Day, who nominated Ith for the honor. At right is Alaska state Rep. Mike Cronk who presented Ith with a legislative citation. (Brad Potter / ASAA)

Petersburg’s Izabelle Ith honored with Hall of Fame selection

Southeast athlete pushed Alaska competitors to their sporting limits.

Izabelle Ith, second from left, poses with her Alaska High School Hall of Fame plaque. At left is ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland. Second from right is Jo Ann Day, who nominated Ith for the honor. At right is Alaska state Rep. Mike Cronk who presented Ith with a legislative citation. (Brad Potter / ASAA)