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Mia Wiedersphohn of Wrangell hosts her podcast on the local radio station teaching Tlingit words and phrases. Wiedersphohn was recognized by Alaska Communications Summer of Heroes program last year as a youth impacting her community in a positive way. Nominations are open for this year’s program until June 18. (Courtesy Photo / Alaska Communications)

Alaska Communications seeks nominations for local youth heroes

Summer of Heroes program in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club - Alaska.

Mia Wiedersphohn of Wrangell hosts her podcast on the local radio station teaching Tlingit words and phrases. Wiedersphohn was recognized by Alaska Communications Summer of Heroes program last year as a youth impacting her community in a positive way. Nominations are open for this year’s program until June 18. (Courtesy Photo / Alaska Communications)
Courtesy of the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band Julia Keefe, a Native American singer who has gained national acclaim performing with a wide range of musicians and settings during the past 15 years, is headlining this spring’s Juneau Jazz Classics festival with concerts by her Indigenous Big Band and a Native jazz quintet.
Capital City Weekly

A huge Indigenous ‘family’ reunion at Jazz Classics

Musicians with tribal roots from Canada to South America converge for Indigenous Big Band concerts

Courtesy of the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band Julia Keefe, a Native American singer who has gained national acclaim performing with a wide range of musicians and settings during the past 15 years, is headlining this spring’s Juneau Jazz Classics festival with concerts by her Indigenous Big Band and a Native jazz quintet.
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr chat during a break at the Wednesday night Finance Committee meeting. Community groups were invited to give presentations that explained their community funding requests sent to the Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City mulls community funding request amid budget-making process

The requests range from $2,000 up to $1.4 million.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr chat during a break at the Wednesday night Finance Committee meeting. Community groups were invited to give presentations that explained their community funding requests sent to the Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, Megan Peirce, Ava Grimes, Kyra Wood and Johnathan Gee-Miles star in Juneau high school’s collaborative production of the classic “The Wizard of Oz” at JDHS auditorium. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Are you off to see the wizard?

Play wraps up run with shows this weekend.

From left to right, Megan Peirce, Ava Grimes, Kyra Wood and Johnathan Gee-Miles star in Juneau high school’s collaborative production of the classic “The Wizard of Oz” at JDHS auditorium. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Cadence Plummer (12) follows through on a goal-scoring kick in the second half of a win against Thunder Mountain High School at TMHS. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Second-half goals power JDHS to win over TMHS

Tightly contested match was up for grabs after first 45 minutes.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Cadence Plummer (12) follows through on a goal-scoring kick in the second half of a win against Thunder Mountain High School at TMHS. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway Thursday morning. On Tuesday members voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau School District. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Teachers union members narrowly OK school district contract

The school board will vote to ratify Friday afternoon.

A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway Thursday morning. On Tuesday members voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau School District. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A Capital City Fire/Rescue truck parks near a privately owned airport hangar at the Juneau International Airport after Capital City Fire/Rescue extinguished a fire in the building Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

No injuries reported in airport hangar fire

CCFR officials say cause of fire was electrical.

A Capital City Fire/Rescue truck parks near a privately owned airport hangar at the Juneau International Airport after Capital City Fire/Rescue extinguished a fire in the building Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This combination photo shows Cameron McEwen and an avatar associated with a Snapchat account that authorities say was used by McEwen, who was recently arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of making extortionate interstate communications. (FBI)

FBI looks for more possible victims after New York man arrested in ‘sextortion’ investigation

Authorities say man used Snapchat to obtain sexually explicit photos, videos from teen in Alaska.

This combination photo shows Cameron McEwen and an avatar associated with a Snapchat account that authorities say was used by McEwen, who was recently arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of making extortionate interstate communications. (FBI)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Thursday, May 4, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
State Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, left, confers with Rep. Craig Johnson, during floor debate Wednesday about a bill prohibiting state and local governments from imposing firearms restrictions during disaster declarations. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ban on gun limits during emergencies passes House

Supporters say it’s about hunting for food during crises, opponents call it reckless and dangerous

State Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, left, confers with Rep. Craig Johnson, during floor debate Wednesday about a bill prohibiting state and local governments from imposing firearms restrictions during disaster declarations. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat, speak to a crowd outside at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol in January. Gray introduced a bill Monday that would make short-term rental registration a requirement and limit operators to just one unit per person in Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/ Juneau Empire File)

Lawmaker introduces bill to require short-term rental registry, limits in Alaska

The bill would limit units to one per person beginning January 2025.

Rep. Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat, speak to a crowd outside at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol in January. Gray introduced a bill Monday that would make short-term rental registration a requirement and limit operators to just one unit per person in Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/ Juneau Empire File)
Members of the Alaska State House vote 35-3 to pass a bill Wednesday expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers to 12 months instead of 60 days. The Senate has already passed the bill, but must concur with House changes before it is sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who introduced the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Extended Medicaid coverage for new moms passes House

Bill providing one year of care is a proceedural step from being sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Members of the Alaska State House vote 35-3 to pass a bill Wednesday expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers to 12 months instead of 60 days. The Senate has already passed the bill, but must concur with House changes before it is sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who introduced the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Skating Club poses for a group photo after taking third place overall in the 2023 Ice Sports Industry West Coast Championship in Tacoma, Washington at the end of April. (Courtesy Photo / Marianne Oelund)

Juneau Skating Club takes third overall in West Coast Championship

Team Forget-Me-Not takes first in division.

The Juneau Skating Club poses for a group photo after taking third place overall in the 2023 Ice Sports Industry West Coast Championship in Tacoma, Washington at the end of April. (Courtesy Photo / Marianne Oelund)
A troller fishes in Sitka Sound, Alaska on February 2, 2021. A ruling from a U.S. judge in Seattle could effectively shut down commercial king salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska — a valuable industry that supports some 1,500 fishermen — after a conservation group challenged the harvest as a threat to protected fish and the endangered killer whales that eat them. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Ruling might cancel Alaska commercial king salmon season

The state of Alaska quickly announced an appeal.

A troller fishes in Sitka Sound, Alaska on February 2, 2021. A ruling from a U.S. judge in Seattle could effectively shut down commercial king salmon trolling in Southeast Alaska — a valuable industry that supports some 1,500 fishermen — after a conservation group challenged the harvest as a threat to protected fish and the endangered killer whales that eat them. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat, speaks to members of the Alaska Senate about a bill she sponsored that would make Juneteenth a paid state holiday in Alaska. The senate passed the bill 16-4 Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Alaska Senate passes bill recognizing Juneteenth as paid state holiday

The bill will now head to the House.

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat, speaks to members of the Alaska Senate about a bill she sponsored that would make Juneteenth a paid state holiday in Alaska. The senate passed the bill 16-4 Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, May 3, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, vows a bill boosting state employees pensions will pass “the 33rd Alaska Legislature” during a rally by about 70 union supporters on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. Kiehl is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which spent much of Tuesday hearing testimony about a pension bill, but Senate and union leaders acknowledge the proposal will likely have to wait until next year before it has a realistic chance of making it through the full Legislature. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

State pension reform not yet ready for retirement

Legislative and union leaders say boost for public employees unlikely this session, target next year

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, vows a bill boosting state employees pensions will pass “the 33rd Alaska Legislature” during a rally by about 70 union supporters on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. Kiehl is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which spent much of Tuesday hearing testimony about a pension bill, but Senate and union leaders acknowledge the proposal will likely have to wait until next year before it has a realistic chance of making it through the full Legislature. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Signs point to the entrance on the last day of early voting before the midterm election as a man walks out of a polling site in Cranston, R.I., on Nov. 7, 2022. Almost half of all voters in the 2022 midterm elections cast their ballots before Election Day either by mail or through early voting, with Asian and Hispanic voters leading the way, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Tuesday, May 2, 2023, shows, even as Republican-led states have tightened rules on voting by mail. (AP Photo / David Goldman)

Almost half of midterm voters cast ballots early or by mail

Unusual dynamics drove midterm turnout last year…

Signs point to the entrance on the last day of early voting before the midterm election as a man walks out of a polling site in Cranston, R.I., on Nov. 7, 2022. Almost half of all voters in the 2022 midterm elections cast their ballots before Election Day either by mail or through early voting, with Asian and Hispanic voters leading the way, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Tuesday, May 2, 2023, shows, even as Republican-led states have tightened rules on voting by mail. (AP Photo / David Goldman)
Courtney Hedger / Unsplash

Opinion: Thank you, homemaker-moms

Please value any homemaker-moms you know, and not just on Mother’s Day…

  • May 2, 2023
  • By Mike Clemens
Courtney Hedger / Unsplash
JDHS junior Ruby Rivas (9) dribbles the ball down field against Grace Christian High School on Friday in Anchorage for a 7-1 victory, non-conference game. (Courtesy Photo / Matt Dusenberry)

JDHS girls soccer returns from Anchorage with two wins and a tie

The Bears record now sits at 6-1-1 and 4-0 in conference.

JDHS junior Ruby Rivas (9) dribbles the ball down field against Grace Christian High School on Friday in Anchorage for a 7-1 victory, non-conference game. (Courtesy Photo / Matt Dusenberry)