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Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Ore. The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government lands. The Associated Press obtained details on the government’s first-ever national inventory of older forests in advance of their expected public release on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

U.S. plans new forest protections, issues old-growth inventory

BILLINGS, Mont. — The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government land and plans… Continue reading

Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Ore. The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government lands. The Associated Press obtained details on the government’s first-ever national inventory of older forests in advance of their expected public release on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
Donna Leigh (Courtesy Photo)

Living & Growing: Spring renewal

May we all enrich our good ground as spring comes this year

Donna Leigh (Courtesy Photo)
Former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor and current Alaska gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce speaks at a “Get Out the Vote” rally hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Republican Women at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Borough to pay more than $237K to settle sexual harassment suit

As part of the settlement, the borough is not admitting any wrongdoing

Former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor and current Alaska gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce speaks at a “Get Out the Vote” rally hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Republican Women at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listens to an overview of the state’s balance sheet under a proposed budget for next year introduced by the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing Wednesday. The budget contains a surplus of more than $1.4 billion, but that’s a misleading number since it doesn’t include Permanent Fund Dividends, an increase in education funding and other spending that are virtually certain to be added following public testimony during the next couple of days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Senate budget draft includes huge surplus and no PFD

Initial draft also lacks education funding boost, but changes to come after public comment process

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listens to an overview of the state’s balance sheet under a proposed budget for next year introduced by the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing Wednesday. The budget contains a surplus of more than $1.4 billion, but that’s a misleading number since it doesn’t include Permanent Fund Dividends, an increase in education funding and other spending that are virtually certain to be added following public testimony during the next couple of days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Eagle/Raven Dance Group completes their grand entrance among delegates Wednesday morning at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to mark the beginning of the 88th annual tribal assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The theme of three-day assembly, held in person for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is “Sovereignty: In Land We Trust.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Tribal Assembly celebrates achievements and faces hard truths

Growth of Tlingit Haida’s community programs and political influence highlighted on first day

The Eagle/Raven Dance Group completes their grand entrance among delegates Wednesday morning at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to mark the beginning of the 88th annual tribal assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The theme of three-day assembly, held in person for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is “Sovereignty: In Land We Trust.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s representing attorney Philip Baker-Shenk gives a speech Wednesday during the first day of Tlingit and Haida’s 88th annual Tribal Assembly. Baker-Shenk addressed the state of Alaska’s recent lawsuit against the federal government’s approval of the first parcel of land owned by the tribe. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘Fear not, drop your lawsuit’: Tribal Assembly keynote speaker talks resiliency of Tlingit and Haida, addresses state’s land trust lawsuit

Assembly keynote speaker talks resiliency of Tlingit Haida, addresses state’s land trust lawsuit

The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s representing attorney Philip Baker-Shenk gives a speech Wednesday during the first day of Tlingit and Haida’s 88th annual Tribal Assembly. Baker-Shenk addressed the state of Alaska’s recent lawsuit against the federal government’s approval of the first parcel of land owned by the tribe. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The badge for the Kenai Police Department

Police seek information on woman found dead in Kenai

The woman was found Friday near Haller Street and the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai

The badge for the Kenai Police Department
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire From left to right, Minta Schwartz, Matthew Quinto, Kyle Khaayák’w Worl, Ezra Elisoff, Leif Richards, Jordan Bennett, Lyric Ashenfelter, Sonny Mazon and Nathan Blake stand alongside City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Monday night after being honored for their representation of Juneau for Team Alaska at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games.

Assembly honors Juneau Arctic Winter Games athletes

The athlete’s traveled to Alberta, Canada in February to represent Juneau on Team Alaska.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire From left to right, Minta Schwartz, Matthew Quinto, Kyle Khaayák’w Worl, Ezra Elisoff, Leif Richards, Jordan Bennett, Lyric Ashenfelter, Sonny Mazon and Nathan Blake stand alongside City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Monday night after being honored for their representation of Juneau for Team Alaska at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games.
JDHS sophomore Milina Mazon (11) keeps the ball from TMHS freshman Ariana Gonzales (40) during the two schools second match up of the season on Tuesday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls soccer wins second match up against TMHS

Crimson Bears sit at 4-0 for conference record.

JDHS sophomore Milina Mazon (11) keeps the ball from TMHS freshman Ariana Gonzales (40) during the two schools second match up of the season on Tuesday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Southeast Alaska’s Chilkat River is seen on May, 30, 2013. The Chilkat and its main tributary, the Klehini River, are listed among the nation’s most at-risk rivers because of the planned Palmer Project copper and zinc mine being developed upstream from the village of Klukwan. (U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center)

Looming mine development puts Southeast’s Chilkat-Klehini system on list of endangered rivers

A pair of connected Southeast Alaska waterways are on the 2023 list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers issued by a national environmental organization. The Chilkat… Continue reading

Southeast Alaska’s Chilkat River is seen on May, 30, 2013. The Chilkat and its main tributary, the Klehini River, are listed among the nation’s most at-risk rivers because of the planned Palmer Project copper and zinc mine being developed upstream from the village of Klukwan. (U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center)
Alan Cleveland shares his experiences as a Juneau taxi driver to a packed house at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church as part of Mudrooms final showcase of the season on Tuesday night. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Mudrooms wraps up another successful season

Application period now open for nonprofit beneficiaries.

Alan Cleveland shares his experiences as a Juneau taxi driver to a packed house at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church as part of Mudrooms final showcase of the season on Tuesday night. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy shakes the hands of state legislators as he prepares to deliver the 2023 State of the State address to the Alaska Legislature on Jan. 23, 2023, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy weighs a statewide sales tax amid broader push for fiscal plan

Governor meets with House and Senate members, declines to publicly reveal specifics of proposal

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy shakes the hands of state legislators as he prepares to deliver the 2023 State of the State address to the Alaska Legislature on Jan. 23, 2023, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly at its Monday night meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City OKs $2.3M in additional ‘out-of-cap’ funding to school district

The funds will pay for deficits accrued during 2021-2023.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly at its Monday night meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A simple spreadsheet showing major items being debated in this year’s state budget features user-adjustable options to see what options exist for a balanced spending plan.

Do-it-yourself state budget balancing kit

These are the major pieces of the puzzle facing lawmakers; how would you make them fit?

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A simple spreadsheet showing major items being debated in this year’s state budget features user-adjustable options to see what options exist for a balanced spending plan.
A gate blocks off the entrance to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road Saturday afternoon. Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal 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)

Assembly votes down proposed Pioneer Road e-bike tours

Assembly member calls for “rare” move to reconsider.

A gate blocks off the entrance to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road Saturday afternoon. Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal 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)
Courtesy Photo / Mel Cummins Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School seventh-grader Nixie Schooler poses for a photo after winning this year’s Adidas Nationals Freestyle Wrestling Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri on April 10.

Nixie Schooler schools competition at Adidas Nationals

“I felt happy and I couldn’t believe I did it.”

Courtesy Photo / Mel Cummins Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School seventh-grader Nixie Schooler poses for a photo after winning this year’s Adidas Nationals Freestyle Wrestling Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri on April 10.
Courtesy Photo / Dana Zigmund JDHS junior Xavier Melancon maneuvers past a Thunder Mountain High School player on the pitch at the Adair-Kennedy field Monday evening.

JDHS boys soccer beats TMHS in second match up

Crimson Bears play again on Thursday.

Courtesy Photo / Dana Zigmund JDHS junior Xavier Melancon maneuvers past a Thunder Mountain High School player on the pitch at the Adair-Kennedy field Monday evening.
The sun glistens off a totem pole by Tsimshian carver Gyibaawm Laxha David Robert Boxley after it was raised at Overstreet Park Sunday afternoon. The pole is one of the first 12 of 30 totem poles to be raised to create a Kootéeyaa Deiyí (totem pole trail) lining the waterfront in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Totem poles raised along waterfront ahead of trail dedication ceremony

The ceremony will be held late Saturday morning at Heritage Plaza.

The sun glistens off a totem pole by Tsimshian carver Gyibaawm Laxha David Robert Boxley after it was raised at Overstreet Park Sunday afternoon. The pole is one of the first 12 of 30 totem poles to be raised to create a Kootéeyaa Deiyí (totem pole trail) lining the waterfront in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, discusses what she considers inadequacies in state education funding during floor debate Monday about the House’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget approved by a 23-17 vote will next be considered by the Senate, with a compromise version likely drafted to resolve differences before the end of the session.

House finally passes budget as final month of session begins

Senate expected to take public testimony on its proposed spending plan later this week

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, discusses what she considers inadequacies in state education funding during floor debate Monday about the House’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget approved by a 23-17 vote will next be considered by the Senate, with a compromise version likely drafted to resolve differences before the end of the session.
Freshly printed paper makes it way through the Juneau Empire printing press in Juneau Thursday evening. Beginning May 3, the Juneau Empire will be printed in Washington state, and delivered on Wednesdays and Saturdays. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Empire upgrading online coverage, changing print publication days

Emphasis on enhanced digital content; print production moving to Washington state

Freshly printed paper makes it way through the Juneau Empire printing press in Juneau Thursday evening. Beginning May 3, the Juneau Empire will be printed in Washington state, and delivered on Wednesdays and Saturdays. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)