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City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Assembly Member Michelle Bonnet Hale talk with City Manager Rorie Watt Wednesday night after the the 2024-2025 municipal budget was introduced at the city finance committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Assembly Member Michelle Bonnet Hale talk with City Manager Rorie Watt Wednesday night after the the 2024-2025 municipal budget was introduced at the city finance committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: In praise of the Augustus Brown Pool

Living out my life in Juneau, certain places prompt pleasant memories of departed friends.

  • Apr 6, 2023
  • By Peter Metcalfe
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Lawmakers must step up and increase school funding

There’s no excuse for depriving the funding needed to ensure our students’ learning.

  • Apr 6, 2023
  • By Luann McVey
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
All chairs for minority members of the Alaska State House except for Minority Leader Calvin Schrage are empty during Wednesday’s floor session after absent members fled the Alaska State Capitol over a dispute with the majority about an increase in education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Education funding fight prompts House minority walkout

Republican-led majority revokes funding increase as minority threatens to withhold CBR vote

All chairs for minority members of the Alaska State House except for Minority Leader Calvin Schrage are empty during Wednesday’s floor session after absent members fled the Alaska State Capitol over a dispute with the majority about an increase in education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on March 28 in Juneau.
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

House bill aims to boost Alaska Performance Scholarship use

The scholarship is awarded to support education after high school graduation

Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on March 28 in Juneau.
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
The children's book "I Would Tuck You In," illustrated by Mitchell Thomas Watley, is shown at a bookstore in Portland, Ore. in this April 5, 2023 photo. Publisher Sasquatch books, owned by Penguin Random House, said Wednesday, April 5, 2023, it has ended its publishing relationship with Watley after he was arrested on allegations of leaving violent, transphobic notes in stores around Juneau, Alaska. Watley told police he was motivated by fear following a deadly school shooting in Nashville that sparked online backlash about the shooter's gender identity, court records show. (AP Photo/Claire Rush)

Publisher drops children’s illustrator for anti-trans notes

Sasquatch Books said it has ended the publishing relationship, will discontinue selling the books.

  • Apr 5, 2023
  • By Mark Thiessen and Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • Local News
The children's book "I Would Tuck You In," illustrated by Mitchell Thomas Watley, is shown at a bookstore in Portland, Ore. in this April 5, 2023 photo. Publisher Sasquatch books, owned by Penguin Random House, said Wednesday, April 5, 2023, it has ended its publishing relationship with Watley after he was arrested on allegations of leaving violent, transphobic notes in stores around Juneau, Alaska. Watley told police he was motivated by fear following a deadly school shooting in Nashville that sparked online backlash about the shooter's gender identity, court records show. (AP Photo/Claire Rush)
Trevor Fredrickson, Sam Fredrickson and Beebuks Kookesh hike down to the shore on the way to be picked up by a floatplane that would return them home, to Angoon. (Courtesy Photo / Mary Catharine Martin)

The Salmon State: Crossing Kootznoowoo — and exploring potential career paths

The 30-mile Cross-Admiralty Canoe Route could be seen as a straightforward trip: start in Angoon (Aangóon, or “isthmus town”), where Tlingit people have lived since… Continue reading

Trevor Fredrickson, Sam Fredrickson and Beebuks Kookesh hike down to the shore on the way to be picked up by a floatplane that would return them home, to Angoon. (Courtesy Photo / Mary Catharine Martin)
Glacier Swim Club’s Joshua Edwards come up for air during a competition race in the Savannah Cayce Southeast Championship at Juneau’s Dimond Aquatic Center this weekend. Edwards placed third as an individual scorer in the 13/14-year-old boys age group. (Courtesy / Phil Loseby)
Glacier Swim Club’s Joshua Edwards come up for air during a competition race in the Savannah Cayce Southeast Championship at Juneau’s Dimond Aquatic Center this weekend. Edwards placed third as an individual scorer in the 13/14-year-old boys age group. (Courtesy / Phil Loseby)
Cover art for the 2023 University of Alaska Southeast’s Tidal Echoes literary magazine, which launches on Friday at the UAS campus from 6:30-8 p.m. (Courtesy Photo / Shaelene Grace Moler)

Tidal Echoes launches latest edition

Chloey Cavanaugh and Lin Davis featured artists.

Cover art for the 2023 University of Alaska Southeast’s Tidal Echoes literary magazine, which launches on Friday at the UAS campus from 6:30-8 p.m. (Courtesy Photo / Shaelene Grace Moler)
Jo March (Ema Zivkovic) reacts to an overture from one-time playmate Theodore "Laurie" Laurence (Jack Scholz) during rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre and University of Alaska Anchorage's Department of Theatre and Dance's upcoming production of "Little Women."
Jo March (Ema Zivkovic) reacts to an overture from one-time playmate Theodore "Laurie" Laurence (Jack Scholz) during rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre and University of Alaska Anchorage's Department of Theatre and Dance's upcoming production of "Little Women."
Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, co-chair of the House Finance Committee, speaks in favor of an amendment to restore partial funding for a single Department of Law employee during a 45-minute debate on the proposal Tuesday. Such debates resulted in lots of discussion, but few changes in the House’s proposed budget for next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Education gets short-term boost, but budget battle drags on

House looks to pass budget this week, but Senate, governor — and OPEC — also affecting spending plans

Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, co-chair of the House Finance Committee, speaks in favor of an amendment to restore partial funding for a single Department of Law employee during a 45-minute debate on the proposal Tuesday. Such debates resulted in lots of discussion, but few changes in the House’s proposed budget for next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
A collection of books including LGBTQ-friendly titles are displayed in the storefront window of Alaska Robotics in downtown Juneau on Tuesday. The store, which featured books and cards illustrated by local artist Mitchell Watley, removed them following his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes threatening violence against children at locations around town.

Local stores remove artist’s work following arrest

Children’s books and cards pulled after man accused of posting transphobic notes.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
A collection of books including LGBTQ-friendly titles are displayed in the storefront window of Alaska Robotics in downtown Juneau on Tuesday. The store, which featured books and cards illustrated by local artist Mitchell Watley, removed them following his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes threatening violence against children at locations around town.
Nayeli Hood, 10, foreground, and Ona Eckerson, 9, testify against a bill limiting sex and gender content in schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Testimony gets colorful on ‘parental rights’ bill

Opponents of restricting sex and gender content in schools dominate five-hour hearing

Nayeli Hood, 10, foreground, and Ona Eckerson, 9, testify against a bill limiting sex and gender content in schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An ice-covered ConocoPhillips sign is displayed at the Colville-Delta 5, or as it's more commonly known, CD5, drilling site on Alaska's North Slope, Feb. 9, 2016. Construction can proceed related to a major oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope after a federal judge on Monday, April 3, 2023, rejected requests to halt work until challenges to the Biden administration’s recent approval are resolved. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Alaska oil plan opponents lose 1st fight over Willow project

Judge said the groups did not succeed in showing it would cause irreparable harm before she makes a decision on the merits of the cases.

An ice-covered ConocoPhillips sign is displayed at the Colville-Delta 5, or as it's more commonly known, CD5, drilling site on Alaska's North Slope, Feb. 9, 2016. Construction can proceed related to a major oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope after a federal judge on Monday, April 3, 2023, rejected requests to halt work until challenges to the Biden administration’s recent approval are resolved. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his legal team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. Trump is appearing in court on charges related to falsifying business records in a hush money investigation, the first president ever to be charged with a crime. (AP Photo / Seth Wenig)

Donald Trump in New York City courtroom for arraignment

Trump himself described the experience as “SURREAL.”

  • Apr 4, 2023
  • By Michael R. Sisak, Eric Tucker, Jennifer Peltz and Will Weissert Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his legal team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. Trump is appearing in court on charges related to falsifying business records in a hush money investigation, the first president ever to be charged with a crime. (AP Photo / Seth Wenig)
Trainer Marcia Hinton pets Lolita, a captive orca whale, during a performance at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami, March 9, 1995. An unlikely coalition made up of a theme park owner, an animal rights group, a mayor and a philanthropist who owns an NFL team announced Thursday, March 30, 2023, that a plan is in place to return Lolita — an orca that has lived in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium for more than 50 years — to its home waters in the Pacific Northwest. (Nuri Vallbona / Miami Herald)

How to release a long-captive orca?

An ambitious plan was announced last week to return a killer whale long held captive to her home.

Trainer Marcia Hinton pets Lolita, a captive orca whale, during a performance at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami, March 9, 1995. An unlikely coalition made up of a theme park owner, an animal rights group, a mayor and a philanthropist who owns an NFL team announced Thursday, March 30, 2023, that a plan is in place to return Lolita — an orca that has lived in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium for more than 50 years — to its home waters in the Pacific Northwest. (Nuri Vallbona / Miami Herald)
Members of the Thane Community Garden hold a sign and pose for a group photo at the location of where the new communal garden is being constructed just outside of downtown Juneau over the Sheep Creek bridge. (Courtesy Photo / Judy Sherburne)

New community garden coming to downtown neighborhood

Seeds are expected to be planted next month.

Members of the Thane Community Garden hold a sign and pose for a group photo at the location of where the new communal garden is being constructed just outside of downtown Juneau over the Sheep Creek bridge. (Courtesy Photo / Judy Sherburne)
Nancy Barnes leads the Yees Ku.oo Dancers through a performance for the opening ceremony of the sixth annual Traditional Games this Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Nancy Barnes leads the Yees Ku.oo Dancers through a performance for the opening ceremony of the sixth annual Traditional Games this Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Judge Kirsten Swanson imposes strict conditions, including staying away from schools and other places children frequent, for Mitchell Thomas Watley to be released from jail after his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes in at least three public locations since Friday that referred to shooting children. Watley, who participated by phone from Lemon Creek Correctional Center, had his first hearing in the case Monday afternoon at the Juneau Courthouse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Man arrested for allegedly posting notes that reference shooting children

Suspect said he spread leaflets out of fear of Tennessee shooter, according to police.

Judge Kirsten Swanson imposes strict conditions, including staying away from schools and other places children frequent, for Mitchell Thomas Watley to be released from jail after his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes in at least three public locations since Friday that referred to shooting children. Watley, who participated by phone from Lemon Creek Correctional Center, had his first hearing in the case Monday afternoon at the Juneau Courthouse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The sun partially sines on the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in February. The center will be closed for most of April for seasonal staff training and to prepare the center for summer visitors. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to be closed for most of April

Closure allows prep for summer.

The sun partially sines on the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in February. The center will be closed for most of April for seasonal staff training and to prepare the center for summer visitors. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)