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Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation after disembarking from the ship at Marine Park on May 10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port for the week of June 29

Here’s what to expect this week.

Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation after disembarking from the ship at Marine Park on May 10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
University of Alaska Anchorage students walking outside UAA Student Union on Feb. 7, 2023. The Alaska Performance Scholarship funds high-achieving students to attend secondary education in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska lawmakers aim to expand eligibility for scholarships

Merit-based Alaska Performance Scholarships intended to keep high-achieving students in the state.

University of Alaska Anchorage students walking outside UAA Student Union on Feb. 7, 2023. The Alaska Performance Scholarship funds high-achieving students to attend secondary education in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

School district leaders rank ‘add-back’ priorities for $5.2M in extra funds OK’d in state budget

List to be considered by school board Saturday includes HomeBRIDGE, special eduction, tech staff.

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Erika King runs her 8-year-old dog Louie, who is half Australian cattle dog and half pitbull, through an agility course at Treadwell Arena on Saturday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Pet party encourages adoption, along with responsible ownership

“Animal-loving” nonprofits come together in hopes of pets finding new homes.

Erika King runs her 8-year-old dog Louie, who is half Australian cattle dog and half pitbull, through an agility course at Treadwell Arena on Saturday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Ben Mallott, vice president of external affairs for the Alaska Federation of Natives, is scheduled to become the organization’s next president on Oct. 1. (Photo provided by AFN)

Ben Mallott to become new president of Alaska Federation of Natives on Oct. 1

JDHS grad will step into role once held by his father Byron; replaces Julie Kitka after 34 years.

Ben Mallott, vice president of external affairs for the Alaska Federation of Natives, is scheduled to become the organization’s next president on Oct. 1. (Photo provided by AFN)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy hands out pens he used to sign the budget bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to state lawmakers during a private ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday. (Official photo from The Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy signs state budget with $680 BSA increase, vetoes tens of millions in other education spending

Broadband for rural schools, K-3 reading assistance, disaster aid, ferry system among other vetoes.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy hands out pens he used to sign the budget bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to state lawmakers during a private ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday. (Official photo from The Office of the Governor)
Elbert Lin, a Virginia attorney contracted by the state of Alaska to argue its appeal in the State of Alaska, Department of Education and Early Development v. Alexander case, addresses Alaska Supreme Court justices on Thursday in Anchorage. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Supreme Court reverses homeschool allotment ruling

Alaska’s Supreme Court justices on Friday reversed a Superior Court ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program. Nearly 23,000 homeschool… Continue reading

Elbert Lin, a Virginia attorney contracted by the state of Alaska to argue its appeal in the State of Alaska, Department of Education and Early Development v. Alexander case, addresses Alaska Supreme Court justices on Thursday in Anchorage. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in Juneau on Dec. 14, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

USDA penalizes Alaska $12 million for overpaying food stamp benefits

State denies mistake, but says officials disobeyed federal rules during the backlog crisis.

Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in Juneau on Dec. 14, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, cuts a cake at an event at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office on Thursday to celebrate Juneteenth’s new status as an official state holiday. The celebration followed a bill-signing ceremony at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Anchorage office. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy signs bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday in Alaska

On Thursday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill to make Juneteenth a legal holiday in the state. “Juneteenth is a day to celebrate a milestone… Continue reading

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, cuts a cake at an event at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office on Thursday to celebrate Juneteenth’s new status as an official state holiday. The celebration followed a bill-signing ceremony at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Anchorage office. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man arrested on 17 sex crime charges involving teenager a decade ago

Brian H. Kurtzman, 50, sexually abused victim in Juneau and Haines, according to police.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately… Continue reading

The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)
Tents occupied by people experiencing homelessness stand across the street from the Glory Hall on June 10. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ban on homeless sleeping outdoors upheld by U.S. Supreme Court in case watched by Juneau leaders

Some local leaders suggesting restrictions in areas near social service providers.

Tents occupied by people experiencing homelessness stand across the street from the Glory Hall on June 10. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt’s president and CEO, discusses the Alaska Native Regional Corporation’s operations during its 50th-anniversary celebration at its Vintage Park Campus on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Goldbelt seeks dismissal of $30M lawsuit by medical company, argues alleged ‘oral’ agreement unenforceable

Juneau Native corporation also denies the agreement exists in COVID-19 needle contract dispute.

McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt’s president and CEO, discusses the Alaska Native Regional Corporation’s operations during its 50th-anniversary celebration at its Vintage Park Campus on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Meilani Schijvens (center), owner of Rain Coast Data, talks with attendees at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday before presenting results from an annual economic survey by her company. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Survey: Optimism of Southeast Alaska businesses down this year, but still second-highest since 2010

Tourism leaders most optimistic in Juneau, seafood industry most pessimistic, annual report states.

Meilani Schijvens (center), owner of Rain Coast Data, talks with attendees at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday before presenting results from an annual economic survey by her company. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
“Woven” is a new digital and print publication by the Sustainable Southeast Partnership. (Photo courtesy of Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Capital City Weekly

Woven Peoples and Place: ‘We are tired of being resilient’ — Introducing ‘Woven’

New name emphasizes the interconnectedness, strength and balance of our communities.

“Woven” is a new digital and print publication by the Sustainable Southeast Partnership. (Photo courtesy of Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden listen to the moderators during the first 2024 presidential election debate at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Biden struggles, Trump aggressively lies during first presidential debate between likely nominees

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly delivered aggressive, often misleading attacks against a shaky President Joe Biden during a 90-minute debate Thursday night, offering millions of… Continue reading

  • Jun 27, 2024
  • By Michael D. Shear, The New York Times
  • Elections
Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden listen to the moderators during the first 2024 presidential election debate at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, June 26, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alaska Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Henderson, left, asks a question during oral arguments in a case concerning correspondence education allotments on Thursday in the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaskaa Beacon)

Alaska Supreme Court weighs whether correspondence education lawsuit wrongly targeted state

Plaintiffs aim to block public dollars benefiting private schools, defense focuses on parents’ rights

Alaska Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Henderson, left, asks a question during oral arguments in a case concerning correspondence education allotments on Thursday in the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaskaa Beacon)
The burning cruise ship Prinsendam 200 miles from Juneau in the Gulf of Alaska in October 1980 after 519 people abandoned ship into lifeboats and were rescued. An oil leak in the engine room started a fire just as Juneau was celebrating its 100th birthday on Oct. 4. (Credit ASL-P313-12-06)

A dramatic sea rescue saved all from a cruise ship fire on Juneau’s 100th birthday; what would happen today?

519 Prinsendam passengers saved from lifeboats; now officials say best hope is another cruise ship.

The burning cruise ship Prinsendam 200 miles from Juneau in the Gulf of Alaska in October 1980 after 519 people abandoned ship into lifeboats and were rescued. An oil leak in the engine room started a fire just as Juneau was celebrating its 100th birthday on Oct. 4. (Credit ASL-P313-12-06)
Hilcorp’s Alaska headquarters in Midtown Anchorage are seen on Feb. 7. The company, now a dominant operator in Alaska, announced it has struck a deal to expand its North Slope holdings by buying Eni’s Alaska assets. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Hilcorp announces plan to buy Eni’s oil fields on Alaska’s North Slope

Deal would expand company’s operations to offshore Oooguruk and Nikaitchuq oil fields.

Hilcorp’s Alaska headquarters in Midtown Anchorage are seen on Feb. 7. The company, now a dominant operator in Alaska, announced it has struck a deal to expand its North Slope holdings by buying Eni’s Alaska assets. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)