News

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis uses dynamic positioning to maintain its position near the Johns Hopkins Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, Aug. 5, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashly Murphy)

As the Arctic heats up, the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet is preparing for boom times

The Trump administration and Congress, seeking to improve security, have approved funding for eight icebreakers and are planning even more

  • Nov 24, 2025
  • By James Brooks & Tom Banse Alaska Beacon
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis uses dynamic positioning to maintain its position near the Johns Hopkins Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, Aug. 5, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashly Murphy)
A statue of William Henry Seward stands outside the Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Judge dismisses eviction case against Telephone Hill residents

A lawsuit against the city supersedes the case against the residents, the judge decided.

A statue of William Henry Seward stands outside the Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 14, 1985. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Nov. 22

Capital city coverage from a century ago.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 14, 1985. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Former Juneau police officer Brandon LeBlanc stands second from the left as paramedics secure Christopher Williams Jr. to a stretcher following his arrest by LeBlanc. (Juneau Police Department screenshot)

Juneau man files suit against CBJ and former police officer for violent arrest

Christopher Williams Jr. has filed a civil lawsuit against former Juneau police officer Brandon LeBlanc and the City and Borough of Juneau, alleging excessive force… Continue reading

Former Juneau police officer Brandon LeBlanc stands second from the left as paramedics secure Christopher Williams Jr. to a stretcher following his arrest by LeBlanc. (Juneau Police Department screenshot)
Donlin mine camp, June 23, 2025. (photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Supreme Court upholds early permits for Donlin gold mine, loosens reins on development

The decision has implications for mining and drilling projects on private and federal lands, experts say

  • Nov 20, 2025
  • By James Brooks Alaska Beacon
Donlin mine camp, June 23, 2025. (photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Fresh produce is seen at the Alaska Commercial Company grocery store in Bethel on Oct 15, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska didn’t use $5M set aside to fund SNAP during the shutdown, even though benefits were late

By Claire Stremple Alaska Beacon Alaskans who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program received half of their benefits nearly a week late as a… Continue reading

  • Nov 20, 2025
  • By Claire Stremple Alaska Beacon
Fresh produce is seen at the Alaska Commercial Company grocery store in Bethel on Oct 15, 2025. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
The trans-Alaska pipeline, seen on Oct. 8, 2008, threads over snow-covered terrain in the Brook Range foothills. This year’s Alaska Division of Oil and Gas North Slope areawide lease sale drew brisk bidding and netted about $17 million, according to results released on Wednesday. (Photo by Craig McCaa/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

Alaska onshore North Slope oil auction sets new mark for tract leases sold

Mostly small independent companies submitted nearly $17 million in high bids, the highest total since 2014 for an annual North Slope areawide oil and gas lease sale

  • Nov 20, 2025
  • By Yereth Rosen Alaska Beacon
The trans-Alaska pipeline, seen on Oct. 8, 2008, threads over snow-covered terrain in the Brook Range foothills. This year’s Alaska Division of Oil and Gas North Slope areawide lease sale drew brisk bidding and netted about $17 million, according to results released on Wednesday. (Photo by Craig McCaa/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
A bus passes by City Hall downtown. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file)

Juneau grocery and utility taxes drop this week

Exemptions come with parameters and restrictions.

A bus passes by City Hall downtown. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file)
Assembly member Ella Adkison moves to table the ordinance to implement ranked-choice voting indefinitely at the Monday, Nov. 17 Assembly meeting at Centennial Hall. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Assembly tables implementation of ranked choice voting indefinitely

They said they should be focussed on the budget, at present.

Assembly member Ella Adkison moves to table the ordinance to implement ranked-choice voting indefinitely at the Monday, Nov. 17 Assembly meeting at Centennial Hall. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Tone and Charles Deehr in Fairbanks, October 2021. (Photo courtesy Charles Deehr)

Alaska Science Forum: Red aurora rare enough to be special

Charles Deehr will never forget his first red aurora. On Feb. 11, 1958, Deehr was a student at Reed College in Portland, Ore. He asked… Continue reading

Tone and Charles Deehr in Fairbanks, October 2021. (Photo courtesy Charles Deehr)
City employees clear the unhoused encampment on Teal Street on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Teal Street encampment cleared as winter maintenance rules take effect

Unhoused residents seek shelter elsewhere, many opting to stay in Mendenhall Valley.

City employees clear the unhoused encampment on Teal Street on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon Low clouds hang over Cook Inlet north of Anchor Point on Oct. 23, 2025. The Trump administration is planning an oil and gas lease sale in federal territory of the inlet. It is set to be the first of at six Cook Inlet lease sales that Congress has mandated by held between now and 2032.

Trump administration sets terms for upcoming oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet

The ‘Big Beautiful Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale,’ scheduled for March, would follow a series of federal and state inlet lease sales that drew little industry interest

  • Nov 14, 2025
  • By Yereth Rosen Alaska Beacon
Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon Low clouds hang over Cook Inlet north of Anchor Point on Oct. 23, 2025. The Trump administration is planning an oil and gas lease sale in federal territory of the inlet. It is set to be the first of at six Cook Inlet lease sales that Congress has mandated by held between now and 2032.
Photo by Kristine Sowl/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Brant fly over the water on Sept. 28, 2016, at Izembek Lagoon in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge supports the entire Pacific population of black brant, a species of goose.

Tribes and environmental groups sue to stop road planned for Alaska wildlife refuge

Three lawsuits take aim at a Trump administration-approved land trade that would allow for a road through designated wilderness in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

  • Nov 14, 2025
  • Yereth Rosen Alaska Beacon
Photo by Kristine Sowl/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Brant fly over the water on Sept. 28, 2016, at Izembek Lagoon in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge supports the entire Pacific population of black brant, a species of goose.
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 14, 1985. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Nov. 15

Capital city coverage from four decades ago

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 14, 1985. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
The aurora borealis is seen from Mendenhall Lake in Juneau on Nov. 12, 2025. A series of solar flares caused unusually bright displays of the northern lights across Alaska Tuesday and Wednesday nights. (Chloe Anderson/Peninsula Clarion)

In photos: Dark clear skies and solar storm put on a show near Juneau

The aurora borealis danced over the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau on Nov. 12, 2025. Hundreds of Juneauites flocked to dark areas of town to catch… Continue reading

  • Nov 13, 2025
  • Chloe Anderson Peninsula Clarion
The aurora borealis is seen from Mendenhall Lake in Juneau on Nov. 12, 2025. A series of solar flares caused unusually bright displays of the northern lights across Alaska Tuesday and Wednesday nights. (Chloe Anderson/Peninsula Clarion)
Furloughed federal workers stand in line for hours ahead of a special food distribution by the Capital Area Food Bank and No Limits Outreach Ministries on Barlowe Road in Hyattsville, Maryland, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

Government reopens after 43 days: Trump signs bill ending record shutdown

WASHINGTON — The longest shutdown in U.S. history ended Wednesday night when President Donald Trump signed a spending package that reopens the government and funds… Continue reading

  • Nov 13, 2025
  • By Jennifer Shutt, Ariana Figueroa & Shauneen Miranda States Newsroom
  • federal government
Furloughed federal workers stand in line for hours ahead of a special food distribution by the Capital Area Food Bank and No Limits Outreach Ministries on Barlowe Road in Hyattsville, Maryland, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) discusses a fisheries bill on the Senate floor on May 20, 2025. Kiehl recently spoke at the Oct. 6 Juneau Chamber of Commerce Luncheon alongside (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire file photo)

What does the future hold for the permanent fund dividend?

As Alaska braces for another challenging budget season, state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, is calling for realism in Governor Mike Dunleavy’s soon-to-be-released spending plan. Speaking… Continue reading

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) discusses a fisheries bill on the Senate floor on May 20, 2025. Kiehl recently spoke at the Oct. 6 Juneau Chamber of Commerce Luncheon alongside (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire file photo)
High school culinary arts teacher and former Juneau Education Association President Chris Heidemann testifies before the Board of Education on Oct. 28. (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire).

Juneau School District initiates arbitration. The teacher’s union disagrees

This step comes after months of collective bargaining.

High school culinary arts teacher and former Juneau Education Association President Chris Heidemann testifies before the Board of Education on Oct. 28. (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire).
Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire Local artist Johanna Griggs looks at “The Ocean Mirror,” her favorite piece from her exhibit “Landscapes of Southeast Alaska,” on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.

Juneau painter explores local color and reflection

The exhibit display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center through November.

Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire Local artist Johanna Griggs looks at “The Ocean Mirror,” her favorite piece from her exhibit “Landscapes of Southeast Alaska,” on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.
Juneau International Airport stands on Shell Simmons Drive. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau flights not yet affected by FAA restrictions

Although local departures are unaffected, connecting flights from Sea-Tac are at risk.

Juneau International Airport stands on Shell Simmons Drive. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)