Rachel Hightower holds her 2-year-old daughter Carmen’s decorated tricycle at the Bicycle Decorating & Sidewalk Chalk Decorating event in the Douglas Community Library parking garage on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

Douglas kids gear up for 4th of July festivities

Riders decorate bikes, scooters for upcoming parade

Rachel Hightower holds her 2-year-old daughter Carmen’s decorated tricycle at the Bicycle Decorating & Sidewalk Chalk Decorating event in the Douglas Community Library parking garage on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Thursday, July 3, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, July 2, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Marites “Tess” Buenafe. (Screenshot)
One of the two 60-passenger cars on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway descends Mount Roberts. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Missing cruise ship passenger found dead on Mount Roberts

This story has been updated. Kentucky resident, Marites “Tess” Buenafe, 62, was found dead on Thursday afternoon below the ridge line of Gold Ridge, according… Continue reading

Marites “Tess” Buenafe. (Screenshot)
One of the two 60-passenger cars on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway descends Mount Roberts. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau court orders release of man accused of Faith Rogers’ murder

JPD stands by its investigation; public defender says it cut corners

Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy calls special session for August

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they were surprised by the move.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Photographs of injured humpback whale #2583 on June 27, 2025. (National Park Service photos by Janet Neilson, taken under the authority of Scientific Research Permit #27027 issued by NOAA Fisheries.)

Humpback whale injured by boat propeller in Glacier Bay

The national park is seeking information on the circumstances of the collision

Photographs of injured humpback whale #2583 on June 27, 2025. (National Park Service photos by Janet Neilson, taken under the authority of Scientific Research Permit #27027 issued by NOAA Fisheries.)
Cover of Juneau Empire July 2, 1985 from State Library Archives. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Cover of Juneau Empire July 2, 1985 from State Library Archives. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port for the week of July 5

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Saturday, July 5… Continue reading

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, July 1, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, June 30, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, June 29, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John Barrasso of Wyoming, both Republicans, center, walk into the Senate chamber on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray / States Newsroom)

Sullivan, Murkowski vote to pass Senate Republicans’ budget bill, with big health care cuts looming

U.S. House may vote as soon as Wednesday on a proposal that brings trillions of dollars in changes in federal spending on health care, food aid and more

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John Barrasso of Wyoming, both Republicans, center, walk into the Senate chamber on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray / States Newsroom)
Lisa Murkowski and Ben Mallott at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention on Oct. 19, 2024. (Photo by Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Republican US Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses her ‘Yes’ vote on the big federal budget bill

Murkowski defended her vote, pointing to provisions to extend 2017 tax cuts and develop resources in Alaska, while expressing concerns around cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits

  • Jul 2, 2025
  • By James Brooks and Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Lisa Murkowski and Ben Mallott at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention on Oct. 19, 2024. (Photo by Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)
Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District decides to close the RALLY program

The summer RALLY program will continue through the district’s advertised end date of Aug. 8

Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Juneau Board of Education meets and discusses a resolution in response to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s draft regulation on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Public comment period opens for proposal limiting local governments’ contributions to schools

JSD’s potential loss from limiting non-instructional funding becomes more significant after review

The Juneau Board of Education meets and discusses a resolution in response to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s draft regulation on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
HESCO barriers wind through the forest near Thunder Mountain Middle School on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Neighbors come together in preparation for seasonal glacial lake outburst flood

Flood victims plan for worst-case scenario, seek update on long-term flood mitigation

HESCO barriers wind through the forest near Thunder Mountain Middle School on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau International Airport. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Search for airport manager continues

The search continues for the next airport manager for the Juneau International Airport. The board, on June 9, identified two finalists, Michael Clow and Michael… Continue reading

Juneau International Airport. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Natalia Spengler performs as Beatrice during a tech rehearsal of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Anna Becknell as Hero sits in the window behind her. (Courtesy of Flordelino Lagundino)

‘Some cupid kills with arrows, some with traps’

Theater Alaska brings deception and delight to Juneau venues with Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”

Natalia Spengler performs as Beatrice during a tech rehearsal of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Anna Becknell as Hero sits in the window behind her. (Courtesy of Flordelino Lagundino)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, June 28, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)