News

A plow clears snow from city streets on Sunday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Remote learning day as local schools ‘closed’ Monday due to snowstorm; city and state offices also closed

District announces first “winter” remote classes to prevent excessive cancellations due to weather

A plow clears snow from city streets on Sunday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser (left) and members of the Juneau Board of Education discuss the district’s financial crisis during a public meeting Thursday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Screenshot from Juneau School District livestream)

School district’s former financial officer increasingly blamed for deficit as angry parents ask who’s responsible

“We were appallingly poorly informed about our budget projections,” school board president says.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser (left) and members of the Juneau Board of Education discuss the district’s financial crisis during a public meeting Thursday night at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Screenshot from Juneau School District livestream)
Another winter storm is expected to dump up to 15 inches of snow on Juneau by Monday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Another storm arriving Sunday night expected to dump up to 15 more inches of snow on Juneau

However, rain forecast immediately afterward until next weekend, when it may snow again.

Another winter storm is expected to dump up to 15 inches of snow on Juneau by Monday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Thursday morning. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s working population loss casts long shadow over legislative session

As the Alaska Legislature convenes in Juneau, the state population is on the minds of lawmakers. For the 11th consecutive year, more people moved out… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Thursday morning. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Cigarette butts are crammed into an ashtray outside one of the Atlanta office buildings used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The photo was taken in 2009, prior to the area becoming tobacco-free. In Alaska, the state’s anti-tobacco program has helped resident quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco or electronic cigarettes. (Photo by Dr. Oscar Tarragó/Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Annual report tracks Alaskans’ tobacco-cessation progress — and tallies tobacco’s costs to the state

Alaskans trying to quit their tobacco habits made some significant progress over the past year, according to the annual report released this week by the… Continue reading

Cigarette butts are crammed into an ashtray outside one of the Atlanta office buildings used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The photo was taken in 2009, prior to the area becoming tobacco-free. In Alaska, the state’s anti-tobacco program has helped resident quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco or electronic cigarettes. (Photo by Dr. Oscar Tarragó/Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertson during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday.

Delay of Kroger-Albertson merger cause for more pressure by opponents, Peltola says

Parent companies of Fred Meyer and Safeway now looking at August instead of March to sign the deal.

Screenshot from official U.S. House of Representatives video feed U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, talks about issues of concern regarding the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertson during a floor speech in the House chamber on Wednesday.
A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature fails by 33-26 vote to override governor’s veto to education funding

House speaker says joint session was procedural move to address constitutional process question.

A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) A joint session of the Alaska Legislature meets Thursday night to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto to about $87.5 million of education funding. The override failed by a 33-26 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A view from the library of the Angoon High School, one of Alaska’s public schools, is seen on June 19, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska board of education sends the plan for tribally run public schools to lawmakers

A report detailing the framework for tribally run public schools will be sent to the legislators and the governor’s office. The intent is that it… Continue reading

A view from the library of the Angoon High School, one of Alaska’s public schools, is seen on June 19, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
An Alaska Marine Highway System vessel at sea. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

Dunleavy gains control to pick all nine members of state ferry board July 1 under executive order

Order ends all existing terms that day; takes away legislative leaders’ appointing of four seats.

An Alaska Marine Highway System vessel at sea. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska board of education lowers standard for student test scores, citing nationally high bar

State standards still among top third in nation, commissioner says.

The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 18, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Jan. 21

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 18, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Julia Keefe, left, guides her Indigenous Big Band through a performance at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to open last spring’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Jazz and Classics adding a winter jazz festival, canceling annual fall event

New three-day Juneau Jazz Fest in February will feature music, workshops from dormant Sitka fest.

Julia Keefe, left, guides her Indigenous Big Band through a performance at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to open last spring’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Members of the House Rules Committee hear testimony from staff for Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, about Senate Bill 140 on Wednesday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska education reform bill appears on fast track after lawmakers see rewrite

House majority version includes a smaller funding boost than advocates requested

Members of the House Rules Committee hear testimony from staff for Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, about Senate Bill 140 on Wednesday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Acting Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Cathy Muñoz is seen in an undated headshot photo provided by the department. (Contributed photo)

Interim labor commissioner Muñoz is Dunleavy’s pick for permanent job

Former Juneau lawmaker must be confirmed for the position by the Legislature.

Acting Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Cathy Muñoz is seen in an undated headshot photo provided by the department. (Contributed photo)
House Minority Leader Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks during a news conference Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Measure limiting Alaska campaign cash fails to get enough signatures for 2024 vote

Backers of a new ballot measure proposing limits on donations to political candidates failed to make the cutoff for this year’s elections. With the Alaska… Continue reading

House Minority Leader Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks during a news conference Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, Jan. 15, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gaveling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature gavels in with House majority rejecting veto override session on education funding

Governor also issues a dozen executive orders, including replacing AMHS operations board.

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gaveling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

School board OKs hiring freeze, other cuts due to $9.5M deficit; school consolidation proposed

Loan options, closing district during summer among other ideas discussed at special meeting

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)