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

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)
Members of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 protest on Feb. 10, 2023, in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

U.S. Supreme Court decision kills controversial Alaska union dues plan for now

2019 plan by Dunleavy required employees to regularly reaffirm their membership

Members of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 protest on Feb. 10, 2023, in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska State Capitol is illuminated by the sun on the morning of Jan. 9, 2023. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

From abortion to zoning: Short summaries of every bill in the 33rd Alaska State Legislature

This list was last updated Jan. 16, 2024. Each year, members of the Alaska Legislature introduce hundreds of bills. They’re all listed on the Legislature’s… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is illuminated by the sun on the morning of Jan. 9, 2023. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Jason Skidmore shovels snow along the sidewalk in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. Most legislators and staff were able to get to Juneau in time for the start of the session Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Storm leaves behind 29.3” of snow at airport, avalanche hazards, closed schools and state offices

First day of legislative session not affected by 15th biggest three-day storm ever in Juneau.

Jason Skidmore shovels snow along the sidewalk in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. Most legislators and staff were able to get to Juneau in time for the start of the session Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A caribou from the Central Arctic herd crosses a road within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska in the summer of 2019, during the mosquito harassment period. (Photo by John Severson/U.S. Geological Survey)

Oil field road traffic disrupts North Slope caribou more than previously recognized

New study raises questions about further development in the animals’ habitat

A caribou from the Central Arctic herd crosses a road within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska in the summer of 2019, during the mosquito harassment period. (Photo by John Severson/U.S. Geological Survey)
Cars parked on a hillside road near downtown are buried under heavy snow at midday Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Avalanche closes Thane Road; schools closed Tuesday due to storm

City offices and facilities scheduled to open at 10 a.m.; dry weather expected Tuesday

Cars parked on a hillside road near downtown are buried under heavy snow at midday Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during a presentation to the Senate Finance Committee on March 24, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Report: $175 ‘energy relief’ payment to residents, education funding boost likely in final state budget

Legislative Finance analysis of governor’s proposal for next year predicts numerous other adjustments

Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during a presentation to the Senate Finance Committee on March 24, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Peninsula Clarion printing press is photographed on Monday, April 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Black Press Media announces move to new ownership

Carpenter Media Group operates leading community news publications in the southern United States, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky.

  • Jan 15, 2024
  • Black Press staff
The Peninsula Clarion printing press is photographed on Monday, April 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Aurora forecast for the week of Jan. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data, at www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast. The listings below will… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, addresses the audience during a town hall by the local legislative delegation Thursday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School district deficit, legislative pay hikes, compost burials among issues at legislative town hall

Veto override on school funding will help district, Juneau’s state lawmakers say.

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, addresses the audience during a town hall by the local legislative delegation Thursday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man arrested in Craig after altercation in house and with police

Suspect threatened to kill person at knifepoint and damaged house, tased by troopers after fleeing.

(Juneau Empire file photo)