Steve Whitney (left) is sworn in as a Juneau Board of Education member by Superior Court Judge Amy Mead in the library at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after five candidates were interviewed by the other board members to fill the seat vacated when Will Muldoon resigned last month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Steve Whitney returns to Juneau school board six years after departure to temporarily fill vacant seat

Fisheries manager and parent selected from among five candidates to serve until October’s election.

Steve Whitney (left) is sworn in as a Juneau Board of Education member by Superior Court Judge Amy Mead in the library at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after five candidates were interviewed by the other board members to fill the seat vacated when Will Muldoon resigned last month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen behind a curtain of blooming branches on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Most state services will see no new funding in final Alaska state budget draft

Flat funding, combined with inflation, will mean service cuts in many places across the state.

The Alaska State Capitol is seen behind a curtain of blooming branches on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A used gondola purchased from an Austrian ski resort is seen as the key to Eaglecrest Ski Area’s year-round operations and a secure financial future. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Board chair: Eaglecrest’s gondola pushing limits of 2028 completion deadline under Goldbelt agreement

Company can nix $10M deal if work not finished on project ski area calls vital to its financial future.

A used gondola purchased from an Austrian ski resort is seen as the key to Eaglecrest Ski Area’s year-round operations and a secure financial future. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Two spawning pink salmon head upstream in shallow water in Cove Creek in Whittier on Aug. 5, 2024. While last year’s pink salmon runs and harvests were weak, big increases are expected this year. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska officials forecast improvements for the state’s commercial salmon harvest

Total catch is projected to be twice the size of last year’s weak harvest.

Two spawning pink salmon head upstream in shallow water in Cove Creek in Whittier on Aug. 5, 2024. While last year’s pink salmon runs and harvests were weak, big increases are expected this year. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau law enforcement officers stand in formation while Alaska Wildlife Trooper Sgt. Branden Forst reads the names of Southeast Alaska’s fallen officers on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fallen officers remembered in annual ceremony during National Police Week

Memorial recognizes their sacrifice and the highest officer assault rate in the past decade.

Juneau law enforcement officers stand in formation while Alaska Wildlife Trooper Sgt. Branden Forst reads the names of Southeast Alaska’s fallen officers on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Adam Telle, nominee for assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, answers questions during a confirmation hearing this week. (Senate Armed Services Committee photo)

Trump’s nominee to head Army Corps of Engineers vows ‘expedited’ fix for Juneau’s glacial outburst floods

Adam Telle says “it’s going to require creativity,” without offering a specific timeline, at confirmation hearing.

Adam Telle, nominee for assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, answers questions during a confirmation hearing this week. (Senate Armed Services Committee photo)
Lupita Alvarez, a teacher at Montessori Borealis Children’s House, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Educators, the ‘backbone of our schools,’ are breaking

Teachers say district contract counteroffer with less pay sends the message they should leave.

Lupita Alvarez, a teacher at Montessori Borealis Children’s House, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
People visit an open house on the Juneau Douglas North Crossing on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Final public comments requested before next phase of Juneau Douglas North Crossing

After three years, the project advances to NEPA process.

People visit an open house on the Juneau Douglas North Crossing on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The six members of a joint House-Senate conference committee appointed to resolve differences in their versions of next year’s proposed state budget sign documents at their initial meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

PFD of $1,000 or $1,400? Ban on abortion funds or not? Fate of state’s budget now in hands of six legislators

Conference committee seeks to resolve 400 differences in House, Senate budgets as session nears end.

The six members of a joint House-Senate conference committee appointed to resolve differences in their versions of next year’s proposed state budget sign documents at their initial meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Fishing and other vessels docked in Haines. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)

New mystery showcases characters, scenes of 1980s salmon troll fishery

Southeast Alaska’s picturesque peaks and larger-than-life characters have made their way into stories for centuries. Don Stuart’s latest novel “Secret Places” is one of the… Continue reading

Fishing and other vessels docked in Haines. (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 17, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 17, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sign posted on Aug. 18, 2024, outside of the Alaska Division of Elections office in Midtown Anchorage directs voters to the polling place inside. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate passes elections overhaul to update voter rolls, introduce ballot tracking, curing

The Alaska Senate voted to enact new rules to streamline the voting process in Alaska and expand voter access. If signed into law, the legislation… Continue reading

A sign posted on Aug. 18, 2024, outside of the Alaska Division of Elections office in Midtown Anchorage directs voters to the polling place inside. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, May 13, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Eaglecrest Ski Area Board President Mike Satre (left) confers with Juneau Assembly member Christine Woll during an Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly’s budget deep dive: Debate spans from $3M to support Eaglecrest to $2,000 for veterans’ events

City leaders spend marathon evening seeking to resolve notable items during year when funds are short.

Eaglecrest Ski Area Board President Mike Satre (left) confers with Juneau Assembly member Christine Woll during an Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, May 13, 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, May 12, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Alaska gives food stamp recipients’ personal information to federal officials

Data sharing part of nationwide request by Trump administration; appears to be targeting migrants.

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)
Jörg Knorr, a solo travel journalist from Flensburg, Germany, smiles after taking a photo on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

German kayaker sets off to circumnavigate Admiralty Island

He made friends along the way in his mission to see Alaska.

Jörg Knorr, a solo travel journalist from Flensburg, Germany, smiles after taking a photo on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, speaks to Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, during a vote on amendments to the state’s capital budget on Monday, May 12, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Amid budget struggle, Alaska has little money for new construction or renovation

State’s capital budget about to pass Legislature with no projects for individual legislators’ districts.

Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, speaks to Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, during a vote on amendments to the state’s capital budget on Monday, May 12, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, at center, sits among senators during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Most Alaskans nominated for state boards and commissions get Legislature’s approval this year

One nominee was rejected on a 0-60 vote, which may be a first for the Alaska Legislature.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, at center, sits among senators during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)