A combined crew from the Yakutat City and Borough and Tongass National Forest began pilot treatment of willows to improve moose browsing habitat in August of 2023. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

Tongass Forest Plan Revision draft released, starting clock on 45-day comment period

Plan seeks to balance range of tribal, environmental, industrial and climate goals.

A combined crew from the Yakutat City and Borough and Tongass National Forest began pilot treatment of willows to improve moose browsing habitat in August of 2023. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Kids take part in ski lessons this week at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Eaglecrest’s new GM: “Something drastic needs to happen or that team is going to crumble from the inside”

Employees’ struggles acknowledged as leaders responding to critical report say future holds promise.

Kids take part in ski lessons this week at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Snotty Nose Rez Kids rappers Yung Trybez and Young D sing to the crowd during a performance as part of the final night of the Áak’w Rock music festival at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Áak’w Rock canceled due to lack of staff, organizers say Indigenous music festival will return in 2027

Event with virtual debut in 2021 and first in-person fest in 2023 alternates years with Celebration.

Snotty Nose Rez Kids rappers Yung Trybez and Young D sing to the crowd during a performance as part of the final night of the Áak’w Rock music festival at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District not impacted by nationwide PowerSchool data breach

The Juneau School District was notified on Friday by PowerSchool, the company that provides its student information system, that the company experienced a potential national… Continue reading

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
An aerial view of downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Affordable Housing Fund approves two apartment projects

Guidelines have been refined since Ridgeview sold at market price.

An aerial view of downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a fatal fire on Aspen Avenue on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Recent fires cast light upon CCFR’s staffing shortages

Juneau’s firefighters are the city’s problem-solvers, but union says they need support too.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a fatal fire on Aspen Avenue on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A small studio apartment in The Assembly Apartments overlooking downtown Juneau. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
A small studio apartment in The Assembly Apartments overlooking downtown Juneau. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 10, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 10, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A firefighter tries to contain a flareup in a house fire on Aspen Avenue on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

One person killed, one hospitalized in early-morning house fire in Mendenhall Valley

Home considered a total loss, family left without possessions as fire ignites while they’re sleeping.

A firefighter tries to contain a flareup in a house fire on Aspen Avenue on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A firefighter carries a hose toward a Mendenhall Valley house still experiencing flareups hours after a fire started early Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

JPD: Fire that destroyed home deliberately set by man who died from cause ‘not related to the fire’

Relative suffered life-threatening burns reentering house trying to find man, according to police.

A firefighter carries a hose toward a Mendenhall Valley house still experiencing flareups hours after a fire started early Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Tesla Cox (left) explains the damage done to her home and possessions by a record flood to a delegation of local and congressional leaders on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Flood protection at top of Juneau Assembly’s legislative project funding list

Second Douglas crossing, wastewater plant rank next; some members concerned civic center is low on list.

Tesla Cox (left) explains the damage done to her home and possessions by a record flood to a delegation of local and congressional leaders on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Mendenhall Wastewater Facility is among the many locations in Juneau that local leaders say are in need of overdue major maintenance and upgrades. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Assembly may ask voters to OK $20M utility bond and $10M school bond, cruise visitors to pay $7 more in fees

City leaders also looking at hikes to property taxes and utility rates to cope with snowballing costs.

The Mendenhall Wastewater Facility is among the many locations in Juneau that local leaders say are in need of overdue major maintenance and upgrades. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Hundreds of residents and cruise ship passengers visit the Juneau Maritime Festival at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s younger population dropping fast, older residents increasing rapidly, latest state count shows

8.3% drop in residents under 35 between 2020 and 2024, 21% increase in residents 65 and older.

Hundreds of residents and cruise ship passengers visit the Juneau Maritime Festival at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Juneau is one of four districts federal education officials said was underfunded by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Four Alaska school districts, including Juneau, move on without federally promised money

$17.5M pandemic funding dispute wth state ends; Juneau wasn’t counting on its $90K share.

An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Juneau is one of four districts federal education officials said was underfunded by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
An aerial shows the footprint of the test well drilled in the mid-1980s on land owned by the Kaktovik Native village corporation within the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Trump wants oil drilling in Alaska. A lease sale in ANWR just flopped.

No bidders for 400,000 acres offered; some Alaska officials said Biden actions ensured failure

  • Jan 8, 2025
  • By Lisa Friedman 2025 The New York Times Company
  • Oil production
An aerial shows the footprint of the test well drilled in the mid-1980s on land owned by the Kaktovik Native village corporation within the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Suspicious package in mail leads to drug bust at downtown hotel

$42,700 of suspected illegal drugs and more than $2,000 in cash seized, JPD reports.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Village of Wrangell (Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw in Tlingit) in 1868 on present day Front Street. (Photo by Eadward Muybridge)

Plans taking shape for Saturday’s Army apology for 1869 bombardment of Wrangell

Program starts by retracing steps of Shx’atoo, the Tlingit man hanged by Army after the 1869 attack.

Village of Wrangell (Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw in Tlingit) in 1868 on present day Front Street. (Photo by Eadward Muybridge)
A trailer in the Sprucewood Park mobile home neighborhood burns on Monday night. Fire officials said the trailer apparently has long been unoccupied. (Photo by Gerald Mayeda)

Fire engulfs unoccupied trailer in the Mendenhall Valley

Wind spreads flames quickly, but neighboring homes escape damage.

A trailer in the Sprucewood Park mobile home neighborhood burns on Monday night. Fire officials said the trailer apparently has long been unoccupied. (Photo by Gerald Mayeda)
A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Lawsuits for backlogged public assistance programs result in mandatory monthly progress reports by state

Alaska agrees to such reports for cash assistance after judge orders similar requirement for food stamps.

A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is standing behind him. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Unnamed energy company is negotiating takeover of proposed trans-Alaska gas pipeline

Top official for the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. said he expects a formal announcement soon.

Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is standing behind him. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)