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The Museum of the North in Fairbanks, Alaska, Aug. 2, 2025. Paintings, poems and science are on display at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, illustrating the shared impact when carbon is released from the permafrost. (Chona Kasinger/The New York Times)

What happens when the ice melts? These women in Alaska are sounding an alarm

When Debbie Clarke Moderow was running the Iditarod — the 1,100-mile sled dog race through Alaska’s frozen interior — she had a moment. Her hands… Continue reading

  • Oct 20, 2025
  • New York Times
The Museum of the North in Fairbanks, Alaska, Aug. 2, 2025. Paintings, poems and science are on display at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, illustrating the shared impact when carbon is released from the permafrost. (Chona Kasinger/The New York Times)
The emergency cold weather warming shelter is seen in Thane in spring 2025. (Jasz Garrett file photo)

Warming shelter opens for the winter

The shelter is open to all for overnight stays

The emergency cold weather warming shelter is seen in Thane in spring 2025. (Jasz Garrett file photo)
Example of fentanyl pills. (Photo courtesy of DEA)

Juneau man arrested after $111,000 in narcotics seized

Investigators say the package contained 219 grams of fentanyl and other drugs

Example of fentanyl pills. (Photo courtesy of DEA)
Joe Yeilnaawú Zuboff performs Yéik Utee (Imitating the Spirits) at the Sealaska Heritage Institute ceremony on Monday. "We're calling on our ancestors, the ones before us that got us to this point we're to give thanks to them," Zuboff said. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

PHOTOS: Indigenous Peoples Day at the Sealaska Heritage Institute

The ceremony featured dancing, speaches and gifts

Joe Yeilnaawú Zuboff performs Yéik Utee (Imitating the Spirits) at the Sealaska Heritage Institute ceremony on Monday. "We're calling on our ancestors, the ones before us that got us to this point we're to give thanks to them," Zuboff said. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Former Juneau Police Department officer Brandon LeBlanc kneels beside man after violent arrest on July 30, as seen in police body cam footage. (Juneau Police Department screenshot)

State clears former Juneau police officer of charges in violent July arrest

The state said they likely could not prove that the officer’s use of force was unjustified.

Former Juneau Police Department officer Brandon LeBlanc kneels beside man after violent arrest on July 30, as seen in police body cam footage. (Juneau Police Department screenshot)
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy meets with members of the University of Alaska Anchorage chapter of Turning Point on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, the same day he proclaimed “Charlie Kirk Day.” (Governor Mike Dunleavy/Facebook)

Oct. 14 proclaimed ‘Charlie Kirk Day’ in Alaska

Governor Dunleavy Turning Point USA chapter on the same day

  • Oct 15, 2025
  • By Juneau Empire Staff
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy meets with members of the University of Alaska Anchorage chapter of Turning Point on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, the same day he proclaimed “Charlie Kirk Day.” (Governor Mike Dunleavy/Facebook)
The Norwegian Encore at the Alaska Steamship Wharf on Tuesday, the final cruise ship of the season. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

2025 Juneau cruise season comes to a close

The last cruise of the season came and went amid ongoing debate over tourism’s impact

The Norwegian Encore at the Alaska Steamship Wharf on Tuesday, the final cruise ship of the season. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Rivers in Alaska, Yukon set to warm: how will this affect salmon?

Research coming from the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder incorporated Indigenous knowledge into their research

  • Oct 15, 2025
  • Talar Stockton Local Journalism Initiative
Alaska Electric Light & Power facility in Lemon Creek on Tuesday afternoon. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Juneau returns to hydropower after outage sweeps city

The outage briefly shifted the city to generators, but no spike in power costs expected

Alaska Electric Light & Power facility in Lemon Creek on Tuesday afternoon. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews conduct overflights of Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding impacted several western Alaska communities, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Kodiak)

Alaska flooding leaves 1 dead and 2 missing

At least 51 other people were rescued from Kwigillingok and the village of Kipnuk after the storm

  • Oct 14, 2025
  • New York Times
U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews conduct overflights of Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding impacted several western Alaska communities, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Kodiak)
Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser testifies in support of a Base Student Allocation increase on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol.

Juneau superintendent to resign at tail end of school year

Frank Hauser’s last day will be June 30, 2026

  • Oct 14, 2025
  • Juneau Empire Staff
Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser testifies in support of a Base Student Allocation increase on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol.
National Weather Service screenshot Warning issued by the National Weather Service shows high flood risk along west and north coasts of Alaska.

Governor declares disaster as storm floods west and north Alaska communities

Governor Mike Dunleavy declared the 2025 October West Coast Storm a disaster this afternoon, after flooding hit communities along Alaska’s west and north coasts. Flooding… Continue reading

National Weather Service screenshot Warning issued by the National Weather Service shows high flood risk along west and north coasts of Alaska.
The ballot processing center in Thane receives all ballots on Election Day (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Updated unofficial election results show sales tax cuts hold strong, candidate leads widening

Only one position has changed, while the rest remain consistent with first round results

The ballot processing center in Thane receives all ballots on Election Day (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
A black bear next to a trash bin. (Mark Levisay photo)

Juneau urges residents to secure trash as bears forage for fall

It’s been a relatively quiet year for bear calls, but experts stress prevention over punishment

A black bear next to a trash bin. (Mark Levisay photo)
Alex Bruell photo Mari Kanagy is a new reporter at the Juneau Empire.

A new recruit for the ‘Empire’

Mari Kanagy recently joined Juneau Empire staff as a reporter.

Alex Bruell photo Mari Kanagy is a new reporter at the Juneau Empire.
Campaign signs for Assembly candidate Nano Brooks hang on a fence in Mendenhall Valley. Brooks leads the race against incumbent Wade Bryant by just three votes in the preliminary results. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Assembly candidates react to preliminary election results

Early tallies show Proposition 2 passing by a wide margin and a razor-thin race for District 2

Campaign signs for Assembly candidate Nano Brooks hang on a fence in Mendenhall Valley. Brooks leads the race against incumbent Wade Bryant by just three votes in the preliminary results. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
US DoT screenshot U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy hold a news conference at Newark Liberty International Airport on Oct. 6, 2025, to discuss the impacts of the ongoing government shutdown on the nation’s transportation systems.
Video

Essential Air Service in Alaska to run out of funding within days amid gov shutdown

Subsidies to support the Essential Air Service program are set to soon expire, as early as Sunday

  • Oct 8, 2025
  • By Ashley Wadhwani
US DoT screenshot U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy hold a news conference at Newark Liberty International Airport on Oct. 6, 2025, to discuss the impacts of the ongoing government shutdown on the nation’s transportation systems.
Video
“VOTE HERE” sign directs residents to the City Hall Assembly Chamber voting center on Election Day. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Preliminary election results favor cutting sales tax, tight race for Assembly

Unofficial election results for municipal elections are here

“VOTE HERE” sign directs residents to the City Hall Assembly Chamber voting center on Election Day. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
The ballot drop box at City Hall Assembly Chambers is one of five stationed around Juneau. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Voters, poll workers reflect on Election Day

Juneau residents share their opinions on municipal ballot

The ballot drop box at City Hall Assembly Chambers is one of five stationed around Juneau. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion FILE - Alaska Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024.

Alaska Lt. Governor certifies U.S. citizen voting requirement initiative

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom has certified application for Ballot Initiative 25USCV

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion FILE - Alaska Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024.