Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

False citations show Alaska education official relied on generative AI, raising broader questions

Commissioner Bishop said documents a first draft, appeared on state’s website due to technical error.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery center is scheduled to open at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Wednesday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

FEMA disaster aid center opens Wednesday at Mendenhall library

A Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery center for people affected by August’s record flood from Suicide Basin is scheduled to open Wednesday at the… Continue reading

A Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery center is scheduled to open at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Wednesday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Eaglecrest Lodge at the base of Eaglecrest Ski Area on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest Ski Area’s dilemma: Aging equipment needing repair while planning an ambitious new future

Leaders at board retreat also confront loss of lift for season, staff shortages, gondola uncertainties.

Eaglecrest Lodge at the base of Eaglecrest Ski Area on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A truck carries the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from a forest in Wrangell to the town’s Alaska Marine High Ferry Terminal in preparation for the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C. (James Edward Mills / U.S. Forest Service)

U.S. Capitol Christmas tree gives Wrangell much to celebrate

80-foot tree harvested from Tongass gets ceremonial sendoff before month-long trip to D.C.

A truck carries the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from a forest in Wrangell to the town’s Alaska Marine High Ferry Terminal in preparation for the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C. (James Edward Mills / U.S. Forest Service)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024

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 Friday, Oct. 25, 2024

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 Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024

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 Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A row of businesses along South Franklin Street are closed on Friday, the day after the departure of the final cruise ship in Juneau during the 2024 season. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Downtown businesses open after last ship leaves plan for lean winter, worry about proposed Douglas dock

Entire blocks along Franklin Street now shut down, but some stores seek to lure what locals they can.

A row of businesses along South Franklin Street are closed on Friday, the day after the departure of the final cruise ship in Juneau during the 2024 season. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Klondike gold rush stampeders stand beside a fragile sign marking the Alaska-Canada border. (Alaska State Library historical collections ASL-P21-54)

Border Patrol: Drawing the line between Alaska and Canada

Southeast Alaska boundary originated as uncertain line created by 1825 treaty between Russia, Great Britain.

Klondike gold rush stampeders stand beside a fragile sign marking the Alaska-Canada border. (Alaska State Library historical collections ASL-P21-54)
President Joe Biden waves after delivering remarks on the federal government’s role in running boarding schools for Native American children at the Gila Crossing Community School in Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2024. Biden on Friday formally apologized for the role of the federal government in running boarding schools where thousands of Native American children faced abuse, neglect and the erasure of their tribal identities. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Biden highlights Rosita Worl’s harsh childhood, life achievements in apology for U.S. abuse of Native children

Remarks come days after Biden gives Sealaska Heritage Institute president National Humanities Medal

  • Oct 26, 2024
  • By Peter Baker and Aishvarya Kavi ©2024 The New York Times Company
  • Indigenous apology
President Joe Biden waves after delivering remarks on the federal government’s role in running boarding schools for Native American children at the Gila Crossing Community School in Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2024. Biden on Friday formally apologized for the role of the federal government in running boarding schools where thousands of Native American children faced abuse, neglect and the erasure of their tribal identities. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation after disembarking from the ship at Marine Park on May 10, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Another record year: 1.68 million cruise passengers visit in 2024, up from 1.64 million in 2023

Biggest issues for visitors were lack of connectivity and crossing guards, tourism director says.

Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation after disembarking from the ship at Marine Park on May 10, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Volunteers operate an in-person polling place for the special U.S. House primary election on Friday, May 27, 2022, in the atrium of the State Office Building at Juneau, Alaska. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Early voting in Alaska is off to a fast start and is on pace for a record, figures show

On Monday, Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich urged supporters to vote early and lock in their votes. He followed his own advice this week,… Continue reading

Volunteers operate an in-person polling place for the special U.S. House primary election on Friday, May 27, 2022, in the atrium of the State Office Building at Juneau, Alaska. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, shakes hands with members of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, following her annual address in the state Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski again endorses Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola

Alaska’s senior U.S. Senator endorsed Peltola in 2022 and says cross-party collaboration is important.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, shakes hands with members of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, following her annual address in the state Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Elizabeth Pisel-Davis and Roblin Davis rehearse Thursday evening for “Love Letters” at McPhetres Hall. The play staged by Juneau Ghost Light Theatre debuts Friday. (Photo by Max Rosen)

Different cast and director every weekend as ‘Love Letters’ opens Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s season

Production will also feature different musicians each weekend and first sign-language interpreters.

Elizabeth Pisel-Davis and Roblin Davis rehearse Thursday evening for “Love Letters” at McPhetres Hall. The play staged by Juneau Ghost Light Theatre debuts Friday. (Photo by Max Rosen)
The Norwegian Jewel begins its departure from Juneau on Thursday evening, marking the official end of the 2024 cruise ship season. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Cruise ship season dominated by politics ends on a pleasant — and short — day for Juneau visitors

Departure of Norwegian Jewel two hours early due to wind warnings comes in wake of stormy ship debate.

The Norwegian Jewel begins its departure from Juneau on Thursday evening, marking the official end of the 2024 cruise ship season. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Jonathan Swinton, executive director of Gastineau Human Services, presides over a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a remodeled behavioral health clinic at the nonprofit organization’s Lemon Creek campus on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Gastineau Human Services completes hasty expansion one month after Rainforest Recovery Center closes

Two four-bed apartments added to 19 existing beds for substance abuse recovery at nonprofit’s campus.

Jonathan Swinton, executive director of Gastineau Human Services, presides over a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a remodeled behavioral health clinic at the nonprofit organization’s Lemon Creek campus on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pershlie Ami, a citizen of the Hopi tribe, shares her experience of attending Phoenix Indian School when she was a kid during the Road to Healing tour hosted by the U.S. Department of Interior at the Gila Crossing Community School on Jan. 20, 2023. (Shondiin Silversmith/Arizona Mirror)

‘We have persevered’: Biden will apologize for Native American boarding school history

For the first time in history, a sitting U.S. president is set to apologize to Indigenous communities for the role the federal government played in… Continue reading

Pershlie Ami, a citizen of the Hopi tribe, shares her experience of attending Phoenix Indian School when she was a kid during the Road to Healing tour hosted by the U.S. Department of Interior at the Gila Crossing Community School on Jan. 20, 2023. (Shondiin Silversmith/Arizona Mirror)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 20, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 20, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)