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)
A sign at the end of the publicly accessible road on north Douglas Island on Oct. 16, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

North Douglas is suddenly hot property for lots of developmental projects

Planning Commission OKs zoning changes as wary locals eye gondola, second crossing, proposed cruise port.

A sign at the end of the publicly accessible road on north Douglas Island on Oct. 16, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Prince of Wales Alaska Youth Stewards crew members perform landslide assessment fieldwork. (Photo by Zofia Danielson)

Woven Peoples and Place: Ḵutí expands across Southeast Alaska

Project seeks to address community concerns about landslides and other natural hazards in the region.

Prince of Wales Alaska Youth Stewards crew members perform landslide assessment fieldwork. (Photo by Zofia Danielson)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, Oct. 21, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A panel discussion about cultural tourism in Alaska takes place Tuesday between (left to right) Camille Ferguson, economic development director of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska; Zach Dunlap, operations manager for Doyon; Susan Bell, vice president of strategic initiatives for Huna Totem Corp.; Emily Edenshaw, president and CEO of the Alaska Native Heritage Center; and McHugh Pierre, president and CEO of Goldbelt Inc. during the opening day of the Alaska Travel Industry Association convention at Centennial Hall. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Native cultural tourism is ‘Alaska’s sleeping giant,’ panel tells industry leaders at statewide convention

“Alaska is not ‘The Last Frontier.’ Alaska always has been and always will be a Native place.”

A panel discussion about cultural tourism in Alaska takes place Tuesday between (left to right) Camille Ferguson, economic development director of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska; Zach Dunlap, operations manager for Doyon; Susan Bell, vice president of strategic initiatives for Huna Totem Corp.; Emily Edenshaw, president and CEO of the Alaska Native Heritage Center; and McHugh Pierre, president and CEO of Goldbelt Inc. during the opening day of the Alaska Travel Industry Association convention at Centennial Hall. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, Oct. 22, 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 Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A student texts on a cellphone in this stock photo. (Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)

Alaska joins growing number of states considering crackdown on cellphones in schools

Most U.S. adults support cellphone bans in middle and high schools, research shows

A student texts on a cellphone in this stock photo. (Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)
Students heading to Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé board a bus at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

State revives effort limiting funds municipalities can give school districts for non-instructional costs

Juneau School District could lose millions for buses, food service, student activities, superintendent says.

Students heading to Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé board a bus at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out The Native Vote, stands by her business’ booth on Saturday at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Sparck, wearing a button identifying her as a Cup’ik voter, is urging Alaska Natives to be more diligent about voting in both state and local elections. In addition to her voter-education work, Sparck has a beauty-products business, ArXotica, that she and her sisters founded. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Campaign to boost Native voting combats both apathy and logistical challenges

Advocates are pushing for both engagement and easing of barriers affecting rural residents.

Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out The Native Vote, stands by her business’ booth on Saturday at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Sparck, wearing a button identifying her as a Cup’ik voter, is urging Alaska Natives to be more diligent about voting in both state and local elections. In addition to her voter-education work, Sparck has a beauty-products business, ArXotica, that she and her sisters founded. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas pulls into Icy Point Strait in Hoonah, on Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

Douglas cruise port intentionally announced after election, officials say; downtown businesses worry about income loss

Strategy raises questions about citywide cruise tourism economic impacts cited by Ship-Free Saturday opponents.

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas pulls into Icy Point Strait in Hoonah, on Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
A steady procession of vehicles and students arrives at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Reported surge of student fights — some filmed and luring kids from other schools — alarm parents and officials

Fights taking place on and off JDHS campus, students say; questions about discipline policy raised.

A steady procession of vehicles and students arrives at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The lower Stikine River is seen in British Columbia, Canada, in an undated photo. (Photo by Marek Stefunko/Getty Images Plus)

Above Stikine River, Canadian government boosts huge mining project you’ve probably never heard of

Road goes along a major salmon bearing river that flows into Southeast Alaska near Wrangell.

The lower Stikine River is seen in British Columbia, Canada, in an undated photo. (Photo by Marek Stefunko/Getty Images Plus)
Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge discusses current and future plans for parent company Royal Caribbean Group during a keynote speech Tuesday at the Alaska Travel Industry Association convention at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Royal Caribbean tries to appease angry city leaders with apology after surprise Douglas cruise port announcement

Tensions revived after cruise line president touts project in speech; email apology sent soon after.

Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge discusses current and future plans for parent company Royal Caribbean Group during a keynote speech Tuesday at the Alaska Travel Industry Association convention at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau on July 20, 2022. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Native scholars propose statewide reading standards for the state’s Indigenous languages

Sealaska Heritage Institute working with specialists to develop proposed curriculum.

An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau on July 20, 2022. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
Workers install Hesco Barriers along the Los Angeles River to protect against El Niño flooding in 2016. Similar barriers along the Mendenhall River are being considered by Juneau city leaders. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)

$2M for Hesco barriers OK’d by Assembly, but proposed flood-prevention project far from firmly set

Concerns raised about impacts on properties — and if homeowners will be forced to pay some costs.

Workers install Hesco Barriers along the Los Angeles River to protect against El Niño flooding in 2016. Similar barriers along the Mendenhall River are being considered by Juneau city leaders. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)
President Joe Biden honors the 10 winners of the 2023 National Humanities Medal, including Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, during a ceremony Monday at The White House. (Screenshot from official video by The White House)
Video
President Joe Biden honors the 10 winners of the 2023 National Humanities Medal, including Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, during a ceremony Monday at The White House. (Screenshot from official video by The White House)
Video
Municipal Attorney Emily Wright (left) swears in newly elected Juneau Assembly members Neil Steininger and Maureen Hall as newly reelected Mayor Beth Weldon takes a photo during an Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hall and Steininger get sworn in to Juneau Assembly; Hale and Blake get poems as they depart

Newly reelected Mayor Beth Weldon offers tributes; Greg Smith chosen as new deputy mayor

Municipal Attorney Emily Wright (left) swears in newly elected Juneau Assembly members Neil Steininger and Maureen Hall as newly reelected Mayor Beth Weldon takes a photo during an Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top left: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s first votes appear to show disproportionately high Democratic interest

Early voting locations opened Monday across Alaska for registered voters to cast ballots in the Nov. 5 general election. The lone exception was in Fairbanks,… Continue reading

These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top left: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)