Members of the Ohio National Guard participate in the Operation ORCA exercise in June of 2023 in Wasilla. (Dana Rosso / Alaska National Guard)

Emergency simulation uses Juneau’s landscape to prepare for national threats

Alaska National Guard ORCA Exercise may disrupt community, but increases response readiness.

Members of the Ohio National Guard participate in the Operation ORCA exercise in June of 2023 in Wasilla. (Dana Rosso / Alaska National Guard)
Tulio Fontanella, a first-year production technician with Gavel, controls the cameras at a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Feb. 13, 2025. (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

Behind the cameras: Gavel Alaska broadcasts the business of state government to Alaskans

KTOO’s public service program works closely with state offices to ensure real-time coverage.

Tulio Fontanella, a first-year production technician with Gavel, controls the cameras at a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Feb. 13, 2025. (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
People dance in celebration of the Fisherman’s Honor Totem Pole in Hoonah on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Hoonah’s rich fishing history remembered through totem pole

The story of fishermen carved — “all of us in the past, all of us in the future, and all of us now.”

People dance in celebration of the Fisherman’s Honor Totem Pole in Hoonah on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, June 3, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)

Coast Guard icebreaker Storis begins maiden voyage, scheduled to be commissioned in Juneau in August

Ship will initially be homeported Seattle until infrastructure upgrades in Juneau are complete.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)
Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, speaks at a news conference Friday, March 15, 2024, with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska state school board may vote Wednesday morning to limit local funding for public schools

Change to city-provided funds, originally targeted for 2026, could cost Juneau School District more than $2M.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, speaks at a news conference Friday, March 15, 2024, with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Along the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, pictured here, runs a smaller-diameter natural gas line used to fuel the oil pipeline’s pumps. That small-diameter line could be a source of fuel for a new Bitcoin mining operation on the North Slope. (Arthur T. LaBar/Flickr under Creative Commons License)

New Alaska Bitcoin mine would use as much power as the state’s largest coal plant produces

Startup planning operation near North Slope oil fields would power computers with natural gas.

  • Jun 3, 2025
  • By Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal
Along the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, pictured here, runs a smaller-diameter natural gas line used to fuel the oil pipeline’s pumps. That small-diameter line could be a source of fuel for a new Bitcoin mining operation on the North Slope. (Arthur T. LaBar/Flickr under Creative Commons License)
State Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) addresses children’s programs advocates during a rally on April 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

From education wins to financial losses, mood swings were many at the Capitol, local delegation says

Juneau’s three Democratic state lawmakers each saw priorities advance, but wary of state’s ill fortunes.

State Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) addresses children’s programs advocates during a rally on April 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Marie Drake Planetarium is hosting an open house as part of First Friday in June. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council image)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in June

The launch of a publication featuring contributors from Juneau and Palestine, a group chant to singing bowls, and an event featuring both belly dancing and… Continue reading

The Marie Drake Planetarium is hosting an open house as part of First Friday in June. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council image)
Deputy Municipal Clerk Andi Hirsh (left) explains options for implementing ranked choice voting to Juneau Assembly members during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, June 2, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly moves forward with influencing this year’s election, ranked choice voting in next year’s

Leaders look at spending $50K this fall with eye on tax issues, introducing RCV ordinance next week.

Deputy Municipal Clerk Andi Hirsh (left) explains options for implementing ranked choice voting to Juneau Assembly members during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, June 2, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The shoreline of Kake, a Tlingit village of about 500 people, is seen in 2012. (Alaska Division of Community Affairs photo)

Federal appeals court upholds emergency subsistence hunt in village of Kake

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the board which regulates subsistence hunting on federal lands within Alaska… Continue reading

The shoreline of Kake, a Tlingit village of about 500 people, is seen in 2012. (Alaska Division of Community Affairs photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, June 1, 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 Saturday, May 31, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A few snow drifts remain on June 18, 2004, on the Arctic coastal plain of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (Craig McCaa/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

As Trump officials visit Alaska, feds announce plans to remove some restrictions on Arctic drilling

The Trump administration plans to lift environmental protections on roughly half of the National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska’s North Slope, reopening the area to possible… Continue reading

A few snow drifts remain on June 18, 2004, on the Arctic coastal plain of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (Craig McCaa/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at an infrastructure and development symposium in Anchorage on April 22, 2025. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)

Lisa Murkowski isn’t using ‘nice words’ about life under Trump

Alaska Republican senator could play make-or-break role in pushing back on president’s agenda.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at an infrastructure and development symposium in Anchorage on April 22, 2025. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)
Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Local leaders considering ranked choice voting for CBJ elections — with a strong ‘undecided’ tally so far

School board opts to delay its stance until Assembly, which meets Monday, gets more public clarity about proposal.

Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Friday, May 30, 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 Thursday, May 29, 2025

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska and American flags fly in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced a freeze on new state regulations. What does that mean?

Administrative order could affect a ballot measure Alaskans supported in 2024.

The Alaska and American flags fly in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Participants carefully walk through a particularly sticky patch of Gastineau Channel mud at the 2025 Spring Tide Scramble on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

Runners brave rain and mud at Juneau’s Spring Tide Scramble

Annual “mud run” draws a sizable crowd to start Juneau Trail and Road Runners’ race season.

Participants carefully walk through a particularly sticky patch of Gastineau Channel mud at the 2025 Spring Tide Scramble on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)