Site Logo
This Empire file photo shows the mill facility at the Kensington Gold Mine on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. A new study from the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage tries to imagine what the state's mining industry could look like in 20 years. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire file)

News

Economists explore mining’s future in Alaska

A lot of variables.

The Association of Alaska School Boards won a $100,000 grant to develop resources to more closely involve families in the education process from the Carnegie Corporation on Tuesday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Education advocacy organization earns major grant

It’ll help develop resources to help teachers work with families to improve educational outcomes.

At a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlined his plan to have the state divest its assets from Russia. The disruption in the global market could be beneficial to Alaska, the governor said, if it is able to develop its resources. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska pushes ahead with Russian divestment

Costs likely to increase

Sean Williams, a rookie musher from Chugiak, Alaska, takes his sled dogs through a snowstorm in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 5, 2022, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The competitive start of the nearly 1,000-mile race will be held March 6, 2022, in Willow, Alaska, with the winner expected in the Bering Sea coastal town of Nome about nine days later. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

News

Iditarod dogs pack Anchorage for race’s ceremonial start

The competitive race for mushers and their dogs starts Sunday in Willow.

Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce selects Edie Grunwald to be his running mate at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Pierce taps Grunwald, former parole board chair, as running mate

KENAI —Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, a hopeful for the Alaska governor’s seat, has tapped Edie Grunwald…

Cap

News

APOC decision allows unlimited contributions to candidates

Legislative action needed.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, speaks during a rally urging the Alaska government, particularly the Permanent Fund Corporation, to divest itself from any Russian investment.

News

Protesters, politicians call for cutting financial ties to Russia

The governor issued a statment directing state agencies to identify and divest, if appropriate.

U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Andrew Britten Two Avenger Air Defense Systems sit on a flatbed trailer Feb. 25 at the Port of Anchorage for exercise Arctic Edge 2022.

News

Military holds major Arctic exercise across Alaska

From Juneau to the Arctic Circle, servicemembers will be practicing their cold-weather warfare.

Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, spoke to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 3, 2022, regarding a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing as the sex they identify with. (Screenshot)

News

Hearing held for restrictive transgender sports bill

Opponents say courts will strike it down.

Speaker of the Alaksa House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks to lawmakers on Jan. 18, 2022. In a statement Wednesday the House Majority Coalition announced a $1,300 boost to this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

News

House leadership proposes $1,300 ‘energy relief check’

Dividend amount under debate.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney spoke to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 3, 2022, emphasizing the system’s importance to the state’s workforce. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

UA seeks to rebuild enrollment

UA President: Infrastructure jobs are coming, Alaskans could fill them.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney stopped by the Empire offices in Juneau on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to talk about the system's future. Mostly recovered from budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitney said the university is ready to start building Alaska's workforce. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Pitney: UA ready to train Alaska’s workforce

‘Getting people through the pipeline.’

This photo composite shows Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following President Joe Biden's State of the Union address Alaska's delegation called for increased U.S. energy development. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

News

Delegation urges energy production following State of the Union

Unified on Ukraine, divided elsewhere.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

News

State reports dozens of new COVID deaths

New deaths are reported through death certificate review each Wednesday

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation got some rate sun on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, as Alaska's lawmakers urged the corporation's Board of Directors to divest from Russian assets in response to the invasion of Ukraine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Permanent Fund to hold Russian assets as lawmakers urge divestment

Many states are divesting.

In this September 2019 Empire file photo, prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department are displayed. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

News

Alaska to receive $58M in opioid settlement

A settlement with opioid manufacturers has awarded the state of Alaska $58 million, the Department of Law announced…

Image via labor.alaska.gov.

News

Wages up from a decade ago

Yearly wages rose 11% when adjusted for inflation — or approximately $5,809 annually — from 2010 to 2020

Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, speaks on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. McCave introduced bills to enact a reciprocal tax on Washington state after lawmakers in that state forwarded a bill that would tax refined fuel to Alaska and House members passed a resolution urging Washington lawmakers not to pass the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska lawmakers push back on proposed Washington state legislation

Withdrawn fuel tax provision proves unpopular with lawmakers.

U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, seen here in this 2021 Empire file photo, introduced a bill Monday that would allow the federal government to seize Russian ships in American waters. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

News

Alaska’s lawmakers seek to punish Russia

Economic punishments.

Pat Pitney was named President of the University of Alaska Friday after serving as interim president for over a year. She is the first woman to hold the position in UA's history. (Courtesy photo / University of Alaska)

News

Pat Pitney named UA President

After shedding interim label, she’s the first woman to hold the post.