Wire Service

The ConocoPhillips Alaska headquarters, seen here on April 8, 2020, looms over downtown Anchorage. An appeals court order denying environmentalists’ request for an emergency injunction allows the company to proceed with its ongoing winter construction at its massive Willow project on the North Slope. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Appeals court allows ConocoPhillips to keep building its Willow project

Construction is underway at the massive oil project even as the legal fight continues.

The ConocoPhillips Alaska headquarters, seen here on April 8, 2020, looms over downtown Anchorage. An appeals court order denying environmentalists’ request for an emergency injunction allows the company to proceed with its ongoing winter construction at its massive Willow project on the North Slope. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A pod of killer whales, also known as orcas, swims in waters off Southeast Alaska’s Chicagof Island in July of 2023. A new federal report describes the 37 killer whale entanglements that were documented in Alaska waters from 1991 to 2022. (Photo by Meghan Chamberlain/U.S. Forest Service)

Report details 37 known killer whale entanglements in Alaska over three decades

Over the last three decades, 37 killer whales were entangled in fishing gear in Alaska, which resulted in 25 deaths, according to a new report… Continue reading

A pod of killer whales, also known as orcas, swims in waters off Southeast Alaska’s Chicagof Island in July of 2023. A new federal report describes the 37 killer whale entanglements that were documented in Alaska waters from 1991 to 2022. (Photo by Meghan Chamberlain/U.S. Forest Service)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, Dec. 18, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Chart by Paul E. Peterson and M. Danish Shakeel, Harvard University)

Alaska leads 35 states and D.C. in first-ever rankings of charter performance on NAEP

Harvard researchers’ examination puts performance of Hawaii charters at the bottom

(Chart by Paul E. Peterson and M. Danish Shakeel, Harvard University)
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Toasty Heater Reviews: Top Portable Heater for Personal Space Warmth?

Winter is here, and many people are looking for the best heating options to meet their needs and save energy. Introducing Toasty Heater, a personal… Continue reading

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Wrestlers for South Anchorage High School, which won the ASAA Division I state wrestling tournament on Saturday, were easy to identify by their bleach blond hair. (Steven Glasheen / Alaska Sports Report)

South Anchorage High School wins D1 wrestling title

One TMHS competitor finishes fourth; two finish sixth in weight divisions during two-day tournament.

Wrestlers for South Anchorage High School, which won the ASAA Division I state wrestling tournament on Saturday, were easy to identify by their bleach blond hair. (Steven Glasheen / Alaska Sports Report)
Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Biden administration moves to protect oldest trees as climate change brings more fires, pests

The Biden administration moved on Tuesday to conserve groves of old-growth trees on national forests across the U.S. as climate change amplifies the threats they… Continue reading

Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers)

Southeast hunters pay deerly for violations in large-scale joint state-federal operation

53 charges or citations issued during Southern Southeast Sitka Blacktail deer “rut,” AST reports.

(Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo at the groundbreaking of the Wasilla airport’s expansion. (Office of the Governor)

A tour of Gov. Dunleavy’s capital budget

Southeast items include $9.5M to replace patrol vessel, $1.5M to thin “overly dense young forests.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo at the groundbreaking of the Wasilla airport’s expansion. (Office of the Governor)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Use federal compost funds to help existing operator

This year CBJ was awarded a $2.5 million grant (part of Biden’s forward-thinking Inflation Reduction Act) to scale up Juneau’s compost capacity at 2300 Anka… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Cruise industry and community collaboration has been and will continue to be effective

I was pleased to read that Kate Troll recognizes the economic importance of the visitor industry, and supports continued collaboration between the community and cruise… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A firefighter clears loose brush from around a sequoia tree in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, Calif., in July 2022. (Garrett Dickman/National Park Service)

On the Trails: Fire-adapted trees

In areas subject to fairly frequent wildfires, especially surface fires, we find many plants that have evolved resistance to burning, even taking advantage of the… Continue reading

A firefighter clears loose brush from around a sequoia tree in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, Calif., in July 2022. (Garrett Dickman/National Park Service)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Aurora forecast for the week of Dec. 18

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data, at www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast. The listings below will… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023

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, Dec. 15, 2023

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, Dec. 14, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen at an appearance earlier this year. (Office of the Governor photo)

A journalist just reviewed 1,000 pages of Alaska budget documents — so you don’t have to

Items to escalate state’s subsistence fight with feds and enhance drone use for law enforcement.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen at an appearance earlier this year. (Office of the Governor photo)
Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in on Thursday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy proposes $14 million in food stamp crisis fixes

Commissioner says state can clear the backlog in 90 days, if there are no ‘further interruptions’

Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in on Thursday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
PJ Foy swims the butterfly at  the Speedo Winter Junior Championships in Westmont, Illinois. (Kevin Tuning / Forever Still Photography)

Foy places in four swimming events at Speedo Winter Junior Championships

TMHS student who won state individual title takes second in 100-yard fly at national competition.

PJ Foy swims the butterfly at  the Speedo Winter Junior Championships in Westmont, Illinois. (Kevin Tuning / Forever Still Photography)