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Workers construct a greenhouse behind the Edward K. Thomas building during the summer of 2021. The greenhouse is part of a food sovereignty project by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, which this week received a $15 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency to establish or expand composting operations in five Southast Alaska communities including Juneau. (Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska photo)

Tlingit and Haida gets $15M EPA grant for composting operations in five Southeast Alaska communities

Funds will establish or expand programs in Juneau, Wrangell, Hoonah, Petersburg and Yakutat.

Workers construct a greenhouse behind the Edward K. Thomas building during the summer of 2021. The greenhouse is part of a food sovereignty project by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, which this week received a $15 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency to establish or expand composting operations in five Southast Alaska communities including Juneau. (Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska photo)
Duff Mitchell (right), a board member of the Downtown Business Association, reads a question to Juneau Assembly and mayoral candidates during a forum Tuesday night at V’s Cellar Door restaurant. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Near-unanimous opposition to Ship-Free Saturday proposition by Assembly and mayoral candidates

Mayoral and Assembly hopefuls also discuss downtown’s economic future, City Hall and bond measures.

Duff Mitchell (right), a board member of the Downtown Business Association, reads a question to Juneau Assembly and mayoral candidates during a forum Tuesday night at V’s Cellar Door restaurant. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (foreground) and Xáalnook Erin Tripp star in the play “Cold Case,” focusing on a story involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, which is scheduled to make its stage debut Friday at Perseverance Theatre. (Akiko Nishijima Rotch / Perseverance Theatre)

Play revealing unseen struggles of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons debuts at Perseverance Theatre

“Cold Case” features story of rural Iñupiaq woman trying to recover aunt’s body from Anchorage.

Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (foreground) and Xáalnook Erin Tripp star in the play “Cold Case,” focusing on a story involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, which is scheduled to make its stage debut Friday at Perseverance Theatre. (Akiko Nishijima Rotch / Perseverance Theatre)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls lead the pack during the season-opening cross country meet at the state fairgrounds in Haines on Aug. 31, 2024. (Lex Treinen / For the Chilkat Valley News)

Bell, Hansen, lead Haines at season opener meet against powerhouse Juneau-Douglas

JDHS boys and girls both take nine of top 10 spots at Haines Invitational Cross-Country Meet.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls lead the pack during the season-opening cross country meet at the state fairgrounds in Haines on Aug. 31, 2024. (Lex Treinen / For the Chilkat Valley News)
James Montiver holds Cassie, and William Montiver holds Alani behind them, members of the Ketchikan Fire Department that helped rescue the dogs on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Dogs saved after seven days in Ketchikan landslide

Ketchikan Fire Department firefighters with heroic efforts Sunday brought joy and some relief to the community as it grieves the loss of life and homes… Continue reading

  • Sep 5, 2024
  • By Danelle Kelly, Ketchikan Daily News
  • landslide
James Montiver holds Cassie, and William Montiver holds Alani behind them, members of the Ketchikan Fire Department that helped rescue the dogs on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders (foreground) present details of their request for financial support to keep hospice, home care and residential substance abuse recovery programs operating during a Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Funding for hospital’s hospice, home health and Rainforest Recovery programs get Assembly support

Plan includes Gastineau Human Services expanding to accommodate Rainforest’s substance abuse treatment.

Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders (foreground) present details of their request for financial support to keep hospice, home care and residential substance abuse recovery programs operating during a Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speaks during a session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Rauscher was the lead sponsor of House Bill 88. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy vetoes work quota rules for Amazon-like warehouses

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed a bill that would have required the operators of large warehouses to provide their employees with a written work quota… Continue reading

Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speaks during a session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Rauscher was the lead sponsor of House Bill 88. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Boxed kits with naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug, and associated equipment are stacked on tables at the Alaska Department of Health’s Anchorage office on Aug. 9. The kits were assembled that day in preparation for distribution to school districts around the state, in accordance with House Bill 202. The bill requires schools to stock the kits and to have personnel trained to use them. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska schools to be stocked with anti-overdose kits, under new law

Emergency kits to save victims of opioid overdoses are on their way to Alaska schools, in accordance with a new law. The law is the… Continue reading

Boxed kits with naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug, and associated equipment are stacked on tables at the Alaska Department of Health’s Anchorage office on Aug. 9. The kits were assembled that day in preparation for distribution to school districts around the state, in accordance with House Bill 202. The bill requires schools to stock the kits and to have personnel trained to use them. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 6, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 6, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Abortion-rights advocates start a march along several downtown blocks to protest the U.S. Supreme Court ruling’s June 24, 2022, ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. An Alaska judge has ruled that a longstanding provision in state law specifying that licensed physicians are the only medical professionals allowed to provide abortion services violates the Alaska constitution’s equal-protection and privacy guarantees. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska judge strikes down requirement that only licensed physicians provide abortions

Ruling says barring clinicians from providing services violates equal-protection, privacy rights

Abortion-rights advocates start a march along several downtown blocks to protest the U.S. Supreme Court ruling’s June 24, 2022, ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. An Alaska judge has ruled that a longstanding provision in state law specifying that licensed physicians are the only medical professionals allowed to provide abortion services violates the Alaska constitution’s equal-protection and privacy guarantees. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska delegation sign is seen at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. The speaker on the screen is Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)

Alaska Democrats sue to remove imprisoned out-of-state Democrat from U.S. House ballot

Eric Hafner doesn’t meet the U.S. Constitution’s requirements for a candidate, the party argues.

The Alaska delegation sign is seen at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. The speaker on the screen is Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)
Fall sun hits the University of Alaska Fairbanks entrance sign on September 13, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

For some University of Alaska faculty, the next paycheck could be $0

University officials say they have made headway on problem, faculty will be paid “as soon as possible.”

Fall sun hits the University of Alaska Fairbanks entrance sign on September 13, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
A maintenance worker cleans the front of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau on April 2, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Expanded access to food stamps, health care becomes law in Alaska

The law takes advantage of waivers to allow more Alaskans to access federal aid programs.

A maintenance worker cleans the front of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau on April 2, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
A summary sheet is seen during ballot review on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the headquarters of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

A meeting at an Eagle River brewery helped put a convicted felon on Alaska’s U.S. House ballot

When Nick Begich arranged to meet Matt Salisbury at Matanuska Brewing in Eagle River last Thursday, he intended the get-together to be a simple scouting… Continue reading

A summary sheet is seen during ballot review on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the headquarters of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Melanee Tiura (right), one of three finalists to be the new CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, talks with an employee during a meet-and-greet at the hospital on Aug. 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Three people with different backgrounds at struggling healthcare facilities hoping to be Bartlett’s new CEO

Stability of hospital’s leadership, programs emphasized by finalists; board vote may occur this week.

Melanee Tiura (right), one of three finalists to be the new CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, talks with an employee during a meet-and-greet at the hospital on Aug. 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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A painting by Marty Sharp, whose works will be exhibited at the Juneau Artists Gallery as part of First Friday in September. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

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

Art exhibits, artists’ market, singer from Iceland and opening of new Perseverance play scheduled.

A painting by Marty Sharp, whose works will be exhibited at the Juneau Artists Gallery as part of First Friday in September. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Homeless students in Alaska, nationally could lose access to added aid

Congress asked to give states more time to spend designated money, advocates say it may be too late.

The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Juneau fumbles away opportunities in 42-0 loss to Anchorage South

Three first-half Huskies turnovers allow hometown Wolverines to break open close game.

Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)
Sitkans sit in the lobby of city hall on Saturday as they use the city’s satellite connection to the internet with their cell phones. (Sitka Sentinel photo)

Sitka loses internet service, GCI says repair could take two weeks

Help expected with loan of Starlink satellite equipment by Tlingit and Haida.

Sitkans sit in the lobby of city hall on Saturday as they use the city’s satellite connection to the internet with their cell phones. (Sitka Sentinel photo)
Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transboundary mining conference sees fears after natural and man-made disasters, hope after pacts

U.S., Canadian and tribal leaders gather in Juneau to seek way forward on decades-old disputes.

Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)