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A voter in Alaska’s special U.S. House primary election drops their ballot into a box on Saturday, June 11, 2022 as a poll worker observes. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Election reforms are on the agenda for Alaska lawmakers this year

Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced bill through House; Senate majority is expected to introduce its own.

A voter in Alaska’s special U.S. House primary election drops their ballot into a box on Saturday, June 11, 2022 as a poll worker observes. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey seniors will be honored before their game against Northern Lights Conference foe Kenai on Friday at Treadwell Ice Arena. JV play at 2 p.m., Senior Honors are at 6 p.m. and varsity action begins at 7:30 p.m. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS hockey senior night welcomes Kenai

Crimson Bears ready to de-ice conference foe Kardinals.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey seniors will be honored before their game against Northern Lights Conference foe Kenai on Friday at Treadwell Ice Arena. JV play at 2 p.m., Senior Honors are at 6 p.m. and varsity action begins at 7:30 p.m. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about new Trump administration policies at a news conference Wednesday in his Anchorage office. Behind him are Attorney General Treg Taylor and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle. Dunleavy and administration officials said President Trump’s reversals of Biden administration environmental policies will benefit Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Dunleavy and administration officials applaud Trump’s Alaska policies

Executive orders will enable more drilling, mining and other resource development.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about new Trump administration policies at a news conference Wednesday in his Anchorage office. Behind him are Attorney General Treg Taylor and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle. Dunleavy and administration officials said President Trump’s reversals of Biden administration environmental policies will benefit Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A person receives a COVID-19 vaccination. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Trump administration orders federal health agencies to halt public advisories, other communications

Directive in effect at least through Feb. 1, future communications will need OK of Trump appointee.

A person receives a COVID-19 vaccination. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
House members gather for the first floor session of the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Tribal public schools, election reform, snowfall guessing contests among Legislature’s first bills

Nearly 130 bills and resolutions introduced as state lawmakers get down to work on Wednesday.

House members gather for the first floor session of the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Women’s Division all-tournament team at last week’s Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament at the MEHS B.J. McGillis Gymnasium. (Photo courtesy MEHS)

Big names play big at 18th Annual Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational

190 players on 22 teams participate in regional tournament; Juneau’s Travis Dybdahl wins Iron Man Award.

Members of the Women’s Division all-tournament team at last week’s Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament at the MEHS B.J. McGillis Gymnasium. (Photo courtesy MEHS)
Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaska senators outline key priorities in the opening day of the 34th Legislature

An increase to the Base Student Allocation and in resource development among coming proposals.

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys junior varsity basketball team pose for a photo Saturday in the Petersburg High School gym. (Photo courtesy JDHS JV)

JDHS JV taste varsity action at Petersburg tournament

Crimson Bears show they are ready for next step

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys junior varsity basketball team pose for a photo Saturday in the Petersburg High School gym. (Photo courtesy JDHS JV)
State Sens. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), Matt Claman (D-Anchorage), Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) and Sen. James Kaufman (R-Anchorage) are sworn in by Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom during the opening day of the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

34th Alaska Legislature gavels in smoothly — now the hard part begins

Leadership battle in House from past sessions avoided, but minority has enough votes to sway agenda.

State Sens. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), Matt Claman (D-Anchorage), Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) and Sen. James Kaufman (R-Anchorage) are sworn in by Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom during the opening day of the 34th Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, is set to revert to its former name of Mount McKinley under an executive order signed Monday by President Donald Trump. (Denali National Park and Preserve photo)

Poll: Alaskans oppose reverting Denali back to Mt. McKinley by more than two-to-one

Trump voters in state favor change 43%-37%, Harris voters oppose 7%-86%, according to survey.

Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, is set to revert to its former name of Mount McKinley under an executive order signed Monday by President Donald Trump. (Denali National Park and Preserve photo)
Adm. Linda L. Fagan, the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard since 2022, was relieved of duty after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Adm. Linda Fagan fired as Coast Guard Commandant on Trump’s first day back in office

First woman to head a U.S. military branch presided over decision to homeport icebreaker in Juneau.

Adm. Linda L. Fagan, the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard since 2022, was relieved of duty after President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)
Askren Wrestling Academy coach Wilder Wichman demonstrates a technique against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Landyn Dunn on Monday during a three-day wrestling clinic at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Youth wrestlers welcome ‘Return of Wilder Wichman’

Askren Wrestling Academy coach helps grapplers pursue dreams.

Askren Wrestling Academy coach Wilder Wichman demonstrates a technique against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Landyn Dunn on Monday during a three-day wrestling clinic at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it on stage during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena following his inauguration as the 47th president in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Donald Trump signs executive orders, lifting oil restrictions in the Arctic

His decision receives praise from Alaska congressional delegation, concern from environmental groups.

President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it on stage during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena following his inauguration as the 47th president in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski team junior Lua Mangaccat and senior Ida Meyer work classic style uphill repeats during practice Saturday at Eaglecrest as coach Abby McAllister looks on. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS Nordic Ski team in season of perseverance

Lack of snow has dampened competitions, but not spirits.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski team junior Lua Mangaccat and senior Ida Meyer work classic style uphill repeats during practice Saturday at Eaglecrest as coach Abby McAllister looks on. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Monday. (Chang W. Lee / The New York Times)

Here are Trump’s day-one executive orders

President Trump on Monday began issuing a barrage of executive orders, kicking off his presidency with a muscular use of power intended to signal a… Continue reading

  • Jan 20, 2025
  • By Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Michael D. Shear and Noah Weiland ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Donald Trump
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Monday. (Chang W. Lee / The New York Times)
An officer from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector office, which has assigned two permanent officers to Juneau as of December. (U.S. Border Patrol photo)

Border Patrol launches Juneau operation, with eye on drugs rather than mass deportations

Two-person deployment will work with police, tribal, other agencies throughout Southeast Alaska.

An officer from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine Sector office, which has assigned two permanent officers to Juneau as of December. (U.S. Border Patrol photo)
Denali as seen in a picture distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2015 when the nation’s tallest mountain was renamed from Mount McKinley. (National Park Service photo)

Reports: Trump will rename Denali back to Mt. McKinley as part of flurry of executive orders on day one

Other orders expected to focus on immigration crackdowns, dismantle diversity initiatives.

Denali as seen in a picture distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2015 when the nation’s tallest mountain was renamed from Mount McKinley. (National Park Service photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Gwen Nizich shoots the ball during Juneau Douglas’s 67-28 win over Ketchikan at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS girls complete sweep at Ketchikan

Crimson Bears overpower Lady Kings for consecutive wins

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Gwen Nizich shoots the ball during Juneau Douglas’s 67-28 win over Ketchikan at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team pose at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday after watching a college game. Earlier in the day JDHS finished their final Colony Basketball Classic tournament game in Palmer, losing to Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School 71-54. (Photo courtesy JDHS)

JDHS boys put up tough challenge against defending state champion Thunderbirds

Crimson Bears lead much of first half before losing 71-54 to East Anchorage.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team pose at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday after watching a college game. Earlier in the day JDHS finished their final Colony Basketball Classic tournament game in Palmer, losing to Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School 71-54. (Photo courtesy JDHS)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Kerra Baxter shoots a layup during Juneau Douglas’s 58-27 win over Ketchikan at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS girls win at Ketchikan

Crimson Bears open conference play by defeating Lady Kings

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Kerra Baxter shoots a layup during Juneau Douglas’s 58-27 win over Ketchikan at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)