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Thunder Mountain High School seniors James Polasky, left, and Samuel Lockhart, right, signed letters of intent on Thursday in the TMHS commons to play college basketball. Polasky will attend St. Olaf in Minnesota and Lockhart will attend Edmonds College in Washington state. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain’s Sam Lockhart and James Polasky sign letters of intent to play college basketball

All-state selection Lockhart to hoop at Edmonds, Polasky at St. Olaf.

Thunder Mountain High School seniors James Polasky, left, and Samuel Lockhart, right, signed letters of intent on Thursday in the TMHS commons to play college basketball. Polasky will attend St. Olaf in Minnesota and Lockhart will attend Edmonds College in Washington state. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, speaks during a session of the U.S. House on Wednesday. (U.S. Congress Screenshot)

Peltola declines to vote for Arctic drilling bill she previously supported, citing fish policy

GOP campaign group targeting Alaska’s Democratic congresswoman says vote will be a campaign issue.

Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, speaks during a session of the U.S. House on Wednesday. (U.S. Congress Screenshot)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 1, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending May 4

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on May 1, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mt. Edgecumbe High School coach Archie Young talks to an official during the Braves 63-61 loss to Nome in the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A Boys Basketball State Championship game at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)

Archie Young: A final road trip as Mt. Edgecumbe basketball coach and teacher retires after 25 years

Long-ago star high school player became an extended family member to a generation of students.

  • May 2, 2024
  • By Klas Stolpe, For the Juneau Empire
  • Sports
Mt. Edgecumbe High School coach Archie Young talks to an official during the Braves 63-61 loss to Nome in the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A Boys Basketball State Championship game at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)
About 20 youths dance in Ravenstail robes during a ceremony at Centennial Hall on Tuesday evening featuring the history of the ceremonial regalia. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

Weavers, dancers and teachers celebrate revival of a traditional crafting of robes from the fringes

“You have just witnessed the largest gathering of Ravenstail regalia in history.”

About 20 youths dance in Ravenstail robes during a ceremony at Centennial Hall on Tuesday evening featuring the history of the ceremonial regalia. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills explains the administration’s understanding of a ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program, in the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Dunleavy says homeschool changes must wait until appeal ruling as lawmakers eye fixes

“Something of this magnitude warrants a special session,” Dunleavy says.

Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills explains the administration’s understanding of a ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program, in the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
From left to right, Sens. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage; Bert Stedman, R-Sitka; and David Wilson, R-Wasilla, discuss a proposed budget amendment on Wednesday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate passes draft budget, confirming $175 million in bonus public-school funding

Gov. Mike Dunleavy told reporters that he’s ‘open to the increase’ proposed by lawmakers.

From left to right, Sens. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage; Bert Stedman, R-Sitka; and David Wilson, R-Wasilla, discuss a proposed budget amendment on Wednesday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
X’unei Lance Twitchell teaches an advanced Tlingít course at University of Alaska Southeast on Monday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Native languages at crucial juncture, biennial report says

Call to action urges systemic reforms to the state’s support and integration of Native languages.

X’unei Lance Twitchell teaches an advanced Tlingít course at University of Alaska Southeast on Monday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Reps. Jesse Sumner, R-Wasilla, and Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, talk to Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, during a break in the Alaska House of Representatives floor session on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Entering their final two regular weeks, Alaska legislators are narrowing their focus

Dozens of firefighters protested outside the Alaska Capitol last week, waving signs and chanting as they urged the Alaska House of Representatives to advance a… Continue reading

Reps. Jesse Sumner, R-Wasilla, and Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, talk to Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, during a break in the Alaska House of Representatives floor session on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys soccer team takes on Palmer High School on Friday in Anchorage. (Photo by Tory Bennetsen)

All four Juneau high school soccer teams notch winning records during road trip north

JDHS girls remain undefeated; both TMHS teams get first victories of season.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys soccer team takes on Palmer High School on Friday in Anchorage. (Photo by Tory Bennetsen)
Juneau residents calling for a ceasefire in Gaza put on t-shirts with slogans declaring their cause before testifying on a resolution calling for “a bilateral peace agreement in Israel and Palestine” considered by the Juneau Assembly on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Assembly fails by 2-5 vote to pass resolution seeking ‘bilateral peace’ between Israel and Palestine

Members question if declaration is appropriate at local level, angering residents favoring ceasefire

Juneau residents calling for a ceasefire in Gaza put on t-shirts with slogans declaring their cause before testifying on a resolution calling for “a bilateral peace agreement in Israel and Palestine” considered by the Juneau Assembly on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Kaxhatjaa X’óow/Herring Protectors wearing robes, which will be part of the exhibit “Protection: Adaptation & Resistance” at the Alaska State Museum on Friday. (Photo by Caitlin Blaisdell)

Here’s what happening for First Friday in May

Exhibit by more than 45 Alaska Natives at state museum features protector robes, MMIP Day preview.

Kaxhatjaa X’óow/Herring Protectors wearing robes, which will be part of the exhibit “Protection: Adaptation & Resistance” at the Alaska State Museum on Friday. (Photo by Caitlin Blaisdell)
Lon Garrison (center), executive director of the Alaska Association of School Boards, presides over a Juneau Board of Education self-assessment retreat Saturday at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board president says she won’t run again at meeting where members assess their response to crisis

Deedie Sorensen says it’s time to retire as board members give themselves tough grades, lofty goals.

Lon Garrison (center), executive director of the Alaska Association of School Boards, presides over a Juneau Board of Education self-assessment retreat Saturday at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nils Andreassen and his sons Amos, 7, and Axel, 11, pick up trash in the Lemon Creek area during the annual Litter Free community cleanup on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Annual community cleanup is its own reward — and then some

Nearly 800 people pick up tons of trash, recyclables and perhaps treasures

Nils Andreassen and his sons Amos, 7, and Axel, 11, pick up trash in the Lemon Creek area during the annual Litter Free community cleanup on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Debris from a home that partially fell into the Mendenhall River sits on its banks on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, after record flooding eroded the bank the day before. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska Senate unanimously OKs increasing maximum state disaster relief payments and eligibility

Bill by Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, raises limit to $50K instead of $21K, makes condo residents eligible

Debris from a home that partially fell into the Mendenhall River sits on its banks on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, after record flooding eroded the bank the day before. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire file photo)
The Matanuska state ferry, seen here docked when it was scheduled to begin its annual winter overhaul in October of 2022, has been out of service ever since. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

State awaits report, cost estimate on repairing Matanuska state ferry — and if it’s worth the effort

Full-body scan of vessel, out of service for 18 months, will determine if ship should be scrapped.

The Matanuska state ferry, seen here docked when it was scheduled to begin its annual winter overhaul in October of 2022, has been out of service ever since. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)
Eulalia Roman, 12, with team Mat-Su competes in the wrist carry on the first day of the Native Youth Olympics Senior Games at the Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday in Anchorage. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Alaska’s Indigenous teens emulate ancestors’ Arctic survival skills at the Native Youth Olympics

The athletes filling a huge gym in Anchorage were ready to compete, cheering and stomping and high-fiving each other as they lined up for the… Continue reading

Eulalia Roman, 12, with team Mat-Su competes in the wrist carry on the first day of the Native Youth Olympics Senior Games at the Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday in Anchorage. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska tribal health consortiums are legally immune in many cases, state Supreme Court says

The Alaska Supreme Court overturned a 20-year-old precedent Friday by ruling that Alaska Native tribal organizations can more easily receive the kind of sovereign legal… Continue reading

The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Rep. Sarah Vance, a Homer Republican, discusses a bill she sponsored requiring age verification to visit pornography websites while Rep. Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat who added an amendment prohibiting children under 14 from having social media accounts, listens during a House floor session Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House passes bill banning kids under 14 from social media, requiring age verification for porn sites

Key provisions of proposal comes from legislators at opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Rep. Sarah Vance, a Homer Republican, discusses a bill she sponsored requiring age verification to visit pornography websites while Rep. Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat who added an amendment prohibiting children under 14 from having social media accounts, listens during a House floor session Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Ward Lake Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

Neighbors: Public input sought as Tongass begins revising 25-year-old forest plan

Initial phase focuses on listening, informing, and gathering feedback.

The Ward Lake Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)