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Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2), junior Elias Dybdahl (20) and senior Ben Sikes (11) in action last week against Ketchikan. The three Crimson Bears played key roles in JDHS’ 64-49 win over Soldotna on Thursday in the Palmer Elks Showdown tournament at Palmer. The Crimson Bears continue play on Friday and Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS defeats Soldotna, avenges early season loss

Crimson Bears win opener over Stars at Palmer tournament.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2), junior Elias Dybdahl (20) and senior Ben Sikes (11) in action last week against Ketchikan. The three Crimson Bears played key roles in JDHS’ 64-49 win over Soldotna on Thursday in the Palmer Elks Showdown tournament at Palmer. The Crimson Bears continue play on Friday and Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Tesla Cox (left) explains the damage done to her home and possessions by a record flood to a delegation of local and congressional leaders on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Flood protection at top of Juneau Assembly’s legislative project funding list

Second Douglas crossing, wastewater plant rank next; some members concerned civic center is low on list.

Tesla Cox (left) explains the damage done to her home and possessions by a record flood to a delegation of local and congressional leaders on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Mendenhall Wastewater Facility is among the many locations in Juneau that local leaders say are in need of overdue major maintenance and upgrades. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Assembly may ask voters to OK $20M utility bond and $10M school bond, cruise visitors to pay $7 more in fees

City leaders also looking at hikes to property taxes and utility rates to cope with snowballing costs.

The Mendenhall Wastewater Facility is among the many locations in Juneau that local leaders say are in need of overdue major maintenance and upgrades. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Hundreds of residents and cruise ship passengers visit the Juneau Maritime Festival at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s younger population dropping fast, older residents increasing rapidly, latest state count shows

8.3% drop in residents under 35 between 2020 and 2024, 21% increase in residents 65 and older.

Hundreds of residents and cruise ship passengers visit the Juneau Maritime Festival at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Juneau is one of four districts federal education officials said was underfunded by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Four Alaska school districts, including Juneau, move on without federally promised money

$17.5M pandemic funding dispute wth state ends; Juneau wasn’t counting on its $90K share.

An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Juneau is one of four districts federal education officials said was underfunded by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
2022 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé graduate Brooke Sanford (5) reacts with teammates during a Regis University Rangers home volleyball match this season in Denver, Colorado. (Regis photo courtesy Makayla Salter)

Former JDHS volleyball star Brooke Sanford discusses college adjustments

Local 2022 graduate takes game to higher court while pursuing education degree in Colorado.

2022 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé graduate Brooke Sanford (5) reacts with teammates during a Regis University Rangers home volleyball match this season in Denver, Colorado. (Regis photo courtesy Makayla Salter)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hockey players and Bartlett High School hockey players work for a puck during the Crimson Bears 10-6 win over the Golden Bears Saturday at the Treadwell Ice Arena. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

ASAA concerned incident in JDHS hockey game not reported

Visiting Bartlett High School player had to be restrained and escorted from ice.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hockey players and Bartlett High School hockey players work for a puck during the Crimson Bears 10-6 win over the Golden Bears Saturday at the Treadwell Ice Arena. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
An aerial shows the footprint of the test well drilled in the mid-1980s on land owned by the Kaktovik Native village corporation within the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Trump wants oil drilling in Alaska. A lease sale in ANWR just flopped.

No bidders for 400,000 acres offered; some Alaska officials said Biden actions ensured failure

  • Jan 8, 2025
  • By Lisa Friedman 2025 The New York Times Company
  • Oil production
An aerial shows the footprint of the test well drilled in the mid-1980s on land owned by the Kaktovik Native village corporation within the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Suspicious package in mail leads to drug bust at downtown hotel

$42,700 of suspected illegal drugs and more than $2,000 in cash seized, JPD reports.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Village of Wrangell (Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw in Tlingit) in 1868 on present day Front Street. (Photo by Eadward Muybridge)

Plans taking shape for Saturday’s Army apology for 1869 bombardment of Wrangell

Program starts by retracing steps of Shx’atoo, the Tlingit man hanged by Army after the 1869 attack.

Village of Wrangell (Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw in Tlingit) in 1868 on present day Front Street. (Photo by Eadward Muybridge)
A trailer in the Sprucewood Park mobile home neighborhood burns on Monday night. Fire officials said the trailer apparently has long been unoccupied. (Photo by Gerald Mayeda)

Fire engulfs unoccupied trailer in the Mendenhall Valley

Wind spreads flames quickly, but neighboring homes escape damage.

A trailer in the Sprucewood Park mobile home neighborhood burns on Monday night. Fire officials said the trailer apparently has long been unoccupied. (Photo by Gerald Mayeda)
A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Lawsuits for backlogged public assistance programs result in mandatory monthly progress reports by state

Alaska agrees to such reports for cash assistance after judge orders similar requirement for food stamps.

A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is standing behind him. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Unnamed energy company is negotiating takeover of proposed trans-Alaska gas pipeline

Top official for the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. said he expects a formal announcement soon.

Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is standing behind him. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau residents line up in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium on Friday to ask questions and protest the HESCO flood barriers that are potentially being installed this summer. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Frustrated residents say concerns about short-term flood barrier plan aren’t getting sufficient answers

Some homeowners say they’d rather buy insurance than pay $6,300 for barriers, then focus on long-term fix.

Juneau residents line up in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium on Friday to ask questions and protest the HESCO flood barriers that are potentially being installed this summer. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A new development and policy blueprint for downtown Juneau got unanimous approval Monday from the Juneau Assembly. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opening lots of land around Juneau to more development gets OK from Assembly

More housing is major goal of new downtown blueprint, rezoning proposals in North Douglas and Auke Bay.

A new development and policy blueprint for downtown Juneau got unanimous approval Monday from the Juneau Assembly. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Dave Hanna (center), a former Eaglecrest Ski Area board member, addresses the current resort leaders during a board meeting Thursday night at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest’s future may depend on how many cruise passengers will pay $171 to ride the gondola

Operators’ ridership and pricing expectations questionable, says former GM hired by CBJ for study.

Dave Hanna (center), a former Eaglecrest Ski Area board member, addresses the current resort leaders during a board meeting Thursday night at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Coast Guard: ‘It will be several years before families arrive in Juneau’ with icebreaker

Initial crew of 60 expected to be assigned to Storis next summer, but major ship and port upgrades await.

The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé juniors Joren Gasga (12) and Tyler Frisby (21) and senior Ahmir Parker (2) rebound with Ketchikan senior Marcus Stockhausen during the Crimson Bears’ 70-63 loss to the Kings on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kings fire long-range shots at Crimson Bears, get 70-63 win to sweep two-game series

First time Kayhi has won back-to-back games at Juneau in over a decade.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé juniors Joren Gasga (12) and Tyler Frisby (21) and senior Ahmir Parker (2) rebound with Ketchikan senior Marcus Stockhausen during the Crimson Bears’ 70-63 loss to the Kings on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Emilio Holbrook (37) defends Bartlett senior Dylan Beals (19) during the Crimson Bears’ 10-6 win over the Golden Bears on Saturday at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears sweep Golden Bears in second high-scoring shootout

JDHS stops Bartlett again on Treadwell Ice Arena for 10-6 win.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Emilio Holbrook (37) defends Bartlett senior Dylan Beals (19) during the Crimson Bears’ 10-6 win over the Golden Bears on Saturday at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Dance Team pose for a photo in the JDHS commons before Saturday’s Crimson Bears basketball game against Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS dance team are top entertainers and athletes

Fans become unglued from seats through every halftime performance.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Dance Team pose for a photo in the JDHS commons before Saturday’s Crimson Bears basketball game against Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)