Home

Chris Schapp, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Food Bank, discusses record demand during the past year and steps the organization is trying to do to help those in need during a presentation Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Food assistance advocates seeking substantial fixes as record demand, food stamp problems persist

State, facing lawsuit and funding pressures on SNAP backlog, being asked for other forms of help.

Chris Schapp, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Food Bank, discusses record demand during the past year and steps the organization is trying to do to help those in need during a presentation Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A northern red-backed vole is seen in this undated photo. Small mammals, especially northern red-backed voles, have been found to be infected with Alaskapox, a disease that was not identified until 2015. State health officials on Friday reported that a man died from the infection in January in the first known fatality associated with the viral disease. (Photo by Jim Dau/provided by Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

First fatal case of Alaskapox, a newly identified viral disease, claims Kenai Peninsula man

An elderly man on the Kenai Peninsula has died from Alaskapox, making him the first person to be killed by the viral disease that was… Continue reading

A northern red-backed vole is seen in this undated photo. Small mammals, especially northern red-backed voles, have been found to be infected with Alaskapox, a disease that was not identified until 2015. State health officials on Friday reported that a man died from the infection in January in the first known fatality associated with the viral disease. (Photo by Jim Dau/provided by Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Illustrations of four preliminary development options for the Telephone Neighborhood are presented in a report that states the “mid-rise apartments” option (C), bordered in yellow, was narrowly favored in a survey among residents. A total of 29.76% of 1,865 people surveyed said they favored that option, compared to 29.06% of respondents favoring the “mixed infill” option (D), and 24.99% “attached townhomes and walk-up apartments” (B). (Images by the City and Borough of Juneau)
Video

Building up to 200 new Telephone Hill residences, the most of four options, gets early Assembly OK

Option favored by 29.76% of residents in survey, barely edging out proposal keeping existing homes.

Illustrations of four preliminary development options for the Telephone Neighborhood are presented in a report that states the “mid-rise apartments” option (C), bordered in yellow, was narrowly favored in a survey among residents. A total of 29.76% of 1,865 people surveyed said they favored that option, compared to 29.06% of respondents favoring the “mixed infill” option (D), and 24.99% “attached townhomes and walk-up apartments” (B). (Images by the City and Borough of Juneau)
Video
Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers the State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the Alaska State Capitol. Behind him are Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska legislators are moving to reject some of Dunleavy’s executive orders

The Alaska Senate moved quickly on Monday to take the first formal steps needed to reject some or all of the 12 executive orders Gov.… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers the State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the Alaska State Capitol. Behind him are Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) as JDHS sophomore Gwen Nizich (15) blocks out TMHS junior Cailynn Baxter (23) during the Crimson Bears 42-28 loss to the Falcons on Feb. 3 at the George Houston Gymnasium. The two teams split games during the weekend. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)

THMS girls basketball rank fourth, boys fifth in first ASR/Class 4A Coaches Poll

Falcons only team ranked in both polls; both JDHS teams among those “also receiving votes.”

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) as JDHS sophomore Gwen Nizich (15) blocks out TMHS junior Cailynn Baxter (23) during the Crimson Bears 42-28 loss to the Falcons on Feb. 3 at the George Houston Gymnasium. The two teams split games during the weekend. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Kara Strong keeps the ball away from Ketchikan High School’s Kylie Brendible during Saturday night’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS girls weather challenge from Ketchikan, prevail with two more wins

Falcons, now 15-1, prepare for test of state supremacy against 16-2 Colony at home this weekend.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Kara Strong keeps the ball away from Ketchikan High School’s Kylie Brendible during Saturday night’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the Premier of the Yukon Ranj Pillai, pose for a photo in the Cabinet office during a visit to Whitehorse on Thursday. (Photo by Justin Kennedy/Government of Yukon)

Dunleavy makes first official Yukon visit, signs Alaska Highway maintenance agreement

In his first official visit to the Yukon during five years as Alaska’s governor, Mike Dunleavy signed an agreement that commits more than $31 million… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the Premier of the Yukon Ranj Pillai, pose for a photo in the Cabinet office during a visit to Whitehorse on Thursday. (Photo by Justin Kennedy/Government of Yukon)
A view from an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

State ferry system in third year of crew shortages

Kennicott will spend another summer in dock unless more people hired soon, AMHS director says.

A view from an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)
Students with the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy Program perform a traditional dance during a “community conversation” between local Alaska Native residents and municipal leaders Thursday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to discuss the Juneau School District’s budget crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

Show and tell: Local Natives highlight cultural education impacts of school district’s budget crisis

Students, teachers say preserving language, other programs vital as officials consider what to cut.

Students with the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy Program perform a traditional dance during a “community conversation” between local Alaska Native residents and municipal leaders Thursday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to discuss the Juneau School District’s budget crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s new Vintage Park Campus is seen on its opening day of Dec. 19, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

SEARHC raises mimimum base pay for ‘direct-hire’ employees to $25 an hour

Spokesperson says change affects about 16% of employees.

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s new Vintage Park Campus is seen on its opening day of Dec. 19, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Kyle Athayde (left) leads a jazz trio during a free midday concert at the State Office Building on Thursday to open the first Juneau Jazz Festival. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Inaugural Juneau Jazz Festival offers high hopes of getting into a jam

Variety of genres, groupings, workshops and performances scheduled during three-day event.

Kyle Athayde (left) leads a jazz trio during a free midday concert at the State Office Building on Thursday to open the first Juneau Jazz Festival. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Yet another winter storm warning is forecasting up to 13 inches of snow for Juneau during a 24-hour period beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Friday the 13th storm — as in that many possible inches of snow — forecast for Juneau

Accumulation expected between 9 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday; chance of rain/snow through Monday.

Yet another winter storm warning is forecasting up to 13 inches of snow for Juneau during a 24-hour period beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
A dance group sings in a presentation by the Alaska Native Heritage Center and Native Movement at the state Capitol on Monday. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Public safety commissioner seeks change in Alaska’s missing and murdered Indigenous people response

“We’ve closed our eyes and allowed rural Alaska to be seriously victimized,” Cockrell said.

A dance group sings in a presentation by the Alaska Native Heritage Center and Native Movement at the state Capitol on Monday. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska House Finance Committee is seen on Thursday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska politicians contemplate first statewide borrowing request since 2012

Dunleavy administration considering the possibility, but bond package not yet introduced.

The Alaska House Finance Committee is seen on Thursday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 7, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Feb. 11

Three decades of capital city coverage (about past school district budget woes, in this instance).

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 7, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake on Jan. 28. (Photo by Deana Barajas)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake on Jan. 28. (Photo by Deana Barajas)
This image from video provided by Sunrise Aviation shows the landslide that occurred near Wrangell on Nov. 20, 2023. (Sunrise Aviation via AP)

Alaska state geologists’ report on fatal landslide in Wrangell cites heavy rainfall as trigger

Soils saturated by heavy rains unleashed the massive landslide that killed six people in the Southeast Alaska community of Wrangell in November, along with a… Continue reading

This image from video provided by Sunrise Aviation shows the landslide that occurred near Wrangell on Nov. 20, 2023. (Sunrise Aviation via AP)
Juneau Assembly members and city administrators confer during a finance committee meeting Wednesday night about specific wording for portions of a proposed financial bailout package for the Juneau School District. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly members back $4M loan, taking over 3.9M in costs to fix school district’s 7.9M deficit

District still facing steep cuts such as school consolidations to prevent future shortfalls.

Juneau Assembly members and city administrators confer during a finance committee meeting Wednesday night about specific wording for portions of a proposed financial bailout package for the Juneau School District. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Attendees at the Southeast Conference Mid-Session Summit listen to a live video speech by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Report: Juneau second-best summer job place in U.S. for youths — in part because there are fewer of them

Update of annual Southeast Alaska economic report features other contrasting up-and-down trends

Attendees at the Southeast Conference Mid-Session Summit listen to a live video speech by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Chief Justice Peter J. Maassen delivers his first State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Chief justice highlights permanent changes resulting from pandemic in first State of the Judiciary speech

Increasing use of remote hearings, other technology cited as long-term positives for efficiency.

Alaska Chief Justice Peter J. Maassen delivers his first State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)