News

A city election work handles envelopes from the 2023 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

No changes in local election as updated results show second-highest turnout since 2010

38.35% rate so far is highest since 42.73% in 2020; final certification scheduled next Tuesday

A city election work handles envelopes from the 2023 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The ranked choice outcome for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race is shown during an Alaska Public Media broadcast on Nov. 24, 2022. (Alaska Division of Elections)

What Alaska voters should know as they consider a repeal of open primaries and ranked choice voting

State would revert to primaries controlled by political parties, general elections that pick one candidate.

The ranked choice outcome for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race is shown during an Alaska Public Media broadcast on Nov. 24, 2022. (Alaska Division of Elections)
Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich, left, and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska (right) remove their microphones after a televised debate Thursday night, Oct. 10, 2024, in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Debate: Peltola declines to endorse Harris, Begich questions 2020 election legitimacy

Televised TV and radio debate offers rare insight into U.S. House candidates’ views on social issues.

Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich, left, and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska (right) remove their microphones after a televised debate Thursday night, Oct. 10, 2024, in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The present-day KTOO public broadcasting building, built in 1959 for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Communications System Signal Corps, is located on filled tidelands near Juneau’s subport. Today vehicles on Egan Drive pass by the concrete structure with satellite dishes on the roof that receive signals from NPR, PBS and other sources. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Signaling Alaska: By land, by sea and by air

KTOO’s 50th anniversary celebration has much longer historical ties to Klondike, military.

The present-day KTOO public broadcasting building, built in 1959 for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Communications System Signal Corps, is located on filled tidelands near Juneau’s subport. Today vehicles on Egan Drive pass by the concrete structure with satellite dishes on the roof that receive signals from NPR, PBS and other sources. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
A graph shows Suicide Basin’s water level rising Thursday afternoon following a drop in the morning. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Update: Suicide Basin rising again after brief water level drop Thursday morning

Maximum crest of river from full release would be 11 ft., well below peak of record August flood

A graph shows Suicide Basin’s water level rising Thursday afternoon following a drop in the morning. (National Weather Service Juneau)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 8, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Oct. 12

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 8, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska ranked choice voting repeal effort outraised a hundredfold, campaign finance filings show

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Lesil McGuire’s name and note that campaign finance disclosures are made to the Alaska Public… Continue reading

Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Monday, Oct. 7, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Produce is on display at a Juneau market on Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska again lags in processing food stamp applications, new court filings show

Alaska’s Department of Health is again slipping into a backlog of food stamp applications. The news comes from state data included in a filing from… Continue reading

Produce is on display at a Juneau market on Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Alaska sends National Guard, other help to hurricane-hit states in the Lower 48

The state of Alaska is sending 50 National Guardsmen to Florida to help that state recover from hurricanes Helene and Milton. The latter hurricane is… Continue reading

The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)
Jackie Bryant, director of the city’s cold-weather emergency shelter during its first season, inspects cots after people staying there depart on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Cold-weather shelter in Thane to open for second year Tuesday with indoor bathrooms and other changes

Shelter officials, surrounding businesses plan more active monitoring to safeguard against problems.

Jackie Bryant, director of the city’s cold-weather emergency shelter during its first season, inspects cots after people staying there depart on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A view of Gastineau Channel, where a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas north of the current bridge is in the evaluation stage. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Flood protection, second Juneau-Douglas crossing top Planning Commission’s legislative wish list

Draft 19-item list also includes housing, other projects Assembly will rank and seek funds for.

A view of Gastineau Channel, where a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas north of the current bridge is in the evaluation stage. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
From left to right, Nick Begich, Republican candidate for U.S. House; Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, hold up paddles indicating their opposition to finfish farming in Alaska. Howe had jokingly looked at Begich’s paddle before making a decision. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

At U.S. House debate in Kodiak, candidates differ on future of Alaska fisheries

Begich emphasizes fighting for the state, Peltola focuses on building support in Congress.

From left to right, Nick Begich, Republican candidate for U.S. House; Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, hold up paddles indicating their opposition to finfish farming in Alaska. Howe had jokingly looked at Begich’s paddle before making a decision. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Friday, Oct. 4, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Republican challenger Nick Begich III and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are on the stage at the beginning of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s candidate forum on Aug. 28, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s U.S. House candidates face each other three times in three days this week

Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, and her leading challenger, Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich, will appear on stage at three election forums and debates this… Continue reading

Republican challenger Nick Begich III and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are on the stage at the beginning of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s candidate forum on Aug. 28, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska records show no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting or registration

Trump and in-state Republicans have falsely claimed that noncitizens are voting in large numbers.

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)