People dance in celebration of the Fishermen’s Totem Pole Ceremony in Hoonah on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Hoonah’s rich fishing history remembered through totem pole

The story of fishermen carved — “all of us in the past, all of us in the future, and all of us now.”

State Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) addresses children’s programs advocates during a rally on April 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

From education wins to financial losses, mood swings were many at the Capitol, local delegation says

Juneau’s three Democratic state lawmakers each saw priorities advance, but wary of state’s ill fortunes.

Deputy Municipal Clerk Andi Hirsh (left) explains options for implementing ranked choice voting to Juneau Assembly members during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, June 2, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly moves forward with influencing this year’s election, ranked choice voting in next year’s

Leaders look at spending $50K this fall with eye on tax issues, introducing RCV ordinance next week.

The shoreline of Kake, a Tlingit village of about 500 people, is seen in 2012. (Alaska Division of Community Affairs photo)

Federal appeals court upholds emergency subsistence hunt in village of Kake

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the board which regulates subsistence hunting… Continue reading

  • 16 hours ago
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Nick Iverson makes a move over South junior Vebjorn Flagstad in the 1,600 final during the 2025 ASAA/First Bank Alaska State Track & Field Championships on Saturday at Anchorage’s Dimond High School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS senior Iverson wins two state track titles and athlete of the meet honor

Crimson Bears freshman Bella Connelly sets school record in 100 state title.

A few snow drifts remain on June 18, 2004, on the Arctic coastal plain of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (Craig McCaa/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

As Trump officials visit Alaska, feds announce plans to remove some restrictions on Arctic drilling

The Trump administration plans to lift environmental protections on roughly half of the National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska’s North Slope,… Continue reading

  • 1 day ago
The Marie Drake Planetarium is hosting an open house as part of First Friday in June. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council image)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in June

The launch of a publication featuring contributors from Juneau and Palestine, a group chant to singing bowls, and an event… Continue reading

  • 10 hours ago
A yellow-rumped warbler. (Photo by Helen Unruh)

On the Trails: Yellow-rumped warblers and other observations

My peanut butter feeder draws a nice assortment of visitors, including chickadees, nuthatches, siskins, juncos, a hairy woodpecker, and a Continue reading...

  • 2 days ago
Telephone Hill on May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Pay attention to which way the Juneau Assembly votes on Telephone Hill

In the last two years, housing prices and rents have risen dramatically, even for Juneau. The management of the Ridgeview Continue reading...

  • 2 days ago
U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: A noncongressman for Alaska?

It’s right to ask whether Nick Begich is a noncongressman for Alaska. The latest evidence of it is his vote Continue reading...

  • 2 days ago
(Juneau Empire File)

Community calendar of upcoming events

This is a calendar updated daily of upcoming local events during the coming days provided by the Juneau Arts and Continue reading...

  • 2 days ago
Video
The student band performs at Thunder Mountain High School. (Screenshot from student film “Digging a Hole in the School Budget”)

Thunder Mountain High School graduates win film festival award

Documentary by Jade Hicks, Hayden Loggy-Smith portrays human impacts of school consolidation plan.

 

An entangled humpback whale seen from above on Oct. 10 near Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Photo by Sean Neilson, NOAA MMHSRP Permit No. 24359)

Juvenile whale caught in heavy fishing apparatus freed by team effort

Rescue follows the loss of a whale calf to a vessel strike in August

 

Juneau’s Anthony Garcia (22) carries the ball deep into West Anchorage High School territory to set up the Huskies’ first touchdown early in the third quarter during Saturday’s game in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies football livestream video)

Depleted Huskies lose at West Anchorage 59-21

JV players make up one-third of Juneau’s squad during matchup against top team in conference.

 

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (left) views the Mendenhall River on Tuesday as Juneau Assembly member Wade Bryson explains changes that occurred to the riverbank due to record flooding from Suicide Basin last Saturday. Juneau state representatives Sara Hannan and Andi Story were among the other officials taking part in the trip. (Tom Mattice / City and Borough Of Juneau)

Flood cleanup, fundraising events planned this weekend

As state and federal officials consider large-scale actions, residents can offer immediate help.

 

Photography
In an undated image provided by Chris Miller, an image of the northern lights in Juneau shows what a camera with a longer exposure captures. As astrotourism booms, the northern lights get a boost from digital photography. (Chris Miller via The New York Times)

Is the aurora borealis really that mind-blowing? Or is it just your cellphone photos?

In August, over a calm Michigan lake, Karl Duesterhaus, 34, of Chicago, Continue reading...

  • 5 months ago

 

A harbor seal lazily floats in the calm cool downtown harbor waters on March 21. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots Continue reading...

  • 1 year ago

 

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 Continue reading...

  • 1 year ago

 

A tiny tree bears a great weight along the Montana Creek Trail on Jan. 21. (Photo by Deana Barajas)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots Continue reading...

  • 1 year ago

 

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