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Loons swim near a pipeline and other oil field infrastructure at the Greater Prudhoe Bay Unit on Alaska’s North Slope in this undated photo. A new study finds that nest survival is lower for birds closer to high-use infrastructure. (Photo by Kayla Scheimreif/Wildlife Conservation Society)

Study: The closer that birds’ nests are to Prudhoe oil infrastructure, the lower the survival rates

A long-term study of birds that summer around the Prudhoe Bay oil complex found that nest survival for all bird types decreased significantly the closer… Continue reading

Loons swim near a pipeline and other oil field infrastructure at the Greater Prudhoe Bay Unit on Alaska’s North Slope in this undated photo. A new study finds that nest survival is lower for birds closer to high-use infrastructure. (Photo by Kayla Scheimreif/Wildlife Conservation Society)
Fruit is displayed at an Anchorage grocery store. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

A group of attorneys and volunteers helped nearly 2,000 Alaskans get food stamps during backlog

About a year ago, Jamilyn Fenn noticed she was helping a lot of elders in the Seward area repeatedly fill out applications for food stamp… Continue reading

Fruit is displayed at an Anchorage grocery store. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A boat passes under the Juneau-Douglas Bridge in late June. A person reportedly jumped off the bridge managed to make it to Overstreet Park on Saturday evening, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Person makes it ashore after jumping off Juneau-Douglas Bridge, witness says

Coast Guard helicopter unsuccessfully searches for person after report of jump Saturday evening.

A boat passes under the Juneau-Douglas Bridge in late June. A person reportedly jumped off the bridge managed to make it to Overstreet Park on Saturday evening, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Members of Juneau’s Hawaiian and Native communities help pull the Hawai’iloa closer to shore at Sandy Beach on July 14, 1995.
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of July 15

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Members of Juneau’s Hawaiian and Native communities help pull the Hawai’iloa closer to shore at Sandy Beach on July 14, 1995.
The Hubbard ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau on June 26 for a christening ceremony. The 280-foot-long vessel, with room for 300 passengers and 53 standard-length vehicles, officially was put into service in Southeast Alaska in May. But officials said Friday it may be taken out of service next week due to an employee shortage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hubbard may be taken out of service as AMHS employee, vessel woes continue

Newest ferry offering day service between Juneau, Skagway and Haines also suffering “growing pains.”

The Hubbard ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau on June 26 for a christening ceremony. The 280-foot-long vessel, with room for 300 passengers and 53 standard-length vehicles, officially was put into service in Southeast Alaska in May. But officials said Friday it may be taken out of service next week due to an employee shortage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks during a news conference after the House approved an annual defense bill, Friday, July 14, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Standing behind McCarthy are House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., left, and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Peltola votes against Republican defense bill limiting abortion access and halting diversity efforts

The Alaska Democratic Rep. calls decision “one of the most difficult votes I’ve ever had to take.”

  • Jul 14, 2023
  • By Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking Associated Press
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks during a news conference after the House approved an annual defense bill, Friday, July 14, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Standing behind McCarthy are House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., left, and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
This is a photo taken Friday afternoon in the Mendenhall Valley area. Some of the smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is beginning to reach areas in Southeast Alaska and can be visibly seen in Juneau, according to air quality and weather officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘Thin haze’ of Canadian wildfire smoke reported in Juneau

The Alaska Division of Air Quality has issued an advisory in Southeast Alaska.

This is a photo taken Friday afternoon in the Mendenhall Valley area. Some of the smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is beginning to reach areas in Southeast Alaska and can be visibly seen in Juneau, according to air quality and weather officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau resident Paul Kelly hands his candidacy forms to City Clerk Beth McEwen within minutes of the local election filing period opening on Friday. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide seats open on the Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Candidates file for this fall’s local election

Four seats for the taking on the Assembly, two open on the school board.

City and Borough of Juneau resident Paul Kelly hands his candidacy forms to City Clerk Beth McEwen within minutes of the local election filing period opening on Friday. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide seats open on the Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau city, school district to remain neutral on proposed statewide transgender sports ban

Local leaders share personal stances ahead of decision slated for late July.

Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A bird flies along the waterfront downtown as cruise ship passengers enjoy the sun Thursday evening. Mid-season data on this year’s cruise ship tourism season in Juneau shows a steady number of calls and complaints to the city’s tourism hotline compared to the previous season despite the record breaking number of passengers visiting the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tourism complaints in Juneau remain steady compared to previous season

Top complaints about vehicles, whale-watching vessels and aircrafts.

A bird flies along the waterfront downtown as cruise ship passengers enjoy the sun Thursday evening. Mid-season data on this year’s cruise ship tourism season in Juneau shows a steady number of calls and complaints to the city’s tourism hotline compared to the previous season despite the record breaking number of passengers visiting the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
George, a two-year-old poodle in Juneau, is slated to receive cataracts surgery to restore his sight following a successful GoFundMe campaign that raised the necessary funds in less than 24 hours. (Courtesy of Angela Noon / GoFundMe)

Fundraiser gives dog the gift of sight in less than 24 hours

Poodle brought to Juneau Animal Rescue because he was going blind will receive cataracts surgery

  • Jul 13, 2023
  • By Therese Pokorney Juneau Empire
George, a two-year-old poodle in Juneau, is slated to receive cataracts surgery to restore his sight following a successful GoFundMe campaign that raised the necessary funds in less than 24 hours. (Courtesy of Angela Noon / GoFundMe)
Scientists Jake Shaffer and Jared Clance collect samples on the Juneau Icefield earlier this month as part of a collaborative project between NASA and the Juneau Icefield Research Program. Participants hope the data and techniques will aid an upcoming mission to study the Jupiter ice moon Europa. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Holmes)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Icefield may be key to unlocking secrets of Jupiter ice moon

Researchers probe far beneath ice for clues to aid their search for extraterrestrial life

Scientists Jake Shaffer and Jared Clance collect samples on the Juneau Icefield earlier this month as part of a collaborative project between NASA and the Juneau Icefield Research Program. Participants hope the data and techniques will aid an upcoming mission to study the Jupiter ice moon Europa. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Holmes)
Nick Begich III, speaks to Juneau residents at a public gathering in September 2022. Begich on Thursday announced on social media that he will again be running for the Alaska U.S. House seat in the 2024 election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File).

Nick Begich announces bid for U.S. House, challenging Peltola again

He enters the race nearly 16 months ahead of the 2024 election.

Nick Begich III, speaks to Juneau residents at a public gathering in September 2022. Begich on Thursday announced on social media that he will again be running for the Alaska U.S. House seat in the 2024 election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File).
A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Early release for elementary school students on Mondays approved by district

Ending school 30 minutes early intended to help teachers meet requirements of Alaska Reads Act.

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire File)

Solar storm on Thursday expected to make northern lights visible in Juneau, elsewhere in U.S.

A solar storm forecast for Thursday is expected to give skygazers in some states along the U.S.-Canada border, including Alaska, a faint glimpse of the… Continue reading

  • Jul 13, 2023
  • The Associated Press
(Juneau Empire File)
The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Nonattorney advocates to represent Alaskans in court under new waiver

This story has been updated to correct a numerical and an organization title. Alaska’s Supreme Court, with support from the state’s bar association, approved a… Continue reading

The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office on Wednesday. The company’s landline service suffered outages in recent days that the company said were fixed as of Tuesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Local landline, mobile phones suffer outages

GCI says landlines issues repaired as of Tuesday, city investigating mobile service disruptions

A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office on Wednesday. The company’s landline service suffered outages in recent days that the company said were fixed as of Tuesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen June 6 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

New estimate shows Alaska’s Permanent Fund could be out of spendable money in 3-4 years

Annual transfer from the fund pays for more than half of Alaska’s general-purpose government spending

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen June 6 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

State challenges Juneau’s ‘outside the cap’ funding to district

Years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; millions on the line in Juneau.

The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Brian Holst (left) presents details about an upcoming meeting of statewide school board members who plan to discuss possible legal action against the state related to education funding during a Juneau Board of Education meeting Tuesday afternoon at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau school board makes cuts to cope with vetoed funds, eyes legal challenge to state

Statewide association of school boards discussing lawsuit, other options this week

Brian Holst (left) presents details about an upcoming meeting of statewide school board members who plan to discuss possible legal action against the state related to education funding during a Juneau Board of Education meeting Tuesday afternoon at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)