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The Region V champion Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team are the top Southeast seed for the state tournament this weekend in Anchorage. Front row: Milina Mazon. Second row: Mariah Schauwecker, Chloe Casperson, Zoey Billings, Carlynn Casperson and Gloria Bixby. Third row: Bailey Hansen, Mila Hargrave, Taiya Bentz, Kiah Yadao and Gwen Nizich. Fourth row: Amira Andrews, Tristan Oliva, Anna Dale and Tatum Billings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS softball champs ready for state

Top seed Crimson Bears, second seed Sitka heading north

The Region V champion Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team are the top Southeast seed for the state tournament this weekend in Anchorage. Front row: Milina Mazon. Second row: Mariah Schauwecker, Chloe Casperson, Zoey Billings, Carlynn Casperson and Gloria Bixby. Third row: Bailey Hansen, Mila Hargrave, Taiya Bentz, Kiah Yadao and Gwen Nizich. Fourth row: Amira Andrews, Tristan Oliva, Anna Dale and Tatum Billings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears are the Southeast second seed for the state baseball tournament starting Thursday in Sitka. Front row left to right: Lamar Blatnick, Brandon Casperson, Jacob Katasse, Finn Kesey, Nate Fick, Tyler Frisby, Riley Fick and Eli Crupi. Back row left to right: Marcus Underwood, Landon Simonson, Kaleb Campbell, Luke Dean, Joe Aline, Reed Meier and Bodhi Nelson. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS baseball boys heading to the show

Top seed Sitka will host sandlot teams from around the state

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears are the Southeast second seed for the state baseball tournament starting Thursday in Sitka. Front row left to right: Lamar Blatnick, Brandon Casperson, Jacob Katasse, Finn Kesey, Nate Fick, Tyler Frisby, Riley Fick and Eli Crupi. Back row left to right: Marcus Underwood, Landon Simonson, Kaleb Campbell, Luke Dean, Joe Aline, Reed Meier and Bodhi Nelson. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Retiring Juneau Police Department Officers Don Ward (left) and Jim Esbenshade (right) smile for a picture at their joint retirement ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at the Juneau Police Station. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘It was the people who kept us’: Retiring JPD officers reminisce on years serving in Juneau.

Juneau Police Department Officers Don Ward and Jim Esbenshade retire after years of services.

Retiring Juneau Police Department Officers Don Ward (left) and Jim Esbenshade (right) smile for a picture at their joint retirement ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at the Juneau Police Station. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Longtime Juneau resident Joe Emerson, co-owner of the F/V Tommy L II berthed in Aurora Harbor, smiles for a photo next to his boat in late May. Emerson is one of the hundreds of trollers in Southeast Alaska that will be directly impacted by a federal court order that may force the closure of the region’s king salmon troll fishery set to begin July 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Southeast trollers remain hooked in web of Washington lawsuit that could halt summer season

Juneau fisherman says he’s concerned about his livelihood and future of the fishery.

Longtime Juneau resident Joe Emerson, co-owner of the F/V Tommy L II berthed in Aurora Harbor, smiles for a photo next to his boat in late May. Emerson is one of the hundreds of trollers in Southeast Alaska that will be directly impacted by a federal court order that may force the closure of the region’s king salmon troll fishery set to begin July 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The wildlife shelter at the top of Mount Roberts sits empty Friday morning. The building future remains in limbo as it is owned by the Juneau Raptor Center, which this fall announced it would be suspending its operations by the end of 2023.

Fate of Lady Baltimore’s shelter atop Mount Roberts in limbo

The $170,000 building remains unoccupied after Juneau Raptor Center announced dissolution this fall.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The wildlife shelter at the top of Mount Roberts sits empty Friday morning. The building future remains in limbo as it is owned by the Juneau Raptor Center, which this fall announced it would be suspending its operations by the end of 2023.
A troller fishes in Sitka Sound on Feb. 2, 2021. A charter fishing vessel sank in the area Sunday, resulting in one person dead and four missing. The U.S. Coast Guard called off a search for the missing persons Monday night. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

1 dead, 4 missing after fishing charter boat sinks near Sitka

Coast Guard calls off search Monday night after company reports vessel overdue Sunday.

A troller fishes in Sitka Sound on Feb. 2, 2021. A charter fishing vessel sank in the area Sunday, resulting in one person dead and four missing. The U.S. Coast Guard called off a search for the missing persons Monday night. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Photos by Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire Sitka junior Grady Smith slides safely into home plate during the Wolves 13-7 win over the Ketchikan Kings for the Region V Baseball Championship on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Field.

Sitka baseball boys win regions

Wolves defeat Kayhi for title, JDHS still state bound

Photos by Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire Sitka junior Grady Smith slides safely into home plate during the Wolves 13-7 win over the Ketchikan Kings for the Region V Baseball Championship on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Field.
The TMHS Falcons pose with their Sportsmanship Award at the Region V Softball Tournament on Saturday in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo)

Falcons fall from softball region tourney

TMHS leaves bases loaded for next season.

The TMHS Falcons pose with their Sportsmanship Award at the Region V Softball Tournament on Saturday in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo)
This combination image shows Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Etta Eller, Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling and Ketchikan High School senior Jason Lorig competing during the Region V Track & Field Championships Saturday May 20. All three fared well at the state championships. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast Division I track stars battle at state

Ketchikan’s Lorig, JD’s Eller and TM’s Welling place high

This combination image shows Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Etta Eller, Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling and Ketchikan High School senior Jason Lorig competing during the Region V Track & Field Championships Saturday May 20. All three fared well at the state championships. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Chuck Caldwell, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, lays a wreath on behalf of Veterans of Foreign Wars Taku Post 5559 at the base of the flagpole at Evergreen Cemetery in observance of Memorial Day on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Remembering the true meaning of sacrifice

Memorial Day observations in Juneau see hundreds pay tribute to those who serve and persevere

Chuck Caldwell, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, lays a wreath on behalf of Veterans of Foreign Wars Taku Post 5559 at the base of the flagpole at Evergreen Cemetery in observance of Memorial Day on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Outgoing Juneau Empire Managing Editor Ben Hohenstatt (left) will be succeeded by reporter Mark Sabbatini (right) after five years to accept a job with the Alaska State Ombudsman. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Empire managing editor departs, familiar face takes over role

Ben Hohenstatt departs as managing editor after five years, reporter Mark Sabbatini takes over.

Outgoing Juneau Empire Managing Editor Ben Hohenstatt (left) will be succeeded by reporter Mark Sabbatini (right) after five years to accept a job with the Alaska State Ombudsman. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A student touches her tassel as she greets family members during the entrance procession of the graduation ceremony at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘We figured out how to stay together’: Commonalities at core of JDHS graduation

Ceremony was a show of promise for JDHS graduating seniors.

A student touches her tassel as she greets family members during the entrance procession of the graduation ceremony at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School Senior Class President Mackenzie Olver shakes hands with Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss after receiving her diploma at the 2023 graduation ceremony Sunday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Strength and resiliency: Thunder Mountain celebrates graduates of 2023 class

“Each one of you matters and each one of your lives affects so many others.”

Thunder Mountain High School Senior Class President Mackenzie Olver shakes hands with Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss after receiving her diploma at the 2023 graduation ceremony Sunday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Kaydence Ernzen sheds tears of joy after getting a surprise call from her father minutes after she graduated from Yaakoosgé Daakahídi High School on Sunday. Her father was in the Philippines on the day of the ceremony as Ernzen graduated months earlier than originally anticipated. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Yaakoosgé Daakahídi graduation: ‘Small and mighty’

Stories of all 31 seniors at alternative high school shared by staff who know them best

Kaydence Ernzen sheds tears of joy after getting a surprise call from her father minutes after she graduated from Yaakoosgé Daakahídi High School on Sunday. Her father was in the Philippines on the day of the ceremony as Ernzen graduated months earlier than originally anticipated. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sitka sophomore Clare Mullin and Haines senior Avari Getchell start the anchor leg of the Division II girls 4x400 relay after taking baton passes from Sitka freshman Natalie Hall and Haines sophomore Ari’el Godinez Long during the Region V Track & Field Championships. Sitka performed well at the state championship this weekend, earning a Division II title. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sitka wins DII state track & field team title

Petersburg’s Cumps, Sitka’s Prussian top events

Sitka sophomore Clare Mullin and Haines senior Avari Getchell start the anchor leg of the Division II girls 4x400 relay after taking baton passes from Sitka freshman Natalie Hall and Haines sophomore Ari’el Godinez Long during the Region V Track & Field Championships. Sitka performed well at the state championship this weekend, earning a Division II title. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The JDHS Crimson Bears pose with their Region V Championship on Saturday at Sitka's Moller Field. (Courtesy Photo)

JDHS wins Region V softball Tournament

Crimson Bears defeat home field host Sitka Lady Wolves.

The JDHS Crimson Bears pose with their Region V Championship on Saturday at Sitka's Moller Field. (Courtesy Photo)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer team pose with their championship trophy after defeating Soldotna 4-0 for the ASAA DII Boys Soccer State Championship, Saturday, at West Anchorage High School (Courtesy Photo / JDHS Soccer)

JDHS boys win state soccer crown

Crimson Bears own pitch against Soldotna

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer team pose with their championship trophy after defeating Soldotna 4-0 for the ASAA DII Boys Soccer State Championship, Saturday, at West Anchorage High School (Courtesy Photo / JDHS Soccer)
The Sun shines on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, May 27, 2023. House negotiators left the Capitol in the early hours of Saturday without a debt limit deal with the White House. They’re expected to return later in hopes of reaching an agreement over the holiday weekend. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)

Biden, GOP reach tentative deal to raise debt ceiling, avoid calamitous U.S. default

Agreement risks angering both Democratic and Republican sides.

  • May 27, 2023
  • By Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Zeke Miller and Kevin Freking Associated Press
  • Nation-World
The Sun shines on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, May 27, 2023. House negotiators left the Capitol in the early hours of Saturday without a debt limit deal with the White House. They’re expected to return later in hopes of reaching an agreement over the holiday weekend. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls soccer team line up before their third/fifth place game against North Pole in the ASAA DII Girls Soccer State Championships, Saturday, at West Anchorage High School. (Courtesy Photo / JDHS Soccer)

Crimson Bears soccer girls finish fifth at state

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé falls to North Pole.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls soccer team line up before their third/fifth place game against North Pole in the ASAA DII Girls Soccer State Championships, Saturday, at West Anchorage High School. (Courtesy Photo / JDHS Soccer)
Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Arrest made after assault with knife in Lemon Creek area

Alcohol was involved, police say.

Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)