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Bethany Marcum, executive director of the Alaska Policy Forum, responds to questions from the Senate Education Committee on March 14 about her nomination to the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. Her organization’s conservative policies, including backing a budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that proposed a 40% cut to the university system, made her one of the most controversial nominees who will be considered during a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers raise questions ahead of joint Legislative confirmation session

UA Regents nominee among those expected to face opposition in Tuesday’s votes.

Bethany Marcum, executive director of the Alaska Policy Forum, responds to questions from the Senate Education Committee on March 14 about her nomination to the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. Her organization’s conservative policies, including backing a budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that proposed a 40% cut to the university system, made her one of the most controversial nominees who will be considered during a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway in early May. On Friday the Juneau District Board of Education voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau Education Association, which OK’d the contract earlier in the week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

School board accepts teachers union contract

Friday marked the end of over a year of drawn-out negotiations

A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway in early May. On Friday the Juneau District Board of Education voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau Education Association, which OK’d the contract earlier in the week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A breeze lifts flags hanging outside of the Andrew Hope Building in downtown Juneau Monday afternoon. The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced Monday morning its withdrawal from the Alaska Federation of Natives. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida withdraws from the Alaska Federation of Natives

The move goes into effect immediately, according to the tribe’s president.

A breeze lifts flags hanging outside of the Andrew Hope Building in downtown Juneau Monday afternoon. The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced Monday morning its withdrawal from the Alaska Federation of Natives. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)

TEMSCO assists with weekend grass fire

Cause of fire is still under investigation.

TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)
TMHS sophomore Kajson Cunningham (30) dribbles the ball against Ketchikan High School who traveled to Juneau for two games on Friday and Saturday. Cunningham plays for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
TMHS sophomore Kajson Cunningham (30) dribbles the ball against Ketchikan High School who traveled to Juneau for two games on Friday and Saturday. Cunningham plays for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

A pitch-perfect opening day for Gastineau Channel Little League

A big day for Little League touches on local program’s history.

Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club finds gold in Wasilla

USA Wrestling Alaska State Championship held from May 3-7.

Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)
Izabelle Ith, second from left, poses with her Alaska High School Hall of Fame plaque. At left is ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland. Second from right is Jo Ann Day, who nominated Ith for the honor. At right is Alaska state Rep. Mike Cronk who presented Ith with a legislative citation. (Brad Potter / ASAA)

Petersburg’s Izabelle Ith honored with Hall of Fame selection

Southeast athlete pushed Alaska competitors to their sporting limits.

Izabelle Ith, second from left, poses with her Alaska High School Hall of Fame plaque. At left is ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland. Second from right is Jo Ann Day, who nominated Ith for the honor. At right is Alaska state Rep. Mike Cronk who presented Ith with a legislative citation. (Brad Potter / ASAA)
Graduates Emily Hatley, Lara Millette, Autumn Levy, Rosaline Westfall, Rylee Johnson and Jarvis Evans throw their caps in the air after the commencement ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS celebrates annual graduation ceremony

Indigenous students were honored in annual Native Graduation Celebration.

Graduates Emily Hatley, Lara Millette, Autumn Levy, Rosaline Westfall, Rylee Johnson and Jarvis Evans throw their caps in the air after the commencement ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza Saturday afternoon during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

13th annual Maritime Festival welcomes record-breaking number of vendors

Hundreds flocked to Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza on the Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza Saturday afternoon during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Owners Patsy Anderson-Dunn and Kim Anderson in front of Mendenhall Mall today. (Courtesy Photo / Patsy Anderson-Dunn)

Skateland to Glam: A history of the Mendenhall Mall

If you think the Mendenhall Mall is dead, you haven’t been there lately. Three years ago, Mendenhall Mall — the 200,000-square-foot shopping center in the… Continue reading

Owners Patsy Anderson-Dunn and Kim Anderson in front of Mendenhall Mall today. (Courtesy Photo / Patsy Anderson-Dunn)
Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)
Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)

Henry, Dorn, Taintor top Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet

Rerouted course included nearly 1-mile hill.

Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)
Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)
Sven Haakanson Jr. (center) helps unwind the small intestine of a Kodiak brown bear with the help of Peter Otsea (right) while Haakanson leads a bear gut processing workshop Saturday afternoon at the Alaska State Museum. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Sven Haakanson Jr. (center) helps unwind the small intestine of a Kodiak brown bear with the help of Peter Otsea (right) while Haakanson leads a bear gut processing workshop Saturday afternoon at the Alaska State Museum. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Julia Keefe, left, guides her Indigenous Big Band through a performance at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to open this spring’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival on Friday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Music for the missing woman in red

Indigenous Big Band pays tribute to national day of remembrance in JJ&C’s opening concert

Julia Keefe, left, guides her Indigenous Big Band through a performance at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to open this spring’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival on Friday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sightseeing buses and tourists are seen at a pullout popular for taking in views of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in Denali National Park and Preserve in August 2016. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Denali National Park worker dies after triggering avalanche

DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE — A Denali National Park and Preserve employee died when he was caught in an avalanche while skiing in the… Continue reading

Sightseeing buses and tourists are seen at a pullout popular for taking in views of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in Denali National Park and Preserve in August 2016. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Saturday, May 6, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Catherine Edwards, co-chair of Tlingit and Haida’s Violence Against Women Task Force hugs Áakʼw Ḵwáan spokesperson Fran Houston at at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol Friday evening for a rally and march to recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day held each year on May 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘This is now a plea’: Rally brings awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous people

“We want answers — our families deserve answers on what happened to our people.”

Catherine Edwards, co-chair of Tlingit and Haida’s Violence Against Women Task Force hugs Áakʼw Ḵwáan spokesperson Fran Houston at at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol Friday evening for a rally and march to recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day held each year on May 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, listens to Sen. Löki Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat, as she speaks in support of a bill Stevens sponsored that would require Alaska high school students to complete a civics education course or receive a passing score on a civics assessment exam in order to graduate. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Senate passes bill implementing new civics requirements to graduate high school

The bill advances as recent national data shows declining test scores on the topic.

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, listens to Sen. Löki Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat, as she speaks in support of a bill Stevens sponsored that would require Alaska high school students to complete a civics education course or receive a passing score on a civics assessment exam in order to graduate. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Left to right, CCFR Captain John Adams and Engineer Sam Berni stand before family and friends during a badge pinning ceremony on Thursday at Station 1 in Juneau. Adams was promoted to captain and Berni to engineer. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

CCFR celebrates two promotions with badge pinning ceremony

Firefighters John Adams and Sam Berni move up the ladder.

Left to right, CCFR Captain John Adams and Engineer Sam Berni stand before family and friends during a badge pinning ceremony on Thursday at Station 1 in Juneau. Adams was promoted to captain and Berni to engineer. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, explains during Wednesday’s floor session how a bill she is sponsoring will add to the number of Alaska Native languages officially recognized by the state and expand the role of a Native language preservation council.

Alaska Native language expansion passes House

Bill by Juneau lawmaker adds more officially recognized dialects, expands preservation council’s role

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, explains during Wednesday’s floor session how a bill she is sponsoring will add to the number of Alaska Native languages officially recognized by the state and expand the role of a Native language preservation council.