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Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, exchanges words with Rep. CJ McCormick, D-Bethel, before Wednesday’s House floor session. The two legislators were on opposite sides of a 4-3 House Education Committee vote earlier during the morning to advance a bill restricting references to sex and gender in public schools, with Allard supporting the bill and McCormick opposing.

‘Parental rights’ bill expanded to require parents’ OK for entire curriculum

Legislation restricting sex and gender references in schools advances out of first committee.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, exchanges words with Rep. CJ McCormick, D-Bethel, before Wednesday’s House floor session. The two legislators were on opposite sides of a 4-3 House Education Committee vote earlier during the morning to advance a bill restricting references to sex and gender in public schools, with Allard supporting the bill and McCormick opposing.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Senate Finance Committee co-chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, right, listens to Sealaska Corp. Board Chair Joe Nelson testify about the committee’s proposed budget during a hearing April 20.

Revised Senate budget contains smaller education increase, $1,300 PFD

Finance Committee proposing one-time $680 per-pupil boost in attempt to avoid deficit

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Senate Finance Committee co-chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, right, listens to Sealaska Corp. Board Chair Joe Nelson testify about the committee’s proposed budget during a hearing April 20.
Stripped sections of bark and hardened drops of tree sap are seen on May 24, 2018, on trees near Big Lake that are infested with bark beetles. That kind of damage kills infested spruce trees. (Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)

House-passed bill would trim the time needed for Alaska loggers to cut state-owned forests

Measure could reduce wildfire risks, but critics worry about overuse by the state agency in charge.

Stripped sections of bark and hardened drops of tree sap are seen on May 24, 2018, on trees near Big Lake that are infested with bark beetles. That kind of damage kills infested spruce trees. (Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)
JDHS’ Gloria Bixby slides safe into second base and under the tag of TMHS’ Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game against Thunder Mountain High School in May 2021 that raised money for mental health. TMHS and JDHS both will be participating in the Paint it Pink Cancer Awareness games on Saturday, May 13 along with Ketchikan and Sitka high schools at Melvin Park and Dimond Park Field No. 4 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
JDHS’ Gloria Bixby slides safe into second base and under the tag of TMHS’ Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game against Thunder Mountain High School in May 2021 that raised money for mental health. TMHS and JDHS both will be participating in the Paint it Pink Cancer Awareness games on Saturday, May 13 along with Ketchikan and Sitka high schools at Melvin Park and Dimond Park Field No. 4 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Andi Story, a Juneau Democrat, talks with a guest page on the House floor Wednesday morning. Story, a member of the House Education Committee, was among the members in the minority who expressed concern a bill giving teachers end-of-year bonuses will be used by House leaders to avoid a larger and more general increase to public school funding this session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A step forward for teacher bonuses, a step back for a BSA increase

House committee advances year-end educator payments, but outlook for school funding boost dims

Rep. Andi Story, a Juneau Democrat, talks with a guest page on the House floor Wednesday morning. Story, a member of the House Education Committee, was among the members in the minority who expressed concern a bill giving teachers end-of-year bonuses will be used by House leaders to avoid a larger and more general increase to public school funding this session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department is asking the community to assist in identifying a man who allegedly threw a large rock at a police patrol vehicle windshield at around 2:30 a.m. on April 16. This is a picture shared by police of the the man wearing an orange cap and gray hoody as seen in surveillance footage. (Juneau Police Department)

Police seek help identifying man who allegedly threw a rock at a patrol vehicle

JPD shared images of the man wearing an orange cap and gray hoody.

The Juneau Police Department is asking the community to assist in identifying a man who allegedly threw a large rock at a police patrol vehicle windshield at around 2:30 a.m. on April 16. This is a picture shared by police of the the man wearing an orange cap and gray hoody as seen in surveillance footage. (Juneau Police Department)
The author's steelhead was not in the mood for pictures. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: One good fish

Often it’s the thinking that supplies the proper amount of weight and gratitude.

The author's steelhead was not in the mood for pictures. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Carole Triem, Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to City Clerk Beth McEwen as she speaks about election code changes Monday night at the Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting where member’s OK’d the city to move an ordinance to make vote-by-mail elections the default in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City moves to make vote-by-mail elections the default in Juneau

The ordinances are set to be introduced in May and open for public hearing in June.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Carole Triem, Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to City Clerk Beth McEwen as she speaks about election code changes Monday night at the Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting where member’s OK’d the city to move an ordinance to make vote-by-mail elections the default in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Haines man arrested at Juneau airport on drug charges

A Haines man was arrested Tuesday night on drug charges at the Juneau International Airport under the suspicion of transporting controlled substances from Washington state,… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
University of Alaska Southeast freshman Micheal Bethel paints a piece titled “Parents” on Friday while at an art gallery hosted Friday evening at UAS that showcased students’ work from the UAS Northwest Coast Art program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska Southeast freshman Micheal Bethel paints a piece titled “Parents” on Friday while at an art gallery hosted Friday evening at UAS that showcased students’ work from the UAS Northwest Coast Art program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A welcome song is played and sang by Tulalip performers during a Road to Healing event at the Tulalip Gathering Hall in Marysville, Washington on Sunday, April 23, 2023. The tour is lead by United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Cabinet secretary visits Tulalip to listen to boarding school survivors

“Federal Indian boarding school policies have touched every Indigenous person I know,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said Sunday.

A welcome song is played and sang by Tulalip performers during a Road to Healing event at the Tulalip Gathering Hall in Marysville, Washington on Sunday, April 23, 2023. The tour is lead by United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, April 26, 2023

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

  • Apr 26, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr speaks to the Assembly meeting as the Committee of the Whole Monday evening. The Assembly OK’d the city to begin soliciting proposals to offer funding for one to two child care start-up grants to local providers and facility owners.

City OKs funds to create startup child care grant program

Program intended to fund the opening of one to two new child care centers in Juneau.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr speaks to the Assembly meeting as the Committee of the Whole Monday evening. The Assembly OK’d the city to begin soliciting proposals to offer funding for one to two child care start-up grants to local providers and facility owners.
Rep. Jennie Armstrong, D-Anchorage, and Tristin Walsh, a staff member for Armstrong, prepare to present her bill seeking to prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination to the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Jennie Armstrong, D-Anchorage, and Tristin Walsh, a staff member for Armstrong, prepare to present her bill seeking to prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination to the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jason Traver, sitting furtherest away, with defense attorney Nicholas Ambrose and state prosecuting attorney Jessalyn Gillum, awaits the jury’s verdict on Friday after a week’s long trial concluded. For a case that initially had started in 2019, Traver was ultimately found not guilty of second-degree assault.
Jason Traver, sitting furtherest away, with defense attorney Nicholas Ambrose and state prosecuting attorney Jessalyn Gillum, awaits the jury’s verdict on Friday after a week’s long trial concluded. For a case that initially had started in 2019, Traver was ultimately found not guilty of second-degree assault.
Marcus Eddie Jamestown, 34, of Juneau is wanted by the Juneau Police Department on a felony warrant for his arrest for violating conditions of his release, along with criminal charges of escape and violating conditions of release. Police are asking the community for assistance in finding Jamestown. (Juneau Police Department)

Police seek assistance in locating wanted man

The 34-year-old ran away after cutting off ankle monitor, police say.

Marcus Eddie Jamestown, 34, of Juneau is wanted by the Juneau Police Department on a felony warrant for his arrest for violating conditions of his release, along with criminal charges of escape and violating conditions of release. Police are asking the community for assistance in finding Jamestown. (Juneau Police Department)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski, City Manager Rorie Watt and SHI President Rosita Worl laugh together during a speech at the dedication ceremony of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí, Totem Pole Trail, held Saturday in downtown Juneau at Heritage Plaza. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown’s Seward Street could soon have a new name

SHI President called for the change during a recent public gathering downtown.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski, City Manager Rorie Watt and SHI President Rosita Worl laugh together during a speech at the dedication ceremony of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí, Totem Pole Trail, held Saturday in downtown Juneau at Heritage Plaza. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Genevieve Berry, 3, places litter in a trash bag on Earth Day during a communitywide cleanup. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Community picks up tons of trash

Does this article count as litter-ature?

Genevieve Berry, 3, places litter in a trash bag on Earth Day during a communitywide cleanup. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
State Rep. Zack Fields

Opinion: Transformational policies for economic growth

Investing in people and energy could position Alaska to achieve unprecedented prosperity.

  • Apr 25, 2023
  • By Zack Fields
State Rep. Zack Fields
A model of a DNA molecule is displayed in the New York office of the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research on Oct. 18, 1962. The discovery of DNA’s “twisted ladder” structure 70 years ago opened up a world of new science — and also sparked disputes over who contributed what and who deserves credit. In an opinion piece published Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in the journal Nature, two historians are suggesting that while James Watson and Francis Crick did rely on research from Rosalind Franklin and her lab without their permission — Franklin was more a collaborator than just a victim. (AP Photo / Anthony Camerano)

Rosalind Franklin’s role in DNA discovery gets a new twist

The story dates back to the 1950s, when scientists were working out how DNA’s pieces fit together.

A model of a DNA molecule is displayed in the New York office of the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research on Oct. 18, 1962. The discovery of DNA’s “twisted ladder” structure 70 years ago opened up a world of new science — and also sparked disputes over who contributed what and who deserves credit. In an opinion piece published Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in the journal Nature, two historians are suggesting that while James Watson and Francis Crick did rely on research from Rosalind Franklin and her lab without their permission — Franklin was more a collaborator than just a victim. (AP Photo / Anthony Camerano)