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Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy shakes the hands of state legislators as he prepares to deliver the 2023 State of the State address to the Alaska Legislature on Jan. 23, 2023, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy weighs a statewide sales tax amid broader push for fiscal plan

Governor meets with House and Senate members, declines to publicly reveal specifics of proposal

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy shakes the hands of state legislators as he prepares to deliver the 2023 State of the State address to the Alaska Legislature on Jan. 23, 2023, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly at its Monday night meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City OKs $2.3M in additional ‘out-of-cap’ funding to school district

The funds will pay for deficits accrued during 2021-2023.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly at its Monday night meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A simple spreadsheet showing major items being debated in this year’s state budget features user-adjustable options to see what options exist for a balanced spending plan.

Do-it-yourself state budget balancing kit

These are the major pieces of the puzzle facing lawmakers; how would you make them fit?

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A simple spreadsheet showing major items being debated in this year’s state budget features user-adjustable options to see what options exist for a balanced spending plan.
A gate blocks off the entrance to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road Saturday afternoon. Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly votes down proposed Pioneer Road e-bike tours

Assembly member calls for “rare” move to reconsider.

A gate blocks off the entrance to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road Saturday afternoon. Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Mel Cummins Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School seventh-grader Nixie Schooler poses for a photo after winning this year’s Adidas Nationals Freestyle Wrestling Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri on April 10.

Nixie Schooler schools competition at Adidas Nationals

“I felt happy and I couldn’t believe I did it.”

Courtesy Photo / Mel Cummins Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School seventh-grader Nixie Schooler poses for a photo after winning this year’s Adidas Nationals Freestyle Wrestling Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri on April 10.
Courtesy Photo / Dana Zigmund JDHS junior Xavier Melancon maneuvers past a Thunder Mountain High School player on the pitch at the Adair-Kennedy field Monday evening.

JDHS boys soccer beats TMHS in second match up

Crimson Bears play again on Thursday.

Courtesy Photo / Dana Zigmund JDHS junior Xavier Melancon maneuvers past a Thunder Mountain High School player on the pitch at the Adair-Kennedy field Monday evening.
The sun glistens off a totem pole by Tsimshian carver Gyibaawm Laxha David Robert Boxley after it was raised at Overstreet Park Sunday afternoon. The pole is one of the first 12 of 30 totem poles to be raised to create a Kootéeyaa Deiyí (totem pole trail) lining the waterfront in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Totem poles raised along waterfront ahead of trail dedication ceremony

The ceremony will be held late Saturday morning at Heritage Plaza.

The sun glistens off a totem pole by Tsimshian carver Gyibaawm Laxha David Robert Boxley after it was raised at Overstreet Park Sunday afternoon. The pole is one of the first 12 of 30 totem poles to be raised to create a Kootéeyaa Deiyí (totem pole trail) lining the waterfront in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, discusses what she considers inadequacies in state education funding during floor debate Monday about the House’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget approved by a 23-17 vote will next be considered by the Senate, with a compromise version likely drafted to resolve differences before the end of the session.

House finally passes budget as final month of session begins

Senate expected to take public testimony on its proposed spending plan later this week

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, discusses what she considers inadequacies in state education funding during floor debate Monday about the House’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget approved by a 23-17 vote will next be considered by the Senate, with a compromise version likely drafted to resolve differences before the end of the session.
Freshly printed paper makes it way through the Juneau Empire printing press in Juneau Thursday evening. Beginning May 3, the Juneau Empire will be printed in Washington state, and delivered on Wednesdays and Saturdays. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Empire upgrading online coverage, changing print publication days

Emphasis on enhanced digital content; print production moving to Washington state

Freshly printed paper makes it way through the Juneau Empire printing press in Juneau Thursday evening. Beginning May 3, the Juneau Empire will be printed in Washington state, and delivered on Wednesdays and Saturdays. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Freshly printed paper makes it way through the Juneau Empire printing press Thursday evening. Beginning May 3, the Juneau Empire will be printed in Washington state, and delivered on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

From the editor and publisher

Ben Hohenstatt and David Rigas

  • Apr 17, 2023
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Freshly printed paper makes it way through the Juneau Empire printing press Thursday evening. Beginning May 3, the Juneau Empire will be printed in Washington state, and delivered on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Eric Osuch tries to offer papers related to his arrest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday morning to a reporter as Juneau Police Department officers escort him to a nearby patrol vehicle. Osuch, who was staging a solo protest about fisheries bycatch policies, was banned from the Capitol after causing a public disruption and was arrested a short time later for another alleged disturbance inside the State Office Building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Fisheries activist arrested at Capitol

Juneau man staging solo protest disrupts committee hearing, gets in fight in State Office Building

Eric Osuch tries to offer papers related to his arrest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday morning to a reporter as Juneau Police Department officers escort him to a nearby patrol vehicle. Osuch, who was staging a solo protest about fisheries bycatch policies, was banned from the Capitol after causing a public disruption and was arrested a short time later for another alleged disturbance inside the State Office Building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau District School board and administrators listen to Jess Cobley, Juneau Education Association middle school representative at large, as she speaks about the contract negotiations during a December meeting at Thunder Mountain High School. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau School District, teachers union reach tentative contract agreement

Members are expected to vote on whether to ratify it in the coming weeks.

Juneau District School board and administrators listen to Jess Cobley, Juneau Education Association middle school representative at large, as she speaks about the contract negotiations during a December meeting at Thunder Mountain High School. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on April 17, 2023, the first cruise ship of the 2023 season. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The first cruise ship of the season arrives in Juneau

The Norwegian Bliss marked the kickoff to the 2023 season

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on April 17, 2023, the first cruise ship of the 2023 season. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Folkapotamus featuring Andrew Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Erin Heist and Nicole Lantz play to a pack house Saturday night at JDHS for the 48th annual Alaska Folk Festival. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Come rain or volcanoes, the show must folk on

48th annaul Alaska Folk Festival wraps up with a bang.

Folkapotamus featuring Andrew Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Erin Heist and Nicole Lantz play to a pack house Saturday night at JDHS for the 48th annual Alaska Folk Festival. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau’s city manager, Rorie Watt, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce in July. On Friday Watt announced his plans to resign from his position at the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau city manager to resign this fall

Rorie Watt announced his resignation Friday evening.

City and Borough of Juneau’s city manager, Rorie Watt, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce in July. On Friday Watt announced his plans to resign from his position at the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Members of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee meet Wednesday as they hear department presentations about next year’s proposed budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Spending up, taxes up, population stagnant in Juneau

Last week, during a scheduled CBJ Assembly Finance Committee meeting, City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) staff introduced the FY2024 draft budget for consideration. This… Continue reading

  • Apr 15, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
Members of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee meet Wednesday as they hear department presentations about next year’s proposed budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Residents in Juneau and across Alaska were subjected to dozens of flight cancellations due to air travel disruptions from ash that drifted from a volcanic eruption on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula earlier this week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Flight cancellations continue amid volcanic eruption disruptions

Alaska Airlines reported 84 cancelled flights as of Friday afternoon.

Residents in Juneau and across Alaska were subjected to dozens of flight cancellations due to air travel disruptions from ash that drifted from a volcanic eruption on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula earlier this week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Residents jog along the downtown cruise ship docks Friday morning. Downtown is about to become much busier starting Monday as Juneau welcomes the first cruise ship of the 2023 season. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

First cruise ship of the season to arrive Monday

Juneau is expected to welcome a record-breaking amount of passengers this summer.

Residents jog along the downtown cruise ship docks Friday morning. Downtown is about to become much busier starting Monday as Juneau welcomes the first cruise ship of the 2023 season. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Ron Soherville, a Juneau resident, testifies in favor of a bill restricting sex and gender content in public schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. He was surrounded by a crowd of mostly students who testified against the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘Parental rights’ sequel: Six hours of separation

About 180 more people testify mostly in opposition to bill, but legislators’ minds appear unchanged

Ron Soherville, a Juneau resident, testifies in favor of a bill restricting sex and gender content in public schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. He was surrounded by a crowd of mostly students who testified against the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Transportation Security Administration officer checks luggage at the Juneau International Airport in March. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Two Juneau residents arrested on drug charges at airport

The seized narcotics have an estimated street value of $111,300.

A Transportation Security Administration officer checks luggage at the Juneau International Airport in March. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)