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Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Peninsula voices among ‘parental rights’ debate in Juneau

People who spoke in opposition outnumbered those who spoke in support by three to one

Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Lax̲áakúda.oo Jessica Elopre, a Seattle delegate of the Assembly, wears a shirt in reference to missing and murdered Indigenous women during the 88th Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. On Friday a resolution to commission a totem pole in Juneau that is dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women passed unanimously. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Resolution passed to raise totem pole honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women and people

Delegates voted unanimously for it on the last day of Tribal Assembly.

Lax̲áakúda.oo Jessica Elopre, a Seattle delegate of the Assembly, wears a shirt in reference to missing and murdered Indigenous women during the 88th Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. On Friday a resolution to commission a totem pole in Juneau that is dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women passed unanimously. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Kugíin-g Dúu Lauryn Framke (left) was elected as emerging leader and Aurora Lehr (right) was reelected as associate justice at the 88th annual Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Tribal Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tribal Assembly names associate justice, emerging leader

On the final day of the 88th annual Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Tribal Assembly, delegates reelected Aurora Lehr… Continue reading

Kugíin-g Dúu Lauryn Framke (left) was elected as emerging leader and Aurora Lehr (right) was reelected as associate justice at the 88th annual Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Tribal Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Gov proposes managing opioid settlement money like Permanent Fund

$58 million from drug companies would go to new investment fund, earnings used for treatment

A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Emiko and Syun-Ichi Akasofu serve tea to guests at their home in Fairbanks in December 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Aurora expert helped expand Alaska tourism

When Syun-Ichi Akasofu walks by in the building on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus that bears his name, I want to catch up and… Continue reading

Emiko and Syun-Ichi Akasofu serve tea to guests at their home in Fairbanks in December 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
The U.S. Coast Guard Band, seen here, plays as a 55-member ensemble. The band will play in Juneau Saturday as part of its Ready for the Call tour. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Sea notes: U.S. Coast Guard Band to play in Juneau

Do you like American music?

The U.S. Coast Guard Band, seen here, plays as a 55-member ensemble. The band will play in Juneau Saturday as part of its Ready for the Call tour. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
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)

Opinion: Let’s save the Pioneer Road for local users

This application is a prime example of an activity crying out for pre-planning…

  • Apr 21, 2023
  • By Linda Kruger
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)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: A creative personal aesthetic

I think aesthetics are more than just politics.

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
Six state House members vote against including an invocation that featured an Alaska Native land acknowledgement during Thursday’s floor session. (Screenshot from official Alaska State Legislature video)

House invocation with Native land acknowledgement draws objection

Six members vote to keep remarks made from official journal as tribal asssembly meets nearby

Six state House members vote against including an invocation that featured an Alaska Native land acknowledgement during Thursday’s floor session. (Screenshot from official Alaska State Legislature video)
Cindy Pederson, sets up a display table for raffle items in a hallway at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall during the 88th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Peterson, a Seattle resident and delegate for nearly 20 years until taking a job with the tribe’s COVID-19 relief program last year, was named the tribe’s Delegate/Citizen of the Year on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Delegate/Citizen of the Year surprised by honor during Tribal Assembly

Long-term sustainable housing, and more also discussed on second day.

Cindy Pederson, sets up a display table for raffle items in a hallway at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall during the 88th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Peterson, a Seattle resident and delegate for nearly 20 years until taking a job with the tribe’s COVID-19 relief program last year, was named the tribe’s Delegate/Citizen of the Year on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, receives a note while presiding over public testimony from Juneau residents about next year’s proposed state budget during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Public expresses big hopes for small items in Senate’s budget

State takeover of wetlands permitting, lack of support for social services among main issues

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, receives a note while presiding over public testimony from Juneau residents about next year’s proposed state budget during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Teal Street Center located at 1187 Teal Street in the Mendenhall Valley is currently open to the public to provide services to Juneau residents despite minor construction still in progress. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Teal Street Center opened for business

Minor exterior construction expected throughout summer.

Teal Street Center located at 1187 Teal Street in the Mendenhall Valley is currently open to the public to provide services to Juneau residents despite minor construction still in progress. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith, chief financial officer Sam Muse and board Vice President Deborah Johnston sit before the Assembly to present the hospital’s 2024 fiscal year budget. The hospital is requesting an additional $5 million in funding from the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City moves forward with $2.5M one-time funding to hospital

An additional $2.5M is pending.

From left to right, Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith, chief financial officer Sam Muse and board Vice President Deborah Johnston sit before the Assembly to present the hospital’s 2024 fiscal year budget. The hospital is requesting an additional $5 million in funding from the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Mariah Schauwecker sits before friends and family on Wednesday at the JDHS gymnasium to sign a letter of intent to play softball with Southern Idaho. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS senior signs letter of intent with Southern Idaho

“It’s been one of my biggest dreams since I was a little girl.”

JDHS senior Mariah Schauwecker sits before friends and family on Wednesday at the JDHS gymnasium to sign a letter of intent to play softball with Southern Idaho. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Marijuana plants are shown at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. Along the West Coast, which has dominated U.S. marijuana production from long before legalization, producers are struggling with what many call the failed economics of legal pot...a challenge inherent in regulating a product that remains illegal under federal law. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Part party, part call to action: A look at pot holiday 4/20

Examining cannabis culture’s high holiday.

Marijuana plants are shown at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. Along the West Coast, which has dominated U.S. marijuana production from long before legalization, producers are struggling with what many call the failed economics of legal pot...a challenge inherent in regulating a product that remains illegal under federal law. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Ore. The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government lands. The Associated Press obtained details on the government’s first-ever national inventory of older forests in advance of their expected public release on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

U.S. plans new forest protections, issues old-growth inventory

BILLINGS, Mont. — The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government land and plans… Continue reading

Old growth Douglas fir trees stand along the Salmon river Trail on the Mt. Hood National Forest outside Zigzag, Ore. The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government lands. The Associated Press obtained details on the government’s first-ever national inventory of older forests in advance of their expected public release on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
Donna Leigh (Courtesy Photo)

Living & Growing: Spring renewal

May we all enrich our good ground as spring comes this year

Donna Leigh (Courtesy Photo)
Former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor and current Alaska gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce speaks at a “Get Out the Vote” rally hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Republican Women at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Borough to pay more than $237K to settle sexual harassment suit

As part of the settlement, the borough is not admitting any wrongdoing

Former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor and current Alaska gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce speaks at a “Get Out the Vote” rally hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Republican Women at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listens to an overview of the state’s balance sheet under a proposed budget for next year introduced by the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing Wednesday. The budget contains a surplus of more than $1.4 billion, but that’s a misleading number since it doesn’t include Permanent Fund Dividends, an increase in education funding and other spending that are virtually certain to be added following public testimony during the next couple of days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Senate budget draft includes huge surplus and no PFD

Initial draft also lacks education funding boost, but changes to come after public comment process

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listens to an overview of the state’s balance sheet under a proposed budget for next year introduced by the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing Wednesday. The budget contains a surplus of more than $1.4 billion, but that’s a misleading number since it doesn’t include Permanent Fund Dividends, an increase in education funding and other spending that are virtually certain to be added following public testimony during the next couple of days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Eagle/Raven Dance Group completes their grand entrance among delegates Wednesday morning at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to mark the beginning of the 88th annual tribal assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The theme of three-day assembly, held in person for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is “Sovereignty: In Land We Trust.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Tribal Assembly celebrates achievements and faces hard truths

Growth of Tlingit Haida’s community programs and political influence highlighted on first day

The Eagle/Raven Dance Group completes their grand entrance among delegates Wednesday morning at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to mark the beginning of the 88th annual tribal assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The theme of three-day assembly, held in person for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is “Sovereignty: In Land We Trust.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)