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K. Santo Franks of team Haines puts up a 2-point shot against Yakutat on Sunday night during this year’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at JDHS. Franks led his team in points for a total of 14. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Haines hangs on for Sunday night win against Yakutat

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship,… Continue reading

K. Santo Franks of team Haines puts up a 2-point shot against Yakutat on Sunday night during this year’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at JDHS. Franks led his team in points for a total of 14. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Angoon’s Duncan O’Brien shoots between Hydaburg’s George Peratrovich (1) and Darren Edenshaw during B Bracket action during the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Sunday, March 19, at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Hydaburg nips Angoon with a Gold Medal buzzer beater

Vinnie Edenshaw put his game-high 32nd point off the glass and through the net as the buzzer sounded

  • Mar 20, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe For the Juneau Empire
  • Basketball
Angoon’s Duncan O’Brien shoots between Hydaburg’s George Peratrovich (1) and Darren Edenshaw during B Bracket action during the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Sunday, March 19, at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola put up the ceremonial jump ball for Kake's Rich Austin (15) and Hoonah's Albert Hinchman (22) during their Masters Bracket game in the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Sunday, March 19, at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Hoonah ‘Masterful’ in opening Gold Medal win over Kake

Hoonah put two-time defending M Bracket champions Kake into an early deficit and never looked back

  • Mar 19, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe For the Juneau Empire
  • Basketball
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola put up the ceremonial jump ball for Kake's Rich Austin (15) and Hoonah's Albert Hinchman (22) during their Masters Bracket game in the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Sunday, March 19, at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Klukwan's Brian Friske (32) coils up to take a shot at the hoop while defended by Yakutat's Dustin Endicott. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Klukwan bests Yakutat in 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament’s first game

Klukwan (Kluk)won the game.

Klukwan's Brian Friske (32) coils up to take a shot at the hoop while defended by Yakutat's Dustin Endicott. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Juneau's Mahina Toutaiolepo peers through the arms of Kake defenders during the second half of a Juneau win in the Juneau Lions Club's 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Big fourth quarter pushes Juneau past Kake

Game was tied at the end of the third.

Juneau's Mahina Toutaiolepo peers through the arms of Kake defenders during the second half of a Juneau win in the Juneau Lions Club's 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Spit flies as players from Metlakatla and Hoonah battle for the ball Sunday afternoon in the second B Bracket game of the 74th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla ekes out a win against Hoonah

The game ended with a close 75-70 score.

Spit flies as players from Metlakatla and Hoonah battle for the ball Sunday afternoon in the second B Bracket game of the 74th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Guy Archibald collects clam shell specimens on Admiralty Island. Archibald was the lead author of a recently released study that linked a dramatic increase of lead levels in Hawk Inlet’s marine ecosystem and land surrounding it on Admiralty Island to tailings released from the nearby Hecla Greens Creek Mine. (Courtesy Photo / John Neary)

New study links mine to elevated lead levels in Hawk Inlet

Hecla Greens Creek Mine official ardently refutes the report’s findings.

Guy Archibald collects clam shell specimens on Admiralty Island. Archibald was the lead author of a recently released study that linked a dramatic increase of lead levels in Hawk Inlet’s marine ecosystem and land surrounding it on Admiralty Island to tailings released from the nearby Hecla Greens Creek Mine. (Courtesy Photo / John Neary)
Juneau Brass Quintet co-founding member Bill Paulick along with Stephen Young performs “Shepherd’s Hey” to a packed house at the Alaska State Museum on Saturday as part of the quintet’s season-ending performance. Friends of the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum sponsored the event with proceeds going to the musicians and FoSLAM. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Top brass turns out for event at State Museum

Free performance puts a capt on a busy season.

Juneau Brass Quintet co-founding member Bill Paulick along with Stephen Young performs “Shepherd’s Hey” to a packed house at the Alaska State Museum on Saturday as part of the quintet’s season-ending performance. Friends of the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum sponsored the event with proceeds going to the musicians and FoSLAM. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Racers take off from the parking lot of Savikko Park on Saturday as part of the Juneau Trail and Road Runners’ annual Flanagan’s Run. Nearly 30 people participated in total between either the one-mile or five-mile race for this yearly St. Patrick’s Day themed race, which celebrated its second year back in person since COVID. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Lucky weather for annual St. Paddy’s race

Juneau Trail and Road Runners host Flanagan’s Run.

Racers take off from the parking lot of Savikko Park on Saturday as part of the Juneau Trail and Road Runners’ annual Flanagan’s Run. Nearly 30 people participated in total between either the one-mile or five-mile race for this yearly St. Patrick’s Day themed race, which celebrated its second year back in person since COVID. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
On Thursday, the Alaska State Board of Education approved a resolution that supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls’ sports. (Getty Images illustration via Alaska Beacon)

State school board supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls’ sports

On Thursday, the Alaska State Board of Education approved a resolution that supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls’ sports. The resolution supported… Continue reading

On Thursday, the Alaska State Board of Education approved a resolution that supports barring transgender female students from participating in girls’ sports. (Getty Images illustration via Alaska Beacon)
The City and Borough of Juneau cash office and sales tax office returns to regular service hours starting Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

CBJ cash office and sales tax office returns to regular service hours

This comes after months of reduced operating hours due to a staffing shortage

The City and Borough of Juneau cash office and sales tax office returns to regular service hours starting Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, asks Randy Bates, director of the Division of Water for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, about state water quality regulations some fish hatcheries are calling harmful during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Friday. The meeting was to review the DEC’s proposal to take over responsibility for many federal Clean Water Act permits, claiming it will be more responsible and efficient for development projects. Some of the senators questioned both the cost of the state taking over a process currently funded by the federal government, as well as the state’s ability to properly due to the job within the guidelines for such a takeover.

Wading into rule change proposals affecting clean water

National PFAS limits, state takeover of wetlands permits raise doubts about who should take charge

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, asks Randy Bates, director of the Division of Water for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, about state water quality regulations some fish hatcheries are calling harmful during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Friday. The meeting was to review the DEC’s proposal to take over responsibility for many federal Clean Water Act permits, claiming it will be more responsible and efficient for development projects. Some of the senators questioned both the cost of the state taking over a process currently funded by the federal government, as well as the state’s ability to properly due to the job within the guidelines for such a takeover.
JDHS senior and team captain Skylar Tuckwood poses for a photo during a practice ahead of the Region V Tournament. Though the Crimson Bears were eliminated, the team secured an at-large bid to enter into the state championship this year in Anchorage. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Tuckwood everlasting: JDHS senior readies for next chapter in athletic career

State-bound standout plans to stay on the court for college.

JDHS senior and team captain Skylar Tuckwood poses for a photo during a practice ahead of the Region V Tournament. Though the Crimson Bears were eliminated, the team secured an at-large bid to enter into the state championship this year in Anchorage. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
During winter 2022-23, contractors replace the awning structure on the 1904-1913 Valentine Building. The historic building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Its location at the corner of Front and Seward streets is also within Juneau’s Downtown Historic District. (Laurie Craig / For the DBA)

Rooted in Community: The historic Valentine Building and the Findley Family

Many shops have occupied the Seward Street storefronts while Juneau Drug anchors the corner space.

During winter 2022-23, contractors replace the awning structure on the 1904-1913 Valentine Building. The historic building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Its location at the corner of Front and Seward streets is also within Juneau’s Downtown Historic District. (Laurie Craig / For the DBA)
Klukwan’s Andrew Friske, center, shoots against Yakutat’s Derek James, left, at the Juneau Lions Club 73rd Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. This year’s tournament starts on Sunday, March 19-25 at JDHS. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

The Gold Medal Basketball Tournament is back. Here’s what you need to know before it tips off

Juneau Lions Club annual fundraiser is set to start Sunday.

Klukwan’s Andrew Friske, center, shoots against Yakutat’s Derek James, left, at the Juneau Lions Club 73rd Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. This year’s tournament starts on Sunday, March 19-25 at JDHS. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Rep. Sara Hannan, a Juneau Democrat, speaks to the state House Health and Social Services Committee Thursday afternoon in support of a bill she sponsors that would ban licensed practitioners from providing conversion treatment to minors or vulnerable adults in the state of Alaska.

Conversion therapy survivors advocate for banning practice in Alaska

Invited testimony given for Rep. Sara Hannan’s bill.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Rep. Sara Hannan, a Juneau Democrat, speaks to the state House Health and Social Services Committee Thursday afternoon in support of a bill she sponsors that would ban licensed practitioners from providing conversion treatment to minors or vulnerable adults in the state of Alaska.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence for the state’s education department, testifies about two bills during a House Education Committee meeting on Monday. McKenzie, scheduled to become commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development on April 1, announced Wednesday she has decided not to accept the job for personal reasons.

Education commissioner designee changes mind, rejects job

Susan McKenzie cites personal reasons in withdrawing only a few weeks after accepting appointment

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence for the state’s education department, testifies about two bills during a House Education Committee meeting on Monday. McKenzie, scheduled to become commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development on April 1, announced Wednesday she has decided not to accept the job for personal reasons.
Snow blankets the courtyard outside the Juneau - State Courthouse, where a sit-in starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday was announced by people protesting what they called unconstitutional restrictions recently placed on grand juries. Only one protester said she came by shortly before noon, but didn’t stay long because no other people were there. Similar (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cold case for grand jury protesters

Participants gather in wintry weather to air claims of unconstitutional restrictions on process

Snow blankets the courtyard outside the Juneau - State Courthouse, where a sit-in starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday was announced by people protesting what they called unconstitutional restrictions recently placed on grand juries. Only one protester said she came by shortly before noon, but didn’t stay long because no other people were there. Similar (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The banks of the Kenai River can be seen on July 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

KRSA founder Bob Penney dead at 90

Statements were released by KRSA, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Gov. Mike Dunleavy

The banks of the Kenai River can be seen on July 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
An employee leaves the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, where the 60 members of the Alaska State Legislature are slated to get a 67% pay increase to $84,000 annually following the unanimous vote by the five new members of the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, who were appointed during the past week to replace commission members whose majority voted to rejected the raises. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sudden 67% pay hike OK’d for legislators

Salary commission that rejected raises is replaced by new members who recommend salaries of $84K.

An employee leaves the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, where the 60 members of the Alaska State Legislature are slated to get a 67% pay increase to $84,000 annually following the unanimous vote by the five new members of the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, who were appointed during the past week to replace commission members whose majority voted to rejected the raises. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)