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State Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, testifies about his proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Permanent Fund earnings are allocated during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Saturday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee spent two hours taking testimony almost entirely by phone from residents statewide about five proposals related to the Permanent Fund and dividends, which continued the long historical pattern of strongly divided feelings about how much money to use for dividends vs. state government programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

PFD proposals polarize and puzzle

Residents all over Alaska’s map are also all over the policy map during hearing on various proposals

State Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, testifies about his proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Permanent Fund earnings are allocated during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting Saturday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee spent two hours taking testimony almost entirely by phone from residents statewide about five proposals related to the Permanent Fund and dividends, which continued the long historical pattern of strongly divided feelings about how much money to use for dividends vs. state government programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Emotions were high as JDHS cheer took home the 4A division championship title for the third year in a row during the annual Region V 2A/4A dance adjudication competition hosted at Juneau-Douglas High School:Yadaa.at Kalé Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Southeast stuntin’: Region V dance and cheer teams gather for annual dance adjudication

JDHS cheer takes home first-ever three-peat competition win

Emotions were high as JDHS cheer took home the 4A division championship title for the third year in a row during the annual Region V 2A/4A dance adjudication competition hosted at Juneau-Douglas High School:Yadaa.at Kalé Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Metlakatla Chiefs pose for a team photo after winning the Region V championship over Petersburg on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla boys win physical region title over Petersburg

Chiefs defeat Vikings for third Region V championship in a row.

The Metlakatla Chiefs pose for a team photo after winning the Region V championship over Petersburg on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Frantic Friday: A roundup of photos from a wild day of basketball

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Region V tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship, this article —and all 2023… Continue reading

(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A high school basketball rests on a gym floor at Thunder Mountain High School, which this week will be the site of the 2A and 4A Region V tournaments. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Update: Saturday schedule shifts

A schedule and brackets for the upcoming tournament.

A high school basketball rests on a gym floor at Thunder Mountain High School, which this week will be the site of the 2A and 4A Region V tournaments. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Metlakatla's Kennedy Cook (3) shoots against Wrangell's Aubrey Wynne (32) and Kiara Harrison (11) during the Region V tournament on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Let’s Day 2: A roundup of photos from the Region V tournament’s first day

See pictures from Wednesday’s games.

Metlakatla's Kennedy Cook (3) shoots against Wrangell's Aubrey Wynne (32) and Kiara Harrison (11) during the Region V tournament on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Metlakatla coach Julian Russell waves the MisChiefs Region V Championship net on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla girls defeat Craig for Region V championship

MisChiefs play with emotion in win over Lady Panthers.

Metlakatla coach Julian Russell waves the MisChiefs Region V Championship net on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl rips down a board in a close contest against Ketchikan. The game took 36 minutes of gametime to resovle and ended 72-64 in Kayhi's favor. The Crimson Bears and Kings will play for the Region V 4A title at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan edges JDHS in overtime

Crimson Bears look to rebound Saturday at 8:15 p.m.

JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl rips down a board in a close contest against Ketchikan. The game took 36 minutes of gametime to resovle and ended 72-64 in Kayhi's favor. The Crimson Bears and Kings will play for the Region V 4A title at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, shown in this photo, was recently selected to be new chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast.

Q&A: Get to know the next UAS chancellor

Incoming chancellor talks workforce development, fiscal sustainability and student access

University of Alaska Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, shown in this photo, was recently selected to be new chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast.
Haines senior Grace Long Godinez (2) passes around the defense of Wrangell senior Kiara Harrison (11) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Haines girls run past Wrangell in overtime

Lady Glacier Bears eliminate Lady Wolves from tournament

Haines senior Grace Long Godinez (2) passes around the defense of Wrangell senior Kiara Harrison (11) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich puts the ball up for a layup against Ketchikan High School on Friday during the two team’s final matchup in the 4A Region V Tournament. Nizich finished the game with a total of 6 points.

JDHS girls hang on to earn title game against TMHS

Cross-town rivals face off at 6:30 p.m.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich puts the ball up for a layup against Ketchikan High School on Friday during the two team’s final matchup in the 4A Region V Tournament. Nizich finished the game with a total of 6 points.
Haines senior Luke Davis (2) transitions down court under pressure from Wrangell senior Jacen Hay (23) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For Juneau Empire)

Wrangell boys eliminate Haines in overtime

Wolves need extra gear to bite Glacier Bears 57-50

Haines senior Luke Davis (2) transitions down court under pressure from Wrangell senior Jacen Hay (23) during an elimination game at the Region V tournament on Friday. (Klas Stolpe / For Juneau Empire)
A by-mail general ballot is sent to an Alaska voter in October of 2020. Concern is being expressed by some state lawmakers about such ballots frequently being received and used by people who became residents of other states many years ago. Officials with the state Division of Elections said keeping such people on voter rolls is based on an intention to return to Alaska, which often cannot be definitely determined. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

State may end membership in voter anti-fraud organization

Group falsely attacked by Trump is costly, better options may exist, new elections director says

A by-mail general ballot is sent to an Alaska voter in October of 2020. Concern is being expressed by some state lawmakers about such ballots frequently being received and used by people who became residents of other states many years ago. Officials with the state Division of Elections said keeping such people on voter rolls is based on an intention to return to Alaska, which often cannot be definitely determined. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
The sun beams down on a clock and nearby melting snow. A bill that calls for Alaska to choose to remain in Daylight Saving Time for the entirety of the year and say farewell to the switch to Standard Time has been reintroduced to the Alaska Legislature this session. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

It’s about time: With the switch to Daylight Saving Time on the horizon, Alaska lawmakers push to make the change permanent

It’s a time sensitive issue…

The sun beams down on a clock and nearby melting snow. A bill that calls for Alaska to choose to remain in Daylight Saving Time for the entirety of the year and say farewell to the switch to Standard Time has been reintroduced to the Alaska Legislature this session. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A sign in 2019 urges Alaska lawmakers to fund a “full” Permanent Fund Dividend — or else. Some legislators this year are hoping tough times since then due to the COVID.19 pandemic and other events will make residents willing to accept proposals that result in lower dividends so some of the money can be used for purposes such as increasing education spending. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, file)

PFD plans poised for public pontificating

Five proposals to be subject of Saturday hearing.

A sign in 2019 urges Alaska lawmakers to fund a “full” Permanent Fund Dividend — or else. Some legislators this year are hoping tough times since then due to the COVID.19 pandemic and other events will make residents willing to accept proposals that result in lower dividends so some of the money can be used for purposes such as increasing education spending. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, file)
Ketchikan High School’s Marcus Stockhausen takes the ball in for a layup against Thunder Mountain for their final match up in this year’s 4A Region V tournament. Ketchikan advances to play JDHS Friday night for the championship game. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

TMHS ends season with loss to Ketchikan

The Kings play JDHS Friday at 8:15 p.m.

Ketchikan High School’s Marcus Stockhausen takes the ball in for a layup against Thunder Mountain for their final match up in this year’s 4A Region V tournament. Ketchikan advances to play JDHS Friday night for the championship game. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
The Associated Press A map shows the location of the Willow oil field project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, where more than 200 drills are scheduled to be drilled during a 30-year period if approved.

Willow approval expected next week, Bloomberg and CNN reports

The Willow oil field project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska will be officially approved by the Biden administration next week, according to reports from CNN… Continue reading

The Associated Press A map shows the location of the Willow oil field project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, where more than 200 drills are scheduled to be drilled during a 30-year period if approved.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The Tazlina docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal Thursday afternoon.

DOT: Staffing shortages mean fewer ferries this summer

Service may improve if more crew becomes available, officials say

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The Tazlina docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal Thursday afternoon.
JDHS’ Joseph Aline takes the ball down court against Ketchikan’s JJ Parker on Thursday during the Region V Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. Aline finished the game with a total of 16 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS stays on top after win against Ketchikan

Region V Championship game on Friday at 8:15 p.m.

JDHS’ Joseph Aline takes the ball down court against Ketchikan’s JJ Parker on Thursday during the Region V Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. Aline finished the game with a total of 16 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
TMHS Ashlyn Gates takes the ball in for a layup against JDHS on Thursday during their second 4A game of the Region V tournament at TMHS. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

TMHS beats JDHS in close region match

JDHS plays Ketchikan Friday at 11:30 a.m.

TMHS Ashlyn Gates takes the ball in for a layup against JDHS on Thursday during their second 4A game of the Region V tournament at TMHS. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)