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The Columbia ferry, which was grounded in 2019 to save costs, is scheduled to return to Juneau next weekend as it resumes service between Alaska and Bellingham, Washington, due to a more-extensive-than-expected overhaul of the Matanuska. The ferry system is by far the biggest recipient to date of funds from the 2021 federal infrastructure bill in terms of Southeast Alaska impacts. (Carey Case / Alaska Marine Highway)

Trillion dollar maybes: Coordinated approach aims to untangle complicated federal funding web

State, tribal and local governments using “hub” plans to simplify and maximize Alaska’s share.

The Columbia ferry, which was grounded in 2019 to save costs, is scheduled to return to Juneau next weekend as it resumes service between Alaska and Bellingham, Washington, due to a more-extensive-than-expected overhaul of the Matanuska. The ferry system is by far the biggest recipient to date of funds from the 2021 federal infrastructure bill in terms of Southeast Alaska impacts. (Carey Case / Alaska Marine Highway)
Two students face off for a match at the 2020 Southeast Alaska Middle School Wrestling Championship at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. The Juneau School District Board of Education on Tuesday accepted a donation that will provide the middle school with a new wrestling mat. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Floyd Dryden Middle School wrestling gets a surprise donation

The school received a donation of up to $15,000 to pay for a new wrestling mat.

Two students face off for a match at the 2020 Southeast Alaska Middle School Wrestling Championship at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. The Juneau School District Board of Education on Tuesday accepted a donation that will provide the middle school with a new wrestling mat. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The privately owned 107-foot tugboat, the Tagish, sits partially below the water south of the downtown cruise ship docks Thursday morning as recovery efforts begin by the Coast Guard. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Recovery efforts are underway for sunken tugboat

Coast Guard is leading the operation, says it could take multiple days to complete

The privately owned 107-foot tugboat, the Tagish, sits partially below the water south of the downtown cruise ship docks Thursday morning as recovery efforts begin by the Coast Guard. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Senate pages Jenna Carpenter and Zaxon Tomaszewski play “Off To The Races” outside the Senate Chambers exactly 15 minutes before the start of the floor session. Pages then perform the tones alerting senators the session is about to start on all floors of the Capitol where the legislators have offices. The House relies on an electronic bell notification that plays the famous clock chime “Westminster Quarters.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

The ABCs of the 33rd Legislature

Legislative business isn’t always as simple as 1-2-3.

Senate pages Jenna Carpenter and Zaxon Tomaszewski play “Off To The Races” outside the Senate Chambers exactly 15 minutes before the start of the floor session. Pages then perform the tones alerting senators the session is about to start on all floors of the Capitol where the legislators have offices. The House relies on an electronic bell notification that plays the famous clock chime “Westminster Quarters.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
President Joe Biden speaks about his economic agenda at LIUNA Training Center, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in DeForest, Wis. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)

Medicare, Social Security plans get renewed attention after State of the Union

As U.S. budget negotiations move ahead, expect to hear more.

  • Feb 8, 2023
  • By Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller and Fatima Hussein Associated Press
  • Nation-World
President Joe Biden speaks about his economic agenda at LIUNA Training Center, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in DeForest, Wis. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)
Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. On Wednesday, a trio of bills seeking to increase penalties for sex and drug crimes was introduced by by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Governor targets sex and drug crimes

Bills increase penalties for sex trafficking and fatal overdoses, but effectiveness questioned

Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. On Wednesday, a trio of bills seeking to increase penalties for sex and drug crimes was introduced by by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
At the Tuesday night Juneau School District board of education meeting, board member Amber Frommherz listens to Superintendent Bridget Weiss, who is also the acting director of student services, share a report that revealed the Juneau School District has seen a 59% increase in the number of students experiencing homelessness this year compared to this time last year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Report: Juneau schools see sharp uptick in students experiencing homelessness

The district saw a 59% increase compared to this time last year.

At the Tuesday night Juneau School District board of education meeting, board member Amber Frommherz listens to Superintendent Bridget Weiss, who is also the acting director of student services, share a report that revealed the Juneau School District has seen a 59% increase in the number of students experiencing homelessness this year compared to this time last year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau student ensemble Aurora Strings warm up on the stage at Carnegie Hall before their 30-minute performance as part of the Sounds of Summer International Music Festival in June of last year. (Photo courtesy of World Projects)
Features

Crushing it at Carnegie

Juneau student ensemble, among four in U.S. to play in NYC last summer, perform tribute show Sat.

The Juneau student ensemble Aurora Strings warm up on the stage at Carnegie Hall before their 30-minute performance as part of the Sounds of Summer International Music Festival in June of last year. (Photo courtesy of World Projects)
During a Wednesday rehearsal at KTOO studios for the Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays, Shaakindustoow Ed Littlefield, seen here, is joined by the cast of Vera Starbard’s, “The Beginning of Eagle” which is an adaptation from stories shared by DaaXKu dein Tommy Jimmie. “The Beginning of Eagle” will be performed Saturday live in-person at KTOO studios as well as on-air at KTOO News 104.3 and 91.7, and online at ktoo.org/listen. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Features

Theater takes to airwaves in collaborative festival

Theater Alaska, KTOO and Juneau Ghost Light Theatre present radio plays.

During a Wednesday rehearsal at KTOO studios for the Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays, Shaakindustoow Ed Littlefield, seen here, is joined by the cast of Vera Starbard’s, “The Beginning of Eagle” which is an adaptation from stories shared by DaaXKu dein Tommy Jimmie. “The Beginning of Eagle” will be performed Saturday live in-person at KTOO studios as well as on-air at KTOO News 104.3 and 91.7, and online at ktoo.org/listen. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Sophomore twins Cailynn and Kerra Baxter, outside, and juniors twins Jaya and Mikah Carandang, inside, smile for a picture after their Monday night practice at Thunder Mountain High School. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Double-double trouble: It’s a win-win to have two sets of twins for TMHS girls basketball

Sophomores Kerra and Cailynn Baxter and juniors Jaya and Mikah Carandang talk chemistry, advantages

Sophomore twins Cailynn and Kerra Baxter, outside, and juniors twins Jaya and Mikah Carandang, inside, smile for a picture after their Monday night practice at Thunder Mountain High School. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Sally Schlichting practices the flute at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum Atrium Monday afternoon in preparation for her upcoming solo concert Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Fluting solo: Esteemed Juneau musician to perform first solo concert in nearly a decade

Con Brio’s Sally Schlichting will perform a series of classical chamber pieces on the flute

Sally Schlichting practices the flute at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum Atrium Monday afternoon in preparation for her upcoming solo concert Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, addressing a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday,

What sank the Juneau icebreaker plan?

Sullivan, in a “bit of hearsay,” blames last-minute swap for border funds by still-unknown person

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, addressing a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday,
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., listen. (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Video

Biden says in State of Union that U.S. is ‘unbowed, unbroken’

Address comes as the nation struggles to make sense of confounding cross-currents at home and abroad.

  • Feb 7, 2023
  • By Zeke Miller and Seung Min Kim Associated Press
  • National News
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., listen. (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Video
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan addresses a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature in the House chambers on Tuesday. The Republican senator, appearing on the same day as Democratic President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech (and thus absent from it), criticized the administration on issues ranging from drugs to opposing resource development in Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sullivan applauds, denounces feds in speech to Legislature

Senator praises ferry funds and monitoring of China’s balloon, fears Biden limiting oil project.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan addresses a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature in the House chambers on Tuesday. The Republican senator, appearing on the same day as Democratic President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech (and thus absent from it), criticized the administration on issues ranging from drugs to opposing resource development in Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Tanya Nizich JDHS girls basketball team poses for group photo during their four-game road trip in Anchorage. The Crimson Bears played one solo game against Service High School with the remaining three games being part of the Dimond Tournament against Lathrop, Colony and Dimond High Schools.

JDHS girls basketball goes 3-1 at Dimond Tournament

Crimson Bears beat Service High School in pre-tourny game.

Courtesy Photo / Tanya Nizich JDHS girls basketball team poses for group photo during their four-game road trip in Anchorage. The Crimson Bears played one solo game against Service High School with the remaining three games being part of the Dimond Tournament against Lathrop, Colony and Dimond High Schools.
Members of the Juneau Police Department pose for a group photo during the annual JPD awards ceremony on Monday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JPD honors officers in annual award ceremony

The late Chief Pat Wellington presented with legislative memoriam.

Members of the Juneau Police Department pose for a group photo during the annual JPD awards ceremony on Monday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Chunks of ice break off the Perito Moreno Glacier, in Lake Argentina, at Los Glaciares National Park, near El Calafate, in Argentina's Patagonia region, March 10, 2016. As glaciers melt and pour massive amounts of water into nearby lakes, 15 million people across the globe live under the threat of a sudden and deadly outburst flood, a new study finds. (AP Photo / Francisco Munoz)

Study: 15 million people live under threat of glacial floods

More than half of those are in just four countries: India, Pakistan, Peru and China.

Chunks of ice break off the Perito Moreno Glacier, in Lake Argentina, at Los Glaciares National Park, near El Calafate, in Argentina's Patagonia region, March 10, 2016. As glaciers melt and pour massive amounts of water into nearby lakes, 15 million people across the globe live under the threat of a sudden and deadly outburst flood, a new study finds. (AP Photo / Francisco Munoz)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Edward Richards, left, a high school student in the Sitka School District, talks about the lack of mental health services in Alaska’s public schools as part of the testimony also offered by district Superintendent Frank Hauser, center, and student Felix Myers during a Senate Education Meeting on Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee is proposing a 17% increase in the state’s school funding formula, which was remained essentially flat since 2017.

School’s in at the Capitol

Students and education leaders from around state make case for more classroom cash.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Edward Richards, left, a high school student in the Sitka School District, talks about the lack of mental health services in Alaska’s public schools as part of the testimony also offered by district Superintendent Frank Hauser, center, and student Felix Myers during a Senate Education Meeting on Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee is proposing a 17% increase in the state’s school funding formula, which was remained essentially flat since 2017.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Ayuq Blanchett and Josaia Lehauli recieve awards for their work at the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School Monday morning.

Tlingit language and culture program expands its reach

The optional district program is extending to eighth grade, hiring full-time principal

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Ayuq Blanchett and Josaia Lehauli recieve awards for their work at the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School Monday morning.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Kyle Clayton, Ryan Staska and Brandon Wilks, all members of the Lynn Canal Community Players, perform a staged reading of the play, “The Strange Fate of the Clara Nevada” on Sunday at the Haines Sheldon Museum to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the ship’s sinking in 1898.

Exhibit shines a light on shipwreck’s history

Haines commemorates 125th anniversary of the Clara Nevada.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Kyle Clayton, Ryan Staska and Brandon Wilks, all members of the Lynn Canal Community Players, perform a staged reading of the play, “The Strange Fate of the Clara Nevada” on Sunday at the Haines Sheldon Museum to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the ship’s sinking in 1898.