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The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Homeless students in Alaska, nationally could lose access to added aid

Congress asked to give states more time to spend designated money, advocates say it may be too late.

The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Juneau fumbles away opportunities in 42-0 loss to Anchorage South

Three first-half Huskies turnovers allow hometown Wolverines to break open close game.

Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)
Sitkans sit in the lobby of city hall on Saturday as they use the city’s satellite connection to the internet with their cell phones. (Sitka Sentinel photo)

Sitka loses internet service, GCI says repair could take two weeks

Help expected with loan of Starlink satellite equipment by Tlingit and Haida.

Sitkans sit in the lobby of city hall on Saturday as they use the city’s satellite connection to the internet with their cell phones. (Sitka Sentinel photo)
Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transboundary mining conference sees fears after natural and man-made disasters, hope after pacts

U.S., Canadian and tribal leaders gather in Juneau to seek way forward on decades-old disputes.

Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The F/V Liberty, captained by Trenton Clark, fishes the Pacific near Metlakatla on Aug. 20, 2024. Over the last few years, the $6 billion Alaskan wild seafood market has been ensnared in a mix of geopolitics, macroeconomics, changing ocean temperatures and post-Covid whiplash that piled on top of long-building vulnerabilities in the business model. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)

For generations of Alaskans, a livelihood is under threat

Something is broken in the economics of state’s fishing industry. Can Washington come to the rescue?

  • Aug 31, 2024
  • By Lydia DePillis, ©2024 The New York Times Company
  • Fishing
The F/V Liberty, captained by Trenton Clark, fishes the Pacific near Metlakatla on Aug. 20, 2024. Over the last few years, the $6 billion Alaskan wild seafood market has been ensnared in a mix of geopolitics, macroeconomics, changing ocean temperatures and post-Covid whiplash that piled on top of long-building vulnerabilities in the business model. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)
Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)

Standardized test scores at some Juneau schools far higher than others

Math, science proficiency at Auke Bay elementary roughly twice Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen’s, for example.

Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)
A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

FEMA visits hundreds of Juneau homes damaged by flood; decision on federal disaster aid awaits

Presence of agency “a lot larger” than last year’s flood when aid was denied, visiting official says.

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
People explore downtown Juneau on July 26, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Free Starlink service, upgraded telecom network seek to resolve downtown internet and phone issues

Slow internet during busy cruise days “number one complaint from this summer,” Goldbelt CEO says.

People explore downtown Juneau on July 26, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
A gathering of friends rent Skater’s Cabin on Mendenhall Lake from the U.S. Forest Service on a sunny day in July of 2024. The cabin and the West Glacier Trail beyond it were Civilian Conservation Corps projects. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Rock Solid: The 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps built many of Juneau’s recreational, cultural landmarks

Forest Service shelters, trails, totem poles, early ski area among Depression-era program’s fixtures.

A gathering of friends rent Skater’s Cabin on Mendenhall Lake from the U.S. Forest Service on a sunny day in July of 2024. The cabin and the West Glacier Trail beyond it were Civilian Conservation Corps projects. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Jayden Johnson (4) eludes a Service High School tackler while running a fake punt in for a touchdown during the first quarter of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s first home game of the season Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Jayden Johnson named Alaska Sports Report’s Athlete of the Week

Senior for Huskies had 58 yards receiving, 58 rushing, 55 passing and two TDs in win against Service.

Jayden Johnson (4) eludes a Service High School tackler while running a fake punt in for a touchdown during the first quarter of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s first home game of the season Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A summary sheet is seen during ballot review on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the headquarters of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s primary election turnout is on pace to be third-lowest in 50 years

Historical trends indicate the cause may be a boring ballot and a growing voter roll

A summary sheet is seen during ballot review on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the headquarters of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Crew members with the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership map anadromous streams that have not previously been documented in an effort to further knowledge about salmon distribution and health in Southeast Alaska that is essential for addressing climate change. (Photo by Lee House)

Woven Peoples and Place: Climate adaptation and resilience in Southeast Alaska

A conversation with Annika Ord, climate adaptation catalyst for Sustainable Southeast Partnership.

Crew members with the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership map anadromous streams that have not previously been documented in an effort to further knowledge about salmon distribution and health in Southeast Alaska that is essential for addressing climate change. (Photo by Lee House)
Republican challenger Nick Begich III and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are on the stage at the beginning of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s candidate forum on Aug. 28, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Peltola, Begich face off in first debate at Alaska oil and gas industry forum

U.S. House candidates focus on Biden administration’s policies, citing advances and setbacks.

Republican challenger Nick Begich III and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are on the stage at the beginning of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s candidate forum on Aug. 28, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 29, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 29, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sign outside posted on July 20, 2024, outside of Kincaid Elementary School advertises job openings in the Anchorage School District. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Teacher recruitment and retention bill becomes law in Alaska without Gov. Dunleavy’s signature

Lawmakers say “small tweaks” to policy can attract and keep more teachers in Alaska’s classrooms.

A sign outside posted on July 20, 2024, outside of Kincaid Elementary School advertises job openings in the Anchorage School District. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A female caribou runs near Teshekpuk Lake in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska on June 12, 2022. The Teshekpuk Caribou Herd gives birth to its calves in the land around the vast lake, the largest on the North Slope. (Ashley Sabatino/ U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

Feds will keep large-scale development ban in place on 28 million acres in Alaska

The federal government will continue to prohibit mining, drilling and other forms of development on 28 million acres of federal land spread across Alaska, the… Continue reading

A female caribou runs near Teshekpuk Lake in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska on June 12, 2022. The Teshekpuk Caribou Herd gives birth to its calves in the land around the vast lake, the largest on the North Slope. (Ashley Sabatino/ U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
A sample ballot for the Oct. 1 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau’s website.

Strong arguments for Ship-Free Saturdays, against school board recalls on CBJ ballot

Language is part of official process; additional election perspectives will come from CBJ voter guide, website

A sample ballot for the Oct. 1 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau’s website.
Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Family, friends of Steven Kissack united from afar at memorial gathering after his death

Remembered as a youth who loved to read, dreamed of Alaska and kept giving even while on the streets.

Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department’s wellness room, seen on Friday, offers a retreat from stress. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

The work of the Juneau Police Department’s Wellness Program is never done

JPD destigmatizes mental health needs of officers, who also get crisis and de-escalation training.

The Juneau Police Department’s wellness room, seen on Friday, offers a retreat from stress. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)

One person killed as major landslide impacts homes in Ketchikan, forces evacuations

Emergency agencies, including statewide and in Juneau, responding as state disaster declared.

Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)