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The burning cruise ship Prinsendam 200 miles from Juneau in the Gulf of Alaska in October 1980 after 519 people abandoned ship into lifeboats and were rescued. An oil leak in the engine room started a fire just as Juneau was celebrating its 100th birthday on Oct. 4. (Credit ASL-P313-12-06)

A dramatic sea rescue saved all from a cruise ship fire on Juneau’s 100th birthday; what would happen today?

519 Prinsendam passengers saved from lifeboats; now officials say best hope is another cruise ship.

The burning cruise ship Prinsendam 200 miles from Juneau in the Gulf of Alaska in October 1980 after 519 people abandoned ship into lifeboats and were rescued. An oil leak in the engine room started a fire just as Juneau was celebrating its 100th birthday on Oct. 4. (Credit ASL-P313-12-06)
Hilcorp’s Alaska headquarters in Midtown Anchorage are seen on Feb. 7. The company, now a dominant operator in Alaska, announced it has struck a deal to expand its North Slope holdings by buying Eni’s Alaska assets. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Hilcorp announces plan to buy Eni’s oil fields on Alaska’s North Slope

Deal would expand company’s operations to offshore Oooguruk and Nikaitchuq oil fields.

Hilcorp’s Alaska headquarters in Midtown Anchorage are seen on Feb. 7. The company, now a dominant operator in Alaska, announced it has struck a deal to expand its North Slope holdings by buying Eni’s Alaska assets. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A parcel of land just off the corner of Capital Ave. and Village Street in downtown Juneau was approved to be the first parcel of land owned by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to be put into federal trust. However, the state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to reverse the federal government’s decision, return the land to Tlingit and Haida, and stop future land-into-trust applications. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

District court vacates Tlingit and Haida’s ‘land into trust’ agreement with federal government

Split decision in state lawsuit OKs tribal pacts, but cites flaws in process involving Juneau land.

A parcel of land just off the corner of Capital Ave. and Village Street in downtown Juneau was approved to be the first parcel of land owned by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to be put into federal trust. However, the state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to reverse the federal government’s decision, return the land to Tlingit and Haida, and stop future land-into-trust applications. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor was one of a few places voters in Juneau cast their ballots during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election in the fall of 2022. Vote-by-mail elections are now the default in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Effort to repeal local mail-in voting ordinance called ‘huge success’ despite not enough signatures

Petition to repeal measure OK’d last year raises awareness, may fuel future effort, organizer says.

The ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor was one of a few places voters in Juneau cast their ballots during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election in the fall of 2022. Vote-by-mail elections are now the default in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
Bartlett Regional Hospital’s behavioral health and crisis stabilization center, seen here during its unveiling ceremony on June 14, 2023, is among the areas where program cuts are being considered due to financial difficulties. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Bartlett leaders OK resolutions seeking help for ‘non-core’ services, but may halt some otherwise

Future of substance abuse treatment, hospice, other programs may be up to Assembly — or voters.

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s behavioral health and crisis stabilization center, seen here during its unveiling ceremony on June 14, 2023, is among the areas where program cuts are being considered due to financial difficulties. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 25, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 25, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photpo)

Juneau man gets 7½-year sentence for sexually abusing 14-year-old family member in his home

Randy Willard, 39, also gets 16½ years suspended jail time, must register as lifetime sex offender.

A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photpo)
Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills explains the administration’s understanding of a ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program, in the Alaska State Capitol on May 1. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

What you need to know about Alaska’s contested homeschool allotments

Alaska’s Supreme Court hears state’s appeal of ruling that allotments are unconstitutional Thursday.

Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills explains the administration’s understanding of a ruling that struck down key components of the state’s correspondence school program, in the Alaska State Capitol on May 1. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Tim Berry, a Michigan resident visiting Juneau, fishes on a dock Monday near the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc.’s Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. A ban catching king salmon near the hatchery and some other Juneau waters is in effect until Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Local king salmon ban not expected to have big impact on summer fishing, but long-term concerns remain

Ban due to 2020 landslide that caused hatchery pipeline break, disrupting multiyear spawning cycle

Tim Berry, a Michigan resident visiting Juneau, fishes on a dock Monday near the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc.’s Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. A ban catching king salmon near the hatchery and some other Juneau waters is in effect until Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District maintenance and custodial crew work on transitioning Thunder Mountain High School to Thunder Mountain Middle School on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau schools empty out as classrooms and memories transition under consolidation plan

Transitions “ahead of schedule” for school district; use for vacant buildings by CBJ still in question

Juneau School District maintenance and custodial crew work on transitioning Thunder Mountain High School to Thunder Mountain Middle School on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Eddie Petrie shovels gravel into a mine cart as fast as possible during the men’s hand mucking competition as part of Juneau Gold Rush Days on Saturday at Savikko Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Mucking, trucking, chucking and yukking it up at Juneau Gold Rush Days

Logging competitions, live music, other events continue Sunday at Savikko Park.

Eddie Petrie shovels gravel into a mine cart as fast as possible during the men’s hand mucking competition as part of Juneau Gold Rush Days on Saturday at Savikko Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Buck Laukitis’ boat, the Oracle, sits in Homer in May before unloading its catch of halibut. (Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal)

As salmon season kicks off, some Alaska fishermen fear for their futures

Some signs of recovery for $6 billion industry a year into crisis, but major threats persist.

Buck Laukitis’ boat, the Oracle, sits in Homer in May before unloading its catch of halibut. (Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal)
A cartoon sketch is seen on a cubicle in the offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. during an open house on Friday, Feb. 16. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

After email leak, some Alaska legislators say they’re skeptical of Permanent Fund’s direction

Members of the Alaska Legislature questioned the direction of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. on Monday in a hearing of the Legislative Budget and Audit… Continue reading

A cartoon sketch is seen on a cubicle in the offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. during an open house on Friday, Feb. 16. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
City and state leaders gather Monday at the gangway to Aurora Harbor for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the third of four stages of reconstruction of the 60-year-old harbor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Six years and one pandemic later, next stage of Aurora Harbor expansion is complete

New installations allow for longer vessels, provide utilities for final planned phase of project.

City and state leaders gather Monday at the gangway to Aurora Harbor for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the third of four stages of reconstruction of the 60-year-old harbor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An estimated 185 people, many dressed in unconventional attire for running or walking, take off from the starting line outside Centennial Hall during the Only Fools Run At Night on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau revives its summer solstice spirit with Only Fools Run At Night

Runners and walkers in madcap costumes fill downtown streets as race returns after six-year absence.

An estimated 185 people, many dressed in unconventional attire for running or walking, take off from the starting line outside Centennial Hall during the Only Fools Run At Night on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Participants in a pro-choice abortion rally gather outside the Governor’s Residence on Saturday to demand a pro-life flag flying at the entrance be taken down. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Pro-choice abortion protesters march to Governor’s Residence to demand removal of pro-life flag

Rally on second anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision also focuses on fall election.

Participants in a pro-choice abortion rally gather outside the Governor’s Residence on Saturday to demand a pro-life flag flying at the entrance be taken down. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon announced this week she plans to seek a third three-year term. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Mayor Beth Weldon seeking third term amidst personal and political challenges

Low mill rate, more housing cited by lifelong Juneau resident as achievements during past term.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon announced this week she plans to seek a third three-year term. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20 at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

State judge upholds most fines against group seeking repeal of Alaska ranked choice voting

An Anchorage Superior Court judge has ruled that opponents of Alaska’s ranked choice election system violated state campaign finance laws in their effort to gather… Continue reading

Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20 at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Joshua Midgett and Kelsey Bryce Riker appear on stage as the emcees for MixCast 2023 at the Crystal Saloon. (Photo courtesy Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)

And now for someone completely different: Familiar faces show new personas at annual MixCast cabaret

Fundraiser for Juneau Ghost Light Theatre on Saturday taking place amidst week of local Pride events

Joshua Midgett and Kelsey Bryce Riker appear on stage as the emcees for MixCast 2023 at the Crystal Saloon. (Photo courtesy Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)
Lydia Jacoby, Alaska’s gold-medal swimmer, announced Tuesday she is withdrawing from the U.S. Olympic Trials. (Alaska Sports Report photo)

P.J. Foy does not advance, Lydia Jacoby withdraws from U.S. Olympic swimming trials

First-ever Juneau swimmer to compete in trials finishes 49th among 61 competitors Friday.

Lydia Jacoby, Alaska’s gold-medal swimmer, announced Tuesday she is withdrawing from the U.S. Olympic Trials. (Alaska Sports Report photo)