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Juneau’s Jacob Thibodeau (right) takes a selfie with WSOP legend Phil Hellmuth in the background. (Photo provided by Alaska Sports Report)

Juneau’s Jacob Thibodeau and Mario Fata consistently cashing in at World Series of Poker

Anchorage pro Adam Hendrix remains Alaska’s most prominent poker player, but don’t sleep on Juneau stalwarts Jacob Thibodeau and Mario Fata, who have been cashing… Continue reading

  • Jul 8, 2024
  • By Doyle Woody, Alaska Sports Report
  • poker
Juneau’s Jacob Thibodeau (right) takes a selfie with WSOP legend Phil Hellmuth in the background. (Photo provided by Alaska Sports Report)
Students with the Della Keats precollege program attend a lecture at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in 2024. (Photo by Chanmi Joo)

Precollege program for rural, Alaska Native health students gets reboot and grant after funding gap

Della Keats program introduces students from far-flung parts of Alaska to college courses.

Students with the Della Keats precollege program attend a lecture at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in 2024. (Photo by Chanmi Joo)
Heidi Reifenstein reaches Father Brown’s Cross to complete the Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run on Saturday, setting a new women’s record for the 3½-mile race with a time of 37 minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo by Jeff Gnass)

A mother of a mountain: Heidi Reifenstein sets new women’s record for Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run

Longtime Juneau resident returns to peak form after taking break from racing while raising kids.

Heidi Reifenstein reaches Father Brown’s Cross to complete the Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run on Saturday, setting a new women’s record for the 3½-mile race with a time of 37 minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo by Jeff Gnass)
Juneau School District leaders discuss items to add back to this year’s budget during an online meeting Saturday. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting)

School board spends $3.6M in staff add-backs, nixes $1M CBJ loan after getting $5.2M extra from state

Members also consider new food service contract and first increase in school meal prices since 2020.

Juneau School District leaders discuss items to add back to this year’s budget during an online meeting Saturday. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting)
Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire
Kaylie Simpson poses with a turkey leg from V’s Cellar Door at the Master’s Faire on Saturday.

A musical Master’s Faire invites all of Juneau to dress up

Musicians “crashing” local renaissance faire a welcome addition as the event continues to grow.

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire
Kaylie Simpson poses with a turkey leg from V’s Cellar Door at the Master’s Faire on Saturday.
Brooklyn Kanouse (left) holds up her finished watermelon with pride at the watermelon-eating contest that happens during the Douglas Fourth of July Committee’s annual community picnic. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Douglas Island’s 125th annual Fourth of July celebration kicks off with a picnic and soapbox derby

Watermelon-eating contest and fast race cars part of Douglas’ “family fun” on eve of Independence Day.

Brooklyn Kanouse (left) holds up her finished watermelon with pride at the watermelon-eating contest that happens during the Douglas Fourth of July Committee’s annual community picnic. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Children run as fast as they can toward Treadwell Arena’s zamboni as it fills the street with candy during the Fourth of July parade on Douglas. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Douglas celebrates community in 125th Fourth of July parade and festivities

Molly McCormick honored as Douglas’ grand marshal for her years planning the parade and other events.

Children run as fast as they can toward Treadwell Arena’s zamboni as it fills the street with candy during the Fourth of July parade on Douglas. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Drummers with the Ati-Atihan Juneau Group make their way along Franklin Street during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A misty-eyed Fourth of July parade through downtown salutes Juneau’s youth

Trio of recent high school graduates serving as grand marshals share memories, hopes, candy.

Drummers with the Ati-Atihan Juneau Group make their way along Franklin Street during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Red, white and blue shoot off in Juneau to celebrate Independence Day. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fourth of July fireworks show once again a hues hit for Juneau

Traditional holiday events continue Thursday with parades downtown at 11 a.m., in Douglas at 2 p.m.

Red, white and blue shoot off in Juneau to celebrate Independence Day. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on July 1, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on July 1, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Pride flag hangs in a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District room. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Judge blocks Biden’s Title IX LGBTQ+ protections in Alaska, other states

Third ruling in less than three weeks puts policy on hold in 14 states; more challenges pending.

A Pride flag hangs in a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District room. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Juneau Assembly members interview Mike Satre (lower right), chair of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s Board of Directors, on Tuesday night. The Assembly reappointed Satre to a third three-year term, along with appointing two other members. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau meeting on Zoom)

Two Eaglecrest board incumbents reappointed by Assembly, along with AEL&P’s CFO as new member

Stability during transition at ski resort following GM’s controversial resignation cited as key factor.

Juneau Assembly members interview Mike Satre (lower right), chair of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s Board of Directors, on Tuesday night. The Assembly reappointed Satre to a third three-year term, along with appointing two other members. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau meeting on Zoom)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon listens to public testimony during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Assembly approves $22.75M in bonds to be considered on this fall’s municipal ballot

$12.75M would fund public safety communications upgrades; $10M wastewater utility improvements.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon listens to public testimony during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The piedmont terminus of Taku Glacier, one of more than 1,000 glaciers in the Juneau Icefield in Southeast Alaska. (Bethan Davies / The New York Times)

Study finds Juneau Icefield melting at an ‘incredibly worrying’ pace

Melt rate between 2015-19 twice as fast as before 2010; nearly five times as fast compared to 1980s.

The piedmont terminus of Taku Glacier, one of more than 1,000 glaciers in the Juneau Icefield in Southeast Alaska. (Bethan Davies / The New York Times)
The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s 2023 Fourth of July parade. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s 2023 Fourth of July parade. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Cruise ships and passengers visit Marine Park on Saturday, June 22. A petition approved for the fall ballot would ban large cruise ships on Saturday and the Fourth of July in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

‘Ship-Free Saturday’ petition qualifies for Oct. 1 municipal election

Voters to decide on banning large cruise ships on Saturdays and July 4 unless Assembly acts by Aug. 15.

Cruise ships and passengers visit Marine Park on Saturday, June 22. A petition approved for the fall ballot would ban large cruise ships on Saturday and the Fourth of July in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

22-year-old Washington woman on bike medevaced after being struck by vehicle on Glacier Highway

Accident near Fritz Cove Road on Monday morning resulted in temporary closure of highway.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
An image from “Splash Photography” by Bing Carrillo is scheduled to be displayed during at event at Centennial Hall as part of First Friday in July. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in July

People looking for more quaint leisure activities following the explosive happenings of the Fourth of July will have a range of art and literature offerings… Continue reading

An image from “Splash Photography” by Bing Carrillo is scheduled to be displayed during at event at Centennial Hall as part of First Friday in July. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
University of Alaska Anchorage students walking outside UAA Student Union on Feb. 7, 2023. The Alaska Performance Scholarship funds high-achieving students to attend secondary education in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska lawmakers aim to expand eligibility for scholarships

Merit-based Alaska Performance Scholarships intended to keep high-achieving students in the state.

University of Alaska Anchorage students walking outside UAA Student Union on Feb. 7, 2023. The Alaska Performance Scholarship funds high-achieving students to attend secondary education in Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

School district leaders rank ‘add-back’ priorities for $5.2M in extra funds OK’d in state budget

List to be considered by school board Saturday includes HomeBRIDGE, special eduction, tech staff.

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)