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Sunset hues color the sky and the snow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on Feb. 26. Enrollment in the University of Alaska system is growing, as are research programs, notably the Arctic-focused programs for which UAF is famous, said University of Alaska President Pat Pitney. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

University of Alaska president celebrates ‘meaningful progress’ at state’s varied campuses

After years of uncertainty, budget woes and contraction, the University of Alaska system is now growing again, the system’s president said on Monday. Student enrollment… Continue reading

Sunset hues color the sky and the snow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on Feb. 26. Enrollment in the University of Alaska system is growing, as are research programs, notably the Arctic-focused programs for which UAF is famous, said University of Alaska President Pat Pitney. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A school bus passes in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 6. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska legislators balance widespread opposition to Dunleavy policy, veto threat as deadline nears

South Anchorage high school teacher Logan Pitney said his colleagues are making exit strategies to flee their bad financial prospects in Alaska. He called Gov.… Continue reading

A school bus passes in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 6. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A map shows possible routes for a second Juneau-Douglas crossing, with the “Sunny Point East” route circled as the highest-scoring option in a report presented to city leaders on Monday. (Map by DOWL)

Sunny Point route near airport runway gets highest score for second Juneau-Douglas crossing

However, all seven options get negative scores; concerns by airport officials and residents linger.

A map shows possible routes for a second Juneau-Douglas crossing, with the “Sunny Point East” route circled as the highest-scoring option in a report presented to city leaders on Monday. (Map by DOWL)
The sun remains well above the horizon at about 8 p.m. in May of 2022 at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaskans fighting healthy battle to prevent Daylight Saving Time, but it’s here again nonetheless

Clocks move an hour forward at 2 a.m. Sunday as legislation establishing year-round time debated.

The sun remains well above the horizon at about 8 p.m. in May of 2022 at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
An aerial view of Fairbanks, Alaska, is seen in summer in an undated photo. An Alaska State Troopers photo of the yard of a house in more rural area north of the city was the subject of an Alaska Supreme Court ruling. (Photo by Jacob Boomsma via Getty Images Plus)

Alaska Supreme Court bars police zoom-lens aerial photos of residents’ lawns without warrants

Justices focus on privacy; Department of Public Safety doesn’t see ruling affecting current programs.

An aerial view of Fairbanks, Alaska, is seen in summer in an undated photo. An Alaska State Troopers photo of the yard of a house in more rural area north of the city was the subject of an Alaska Supreme Court ruling. (Photo by Jacob Boomsma via Getty Images Plus)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Falcons boys dunk Crimson Bears for schools final Region V basketball title

TMHS steals ball as JDHS seeks tying shot in closing moments, allowing Falcons to prevail 63-58.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

TMHS girls defeat JDHS to repeat as Region V tournament champions

Falcons to play for state title for possibly the final time beginning March 20.

Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Amber Frommherz, a member of the Juneau Board of Education, expresses concerns about next year’s proposed budget during a special meeting Thursday night at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board votes 4-3 to reconsider consolidation plan merging high and middle schools

Motion allows amending plan next week, despite concern by some officials budget is also due then.

Amber Frommherz, a member of the Juneau Board of Education, expresses concerns about next year’s proposed budget during a special meeting Thursday night at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Steven Arends (left) feeds Joshua Midgett in Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical,” which is being staged through March 17 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Cam Byrnes/ Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)
Capital City Weekly

“Bat Boy: The Musical” gets nuclear family treatment from Juneau Ghost Light Theatre

Production scheduled to debut Friday, continue through March 17, at TMHS auditorium.

Steven Arends (left) feeds Joshua Midgett in Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical,” which is being staged through March 17 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Cam Byrnes/ Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)
Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Proposed school district budget for next year cuts 12% of employees, increases class sizes

Pupil-teacher ratio of 30 — or 4 to 5 extra kids per class — proposed for all grades except K-3.

Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Fishing boats are lined up on Oct. 3, 2022, at a dock at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor. Alaska’s fishing industry is being battered by competition from vast quantities of Russian fish, inflation that has reduced seafood demand and other factors. State legislative leaders are proposing a task force to come up with some policy responses to help the industry and those who depend on it. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Leading Alaska legislators propose task force to help rescue a seafood industry ‘in a tailspin’

Russian fish flooding global markets and other economic forces beyond the state’s border have created dire conditions for Alaska’s seafood industry. Now key legislators are… Continue reading

Fishing boats are lined up on Oct. 3, 2022, at a dock at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor. Alaska’s fishing industry is being battered by competition from vast quantities of Russian fish, inflation that has reduced seafood demand and other factors. State legislative leaders are proposing a task force to come up with some policy responses to help the industry and those who depend on it. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Josh Fortenbery records a song from his debut album “No Such Thing as Forever” while sitting in an improvised sound isolation booth at the KTOO studios in early 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Capital City Weekly

Struggles of isolation and support of community come together for launch of debut album

Josh Fortenbery’s “No Such Thing As Forever” available Friday, with two-show release party Saturday.

Josh Fortenbery records a song from his debut album “No Such Thing as Forever” while sitting in an improvised sound isolation booth at the KTOO studios in early 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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(Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS girls eliminate Kayhi Lady Kings from Region V tournament

Top-seed TMHS Falcons await Crimson Bears on Friday.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Oliver’s army of Crimson Bears eliminates Ketchikan from Region V tournament

Juneau’s two high schools will play each other for boys’ basketball title.

Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 3, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of March 9

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 3, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska House Education Committee is seen on Monday, March 20, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Disagreements between Alaska House Republicans stalled education work for three weeks

House Education Committee hasn’t met since Feb. 14, denying Dunleavy channel of support for his ideas

The Alaska House Education Committee is seen on Monday, March 20, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)

ASAA’s Sandi Wagner receives inaugural Coach George Houston Service Award

Wagner served as a teacher, activities director and coach in the Juneau School District for decades.

Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)
Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, presents an overview of local property value assessments during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau residential property assessments rise 1.66% in 2023, compared to 16% in 2022, preliminary data shows

Cooling of housing market results in lower increase, CBJ’s finance director says.

Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, presents an overview of local property value assessments during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons’ Lockhart sinks Kings in TMHS’ 66-63 win over Ketchikan to earn Region V championship game

The 3-point “Lockhart Line” arrived at the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka on… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons girls top Crimson Bears to earn Region V championship game

A free throw-shooting contest with a bit of basketball mixed in went in the favor of the Thunder Mountain High School Lady Falcons in a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)