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The Unuk River is one of the transboundary watersheds of Southeast Alaska. (U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center photo)

Southeast Alaska tribes seek Canadian recognition due to transboundary issues

A group of Southeast Alaska tribes is asking Canada to recognize their right to have a voice in how transboundary lands and waters are treated.… Continue reading

The Unuk River is one of the transboundary watersheds of Southeast Alaska. (U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center photo)
Adjutant General Torrence Saxe, head of the Alaska National Guard, speaks at a Sept. 23, 2022, news conference in Anchorage. Behind him are Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Rep. Mary Peltola. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska plans to send National Guard members to Mexico border in support of the federal government

The state of Alaska is planning to send members of its National Guard south to the Mexican border, responding to an order from the federal… Continue reading

Adjutant General Torrence Saxe, head of the Alaska National Guard, speaks at a Sept. 23, 2022, news conference in Anchorage. Behind him are Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Rep. Mary Peltola. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Smoke emits from a fire at Mike Hatch Sales And Service on North Douglas Highway on Thursday night. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo) Smoke emits from a fire at Mike Hatch Sales And Service on North Douglas Highway on Thursday night. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo)

‘Heavy fire’ damages Mike Hatch Sales And Service on North Douglas Highway

Road blocked as fire department sends large-scale response; fire “knocked down” at about 7:20 p.m.

Smoke emits from a fire at Mike Hatch Sales And Service on North Douglas Highway on Thursday night. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo) Smoke emits from a fire at Mike Hatch Sales And Service on North Douglas Highway on Thursday night. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo)
Thunder Mountain senior Thomas Baxter (30) defends Kodiak junior Kelly Ticman during the Falcons 71-49 home win over the Bears, Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys basketball team too fast for Kodiak

Falcons show depth of bench in 71-49 win at home.

Thunder Mountain senior Thomas Baxter (30) defends Kodiak junior Kelly Ticman during the Falcons 71-49 home win over the Bears, Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Attendees of the 2024 Alaska State of the State address applaud Rose Dunleavy, Alaska’s first lady, on Tuesday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

At annual legislative speech, Gov. Dunleavy calls for more Alaska development projects

In his sixth annual State of the State address, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy promoted development projects, called on state lawmakers to advance his legislative priorities… Continue reading

Attendees of the 2024 Alaska State of the State address applaud Rose Dunleavy, Alaska’s first lady, on Tuesday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Kenai Central’s Avery Martin tries to split Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale’s Dylan Sowa and Camden Kovach on Thursday at the Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

JDHS loses 4-2 to Kenai in DII state hockey tournament opener

No. 4 seed Crimson Bears lose chance for title as No. 5 Kardinals get first-ever opening game win.

Kenai Central’s Avery Martin tries to split Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale’s Dylan Sowa and Camden Kovach on Thursday at the Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Felix Toner, a Juneau resident who was active in fighting efforts to move the capital, was named Citizen of the Year award at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on Jan. 30, 1984. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire file photo)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Feb. 4

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Felix Toner, a Juneau resident who was active in fighting efforts to move the capital, was named Citizen of the Year award at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on Jan. 30, 1984. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire file photo)
Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, speaks to Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

New bill would require Alaska schools to pay for armed volunteer guards

A new proposal from Palmer Republican Sen. Shelley Hughes would require Alaska school districts to train a volunteer able to carry a concealed handgun on… Continue reading

Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, speaks to Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Bulk food purchased with the $1.68 million Gov. Mike Dunleavy put towards supporting food banks is staged for delivery in Food Bank of Alaska’s Anchorage warehouse on April 21, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s federal food stamp funding at risk, USDA letter warns

The state may lose funding if it continues to break federal rules

Bulk food purchased with the $1.68 million Gov. Mike Dunleavy put towards supporting food banks is staged for delivery in Food Bank of Alaska’s Anchorage warehouse on April 21, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
View of Telephone Hill looking south on a chilly December 2023 day. Without leaves on the trees houses can be seen more easily. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Capital City Weekly

Telephone Hill: Dialing up the past, ringing in the future

Mining camp, military outpost, courthouses, a Capitol battle and now a modern development debate.

View of Telephone Hill looking south on a chilly December 2023 day. Without leaves on the trees houses can be seen more easily. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Juneau School District leaders hold up signs for subgroups they are leading during a Community Budget Input Session at Thunder Mountain High School on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cost-cutting school consolidation options concerning to teachers, parents and students

Participants in first community budget meeting worry big changes will have wide-ranging impacts.

Juneau School District leaders hold up signs for subgroups they are leading during a Community Budget Input Session at Thunder Mountain High School on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A simulated photo shows the tailings stack and other features of Hecla Greens Creek Mine under the recommended decision for expanding the mine announced Thursday by the U.S Forest Service. The expansion would extend the life of the mine up to 18 years. The tailings stack is significantly larger in two other proposed alternatives that would expand the mine’s life up to 40 years. (U.S. Forest Service)

Draft USFS decision extends production of Hecla Greens Creek Mine for 12 to 18 years

Expansion of Admiralty Island mine includes heightened mitigation and monitoring, agency reports.

A simulated photo shows the tailings stack and other features of Hecla Greens Creek Mine under the recommended decision for expanding the mine announced Thursday by the U.S Forest Service. The expansion would extend the life of the mine up to 18 years. The tailings stack is significantly larger in two other proposed alternatives that would expand the mine’s life up to 40 years. (U.S. Forest Service)
The National Weather Service Juneau station has received more than 10 inches of snow as of 6 a.m Thursday from a storm that started Wednesday afternoon. (Screenshot from video by NWS Juneau)

Juneau appears to break January snowfall record; remote learning day for schools, city opens at 11 a.m.

Unofficial total of 76.8 inches of snow at the airport tops 75.2 inches that fell in 2009.

The National Weather Service Juneau station has received more than 10 inches of snow as of 6 a.m Thursday from a storm that started Wednesday afternoon. (Screenshot from video by NWS Juneau)
Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, speaks in favor of Senate Bill 88 on Wednesday on the floor of the Alaska Senate. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate passes new pension program for state employees, but final approval is in question

The Alaska House of Representatives has shown little interest in considering pension bills

Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, speaks in favor of Senate Bill 88 on Wednesday on the floor of the Alaska Senate. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly to discuss the district’s financial crisis on Tuesday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

City leaders say they’ll help school district solve financial crisis, but express anger at situation

Loan and taking over millions in service costs proposed — which could result in a mill rate increase.

Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly to discuss the district’s financial crisis on Tuesday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
People carry signs at a Juneau rally in favor of an increase to the amount the government pays schools per student on Monday. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

As lawmakers consider student funding, Juneau families and educators rally for larger increase

It rained and blew Monday on the Capitol steps in Juneau, but dozens of education supporters turned out to rally for a permanent increase to… Continue reading

People carry signs at a Juneau rally in favor of an increase to the amount the government pays schools per student on Monday. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
A winter storm warning for the Juneau area is forecasting up to 14 inches of snow between 3 p.m. Wednesday and 3 p.m. Thursday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Sounds like a broken record (literally?): Up to 14” of snow forecast starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday

Juneau 5.2 inches shy of the snowfall record for January as of Monday.

A winter storm warning for the Juneau area is forecasting up to 14 inches of snow between 3 p.m. Wednesday and 3 p.m. Thursday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
Isil Mico takes a photo of her sister-in-law Oznur Mico in front of Snowzilla, a snowman measuring more than 20 feet tall, in Anchorage, Alaska on Jan. 10, 2024. A recent storm dropped nearly 16 inches of snow on Anchorage, bringing the seasonal total to over 103 inches. It’s the earliest Alaska’s largest city has reached the 100-inch mark. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

‘Pandemic of snow’ in Anchorage sets a record for the earliest arrival of 100 inches of snow

Even by Alaska standards, there is a lot of snow this winter. So much snow has fallen — so far, more than 8.7 feet (2.65… Continue reading

Isil Mico takes a photo of her sister-in-law Oznur Mico in front of Snowzilla, a snowman measuring more than 20 feet tall, in Anchorage, Alaska on Jan. 10, 2024. A recent storm dropped nearly 16 inches of snow on Anchorage, bringing the seasonal total to over 103 inches. It’s the earliest Alaska’s largest city has reached the 100-inch mark. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Members of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s hockey team look to get the puck out of their end of the rink during Saturday’s game against Houston High School at Treadwell Arena. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Hensen)

Crimson Bears get tough tuneup entering hockey playoffs

JDHS, ranked fourth, loses final two regular season games to top-ranked Houston High School.

Members of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s hockey team look to get the puck out of their end of the rink during Saturday’s game against Houston High School at Treadwell Arena. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Hensen)
The Alaska State Office Building is seen on Feb. 16, 2023. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

High job vacancies in Alaska state agencies can reduce services and lead to burnout

An average of about 14% of Alaska state jobs are unfilled

The Alaska State Office Building is seen on Feb. 16, 2023. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)