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A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

School board OKs hiring freeze, other cuts due to $9.5M deficit; school consolidation proposed

Loan options, closing district during summer among other ideas discussed at special meeting

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Members of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 protest on Feb. 10, 2023, in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

U.S. Supreme Court decision kills controversial Alaska union dues plan for now

2019 plan by Dunleavy required employees to regularly reaffirm their membership

Members of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 protest on Feb. 10, 2023, in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska State Capitol is illuminated by the sun on the morning of Jan. 9, 2023. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

From abortion to zoning: Short summaries of every bill in the 33rd Alaska State Legislature

This list was last updated Jan. 16, 2024. Each year, members of the Alaska Legislature introduce hundreds of bills. They’re all listed on the Legislature’s… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is illuminated by the sun on the morning of Jan. 9, 2023. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Jason Skidmore shovels snow along the sidewalk in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. Most legislators and staff were able to get to Juneau in time for the start of the session Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Storm leaves behind 29.3” of snow at airport, avalanche hazards, closed schools and state offices

First day of legislative session not affected by 15th biggest three-day storm ever in Juneau.

Jason Skidmore shovels snow along the sidewalk in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. Most legislators and staff were able to get to Juneau in time for the start of the session Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A caribou from the Central Arctic herd crosses a road within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska in the summer of 2019, during the mosquito harassment period. (Photo by John Severson/U.S. Geological Survey)

Oil field road traffic disrupts North Slope caribou more than previously recognized

New study raises questions about further development in the animals’ habitat

A caribou from the Central Arctic herd crosses a road within the Kuparuk oil field on the North Slope of Alaska in the summer of 2019, during the mosquito harassment period. (Photo by John Severson/U.S. Geological Survey)
The Thunder Mountain High School girls’ basketball team runs a fast break against Bartlett High School on Friday in Anchorage. The Falcons, who played their first nine games on the road, open at home on Thursday against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Thunder Mountain High School video)

TMHS girls basketball team, 9-0 as road warriors, opens at home on Thursday

Falcons ranked second statewide, dominating opponents by an average per-game score of 66-25.

The Thunder Mountain High School girls’ basketball team runs a fast break against Bartlett High School on Friday in Anchorage. The Falcons, who played their first nine games on the road, open at home on Thursday against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Thunder Mountain High School video)
Cars parked on a hillside road near downtown are buried under heavy snow at midday Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Avalanche closes Thane Road; schools closed Tuesday due to storm

City offices and facilities scheduled to open at 10 a.m.; dry weather expected Tuesday

Cars parked on a hillside road near downtown are buried under heavy snow at midday Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during a presentation to the Senate Finance Committee on March 24, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Report: $175 ‘energy relief’ payment to residents, education funding boost likely in final state budget

Legislative Finance analysis of governor’s proposal for next year predicts numerous other adjustments

Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during a presentation to the Senate Finance Committee on March 24, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Peninsula Clarion printing press is photographed on Monday, April 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Black Press Media announces move to new ownership

Carpenter Media Group operates leading community news publications in the southern United States, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky.

  • Jan 15, 2024
  • Black Press staff
The Peninsula Clarion printing press is photographed on Monday, April 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, addresses the audience during a town hall by the local legislative delegation Thursday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School district deficit, legislative pay hikes, compost burials among issues at legislative town hall

Veto override on school funding will help district, Juneau’s state lawmakers say.

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, addresses the audience during a town hall by the local legislative delegation Thursday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man arrested in Craig after altercation in house and with police

Suspect threatened to kill person at knifepoint and damaged house, tased by troopers after fleeing.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Thomas Baxter scores on a breakaway dunk for Thunder Mountain High School during Saturday’s game against Sitka High School at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS boys’ basketball scores pair of double-digit wins over Sitka

Falcons go on 18-0 run in third quarter to break open tie game during Saturday’s rematch.

Thomas Baxter scores on a breakaway dunk for Thunder Mountain High School during Saturday’s game against Sitka High School at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A winter storm warning issued Saturday afternoon forecasts a total of 22 to 29 inches of snow for Juneau by 6 p.m. Monday, with several inches falling so far starting Friday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Storm warning: 22 to 29 inches of snow forecast for Juneau by Monday night

Avalanche risk high as increasingly wet snow layers on top of light-density snow, forecaster says

A winter storm warning issued Saturday afternoon forecasts a total of 22 to 29 inches of snow for Juneau by 6 p.m. Monday, with several inches falling so far starting Friday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)
A wolf carries a piece of prey while walking through a national park in Alaska. (National Park Service photo)

In an era of climate change, Alaska’s predators fall prey to politics

“This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.” As spring arrived in southwestern Alaska, a handful of people from… Continue reading

A wolf carries a piece of prey while walking through a national park in Alaska. (National Park Service photo)
This year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol is scheduled to begin Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Limiting foreign property rights and campaign deepfakes among second batch of prefiled bills

Legislators and staff arriving in Juneau as session set to begin on Tuesday.

This year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol is scheduled to begin Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
Corey B. Coleman, a Juneau resident, is being sought by the Juneau Police Department as the suspect in a shooting incident on Wednesday night near 33-mile Glacier Highway. (Juneau Police Department photo)

Update: JPD identifies man being sought as suspect in shooting at 33-mile Glacier Highway

Corey B. Coleman of Juneau last seen near Berner’s Bay Cabin; victim injured by shot to head

Corey B. Coleman, a Juneau resident, is being sought by the Juneau Police Department as the suspect in a shooting incident on Wednesday night near 33-mile Glacier Highway. (Juneau Police Department photo)
Leaders at the Juneau School District learned during the past week the district is facing a $9.5 million deficit during the current fiscal year that ends June 30. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

State agrees to five-year repayment plan for Juneau School District’s $9.5 million deficit

District was facing a June 30 deadline to balance books, which local officials said wasn’t feasible.

Leaders at the Juneau School District learned during the past week the district is facing a $9.5 million deficit during the current fiscal year that ends June 30. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska Department Health, which includes Adult Protective Services, is at fault in the death of an elderly Alaskan three years ago, according to the state ombudsman’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska ombudsman says Adult Protective Services’ negligent handling of vulnerable adult led to death

Report doesn’t specific community where incident occurred three years ago.

  • Jan 12, 2024
  • Associated Press
The Alaska Department Health, which includes Adult Protective Services, is at fault in the death of an elderly Alaskan three years ago, according to the state ombudsman’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy administration changes reason for being among 15 states rejecting federal food funds for kids

Initially cited administrative requirements and costs, now points to state’s food stamp backlog.

A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)
A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)

Conservation group wants Alaska king salmon listed as an endangered species

Climate change, government management, competition from hatchery fish cited as reasons.

A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)