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The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Feb. 22, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Reinstatement of fired USDA employees ordered; local glacier center worker says no word yet from employer

Federal review board orders 45-day stay affecting nearly 6,000 workers while legal challenge is heard.

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Feb. 22, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 4, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending March 8

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 4, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) explains changes to House Bill 69 during a House Rules Committee meeting on Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House education bill sent to floor with smaller $1,000 BSA hike, new policy changes

HB 69 also now includes additional charter school support, open enrollment within districts.

State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) explains changes to House Bill 69 during a House Rules Committee meeting on Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Wrangell’s Hailey Cook dribbles up the court against Petersburg on Feb. 22, 2025. (Sam Pausman / Wrangell Sentinel)

Petersburg boys, Haines girls and both Wrangell teams win opening games of 2A tournament

JDHS begins 4A play on Thursday against Ketchikan on Kings’ home court.

Wrangell’s Hailey Cook dribbles up the court against Petersburg on Feb. 22, 2025. (Sam Pausman / Wrangell Sentinel)
A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

NOAA lease, Goldbelt contract among Juneau cuts at DOGE’s website

Trump administration also lists — then withdraws — Ketchikan Federal Building and other sites for possible sale.

A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), back right, and Vice President JD Vance clap for President Donald Trump as he delivers an address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

Trump asserts term off to ‘swift and unrelenting’ start in speech to Congress

President Donald Trump faced heckling from Democrats on Tuesday as he declared that “America is back,” delivering an address to Congress in which he boasted… Continue reading

  • Mar 4, 2025
  • By Michael D. Shear and Luke Broadwater ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Donald Trump
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), back right, and Vice President JD Vance clap for President Donald Trump as he delivers an address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
Water spills into homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley following record flooding from the Mendenhall River on the morning of Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Site assessments begin in neighborhoods where flood barriers will be installed

HESCO barriers are on their way to Juneau. Funding to study a long-term solution is not guaranteed.

Water spills into homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley following record flooding from the Mendenhall River on the morning of Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
The Juneau Youth Wrestling Club boys division grapplers pose at the Tanana Middle School Wrestling Invitational at Tanana on Saturday. (Photo courtesy JYWC)

Juneau youth grapplers on Tanana state mats

JYWC claims two titles, 16 claim high placings

The Juneau Youth Wrestling Club boys division grapplers pose at the Tanana Middle School Wrestling Invitational at Tanana on Saturday. (Photo courtesy JYWC)
Terry Allen rides his jet ski at Auke Lake on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Proposal for commercial Jet Ski tours originating downtown sinks before harbor board

Operator says he will seek different site after officials say he implied support that doesn’t exist.

Terry Allen rides his jet ski at Auke Lake on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo A 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the atrium of the State Office Building is played by Christopher Nordwall on May 30, 2023, as he and Michael Ruppert work on restoring it to a condition suitable for public performances. The two tuners were only able to work on the organ during hours when the building was officially closed.

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

Performance and presentation on historic SOB organ, community exhibit at city museum among events.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo A 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the atrium of the State Office Building is played by Christopher Nordwall on May 30, 2023, as he and Michael Ruppert work on restoring it to a condition suitable for public performances. The two tuners were only able to work on the organ during hours when the building was officially closed.
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hockey coach Matt Boline presents JDHS junior Nolan Cruz with the #LiveLikeMatthewC Award during the Crimson Bears hockey banquet Sunday in the JDHS commons. Matthew’s mother Judy Campbell, at left, spoke to the attendees. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS hockey banquet celebrates Crimson Bears values

Individuals honored for their roles in the team dynamics.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hockey coach Matt Boline presents JDHS junior Nolan Cruz with the #LiveLikeMatthewC Award during the Crimson Bears hockey banquet Sunday in the JDHS commons. Matthew’s mother Judy Campbell, at left, spoke to the attendees. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Trucks coming from Mexico at a border crossing in Laredo, Texas, in February. (Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The New York Times)

From groceries to cars, here’s how Trump’s tariffs may raise prices for US consumers

New tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China took effect Tuesday.

Trucks coming from Mexico at a border crossing in Laredo, Texas, in February. (Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The New York Times)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kerra Baxter (22) scores against North Pole last weekend as sophomore Bergen Erickson (12) looks on. The Crimson Bears open the 2A/4A Region V tournament against Kayhi at 6 p.m. Thursday in Ketchikan's Clarke Cochran Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears head to Region V basketball tournament

Ketchikan hosts, JDHS hopes to spoil Kings’ home court advantage

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kerra Baxter (22) scores against North Pole last weekend as sophomore Bergen Erickson (12) looks on. The Crimson Bears open the 2A/4A Region V tournament against Kayhi at 6 p.m. Thursday in Ketchikan's Clarke Cochran Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Courthouse on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau man with child sexual abuse material conviction arrested again on similar charges

Taylor Funderburk, 25, pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to charges in 2021 case, new arrest came 11 days later.

The Juneau Courthouse on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Cable Innovator, seen docked in Port Angeles, Washington, in May 2022, is scheduled to arrive in Sitka on Monday afternoon. It repaired a subsea communications cable in the vicinity last September and is being tasked with repairing further cable system damage that has knocked out phone and internet service to much of Southeast Alaska. (Creative Commons/DeVos Max)

Some phone and internet services get temporary fix as cable repair ship heads for Southeast Alaska

Same vessel that repaired damage near Sitka last September scheduled to arrive there Monday.

The Cable Innovator, seen docked in Port Angeles, Washington, in May 2022, is scheduled to arrive in Sitka on Monday afternoon. It repaired a subsea communications cable in the vicinity last September and is being tasked with repairing further cable system damage that has knocked out phone and internet service to much of Southeast Alaska. (Creative Commons/DeVos Max)
Passengers aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel are seen on the cover of a draft 20-year plan for the ferry system released Friday. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

20-year plan for Alaska Marine Highway envisions better service, if government provides more money

Draft long-term plan calls for six new ships in eight-ship fleet; public comments open until March 30.

Passengers aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel are seen on the cover of a draft 20-year plan for the ferry system released Friday. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
The Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island on Aug. 21, 2014. President Donald Trump wants to circumvent environmental regulations to expand timber production, something sought by homebuilders and the construction industry. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times)

Trump moves to increase logging in national forests

President Donald Trump has promised to “drill, baby, drill.” Now, he also wants to log. On Saturday, Trump directed federal agencies to examine ways to… Continue reading

  • Mar 3, 2025
  • By Lisa Friedman ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Donald Trump
The Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island on Aug. 21, 2014. President Donald Trump wants to circumvent environmental regulations to expand timber production, something sought by homebuilders and the construction industry. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times)
Snow falls on the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Legislature votes against inflation-adjusted pay rates for top officials

The Alaska House of Representatives voted 36-0 on Friday to reject a proposal that would peg legislative salaries and the pay of other top state… Continue reading

Snow falls on the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior basketball and cheer members Saturday at George Houston Gymnasium. Back row left-to-right are Damian Efergan, Pedrin Saceda-Hurt, Ben Sikes, Ahmire Parker, Gavin Gerrin, Kerra Baxter, Cailynn Baxter and Stefano Rivera. Front l-r are Ayla Keller, Gabby Ely, Addison Wilson, Mary Johnson and Sophia Percy. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS honors seniors with weekend wins over Patriots

No homecoming hibernation for Crimson Bears against North Pole

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior basketball and cheer members Saturday at George Houston Gymnasium. Back row left-to-right are Damian Efergan, Pedrin Saceda-Hurt, Ben Sikes, Ahmire Parker, Gavin Gerrin, Kerra Baxter, Cailynn Baxter and Stefano Rivera. Front l-r are Ayla Keller, Gabby Ely, Addison Wilson, Mary Johnson and Sophia Percy. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Skagway senior Kaitlyn Tronrud (13) and Hoonah junior Easton Ross (11) rebound during Saturday’s Region V 1A Girls Runner-Up game at Thunder Mountain Middle School. Hoonah won 31-19 for the second berth to state in Anchorage. Klawock won the championship berth Friday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Skagway boys, Hoonah girls earn second Southeast berths to 1A state

Region V 1A tournament runner-up games and awards highlight Saturday action

Skagway senior Kaitlyn Tronrud (13) and Hoonah junior Easton Ross (11) rebound during Saturday’s Region V 1A Girls Runner-Up game at Thunder Mountain Middle School. Hoonah won 31-19 for the second berth to state in Anchorage. Klawock won the championship berth Friday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)