Home

Skagway radio announcer Mason Jennings, 13, and his father Nathan Jennings calling action at the Region V 1A tournament on Wednesday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

The voice of Lynn Canal giving listeners hoops

Skagway 13-year-old Mason Jennings calling Region V 1A basketball tournament action.

Skagway radio announcer Mason Jennings, 13, and his father Nathan Jennings calling action at the Region V 1A tournament on Wednesday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kake freshman Aurora Davis and sophomore Eden Hallingstad and Angoon junior Lisa Kookesh-Booth go for a loose ball during the Lady Thunderbirds 54-12 win over the Eagles on Wednesday during the 2025 Alaska Airlines Region V 1A Girls Basketball Tournament at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Region 1A tournament starts with a slam

Skagway dunks Thorne Bay, Kake presses Angoon

Kake freshman Aurora Davis and sophomore Eden Hallingstad and Angoon junior Lisa Kookesh-Booth go for a loose ball during the Lady Thunderbirds 54-12 win over the Eagles on Wednesday during the 2025 Alaska Airlines Region V 1A Girls Basketball Tournament at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
State Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) discuss budget, education and other issues during a press availability Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Two top Alaska GOP leaders on Trump: ‘It’s like Christmas every day’…‘if all you expect is coal in your stocking’

Gov. Dunleavy cheery about state’s prospects; some Republican legislators grim about lost jobs, funds.

State Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) discuss budget, education and other issues during a press availability Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)

Alaska property crimes decline over long term, but violent crime rates remains ‘exceptionally’ high

National crime data for 2023 shows Alaska’s overall violent crime rate was more than 540% the national rate.

(Photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)
Kristen Rankin rehearses the opening scene from “The Thanksgiving Play” on Thursday night at Perseverance Theatre. (Photo by Molly Johnson)
Capital City Weekly

Political correctness runs afowl in Perseverance Theatre production opening Friday

Satirical comedy “The Thanksgiving Play” comes to Juneau, no thanks to cancel culture.

Kristen Rankin rehearses the opening scene from “The Thanksgiving Play” on Thursday night at Perseverance Theatre. (Photo by Molly Johnson)
U.S. House Speaker Speaker Mike Johnson put down revolts on a budget bill Tuesday among centrist Republicans who feared that the plan would require deep cuts to Medicaid and conservatives who wanted more reductions. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

U.S. House passes GOP budget teeing up enormous tax and spending cuts

Officials say cuts may result in 100,000 Alaskans losing Medicaid coverage, 70,000 losing SNAP benefits.

U.S. House Speaker Speaker Mike Johnson put down revolts on a budget bill Tuesday among centrist Republicans who feared that the plan would require deep cuts to Medicaid and conservatives who wanted more reductions. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
This file photo shows Klawock senior Lea Armour (23), eighth grader Jayla Edenshaw and senior Kaiya Marvin defending Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Bergen Erickson (12) during this season's Capital City Classic in the George Houston Gymnasium. The Region V 1A basketball championships begin Wednesday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Region V 1A basketball championships in Juneau

Small schools, big plays set to start Wednesday at TMMS.

This file photo shows Klawock senior Lea Armour (23), eighth grader Jayla Edenshaw and senior Kaiya Marvin defending Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Bergen Erickson (12) during this season's Capital City Classic in the George Houston Gymnasium. The Region V 1A basketball championships begin Wednesday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Assembly members and other visitors examine a meeting room in the Michael J. Burns Building formerly used by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Assembly OKs negotiations to relocate city offices to Burns building; concerns about cost linger

Building owners asking $12M for space assessed at $9.3M; city manager says alternatives are limited.

Juneau Assembly members and other visitors examine a meeting room in the Michael J. Burns Building formerly used by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Huna Totem Corp. team members meet with the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly in a work session on the company’s proposed Aak’w Landing project on Feb. 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Assembly takes step forward on Aak’w Landing tideland lease by 5-4 vote

Brainstormed amendments include additional data on traffic and navigation.

Huna Totem Corp. team members meet with the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly in a work session on the company’s proposed Aak’w Landing project on Feb. 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen listens to a discussion during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. She was named the Municipal Clerk of the Year by the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks the previous week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau City Clerk Beth McEwen announces retirement after nearly 30 years with CBJ

Winner of statewide Municipal Employee of the Year in 2015 and Municipal Clerk of the Year in 2023.

Juneau Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen listens to a discussion during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. She was named the Municipal Clerk of the Year by the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks the previous week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Craig Tribal Association visits the Tongass National Forest to harvest a cultural tree in April of 2024. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

Reviews range widely to Forest Service’s draft ‘biography’ of Tongass as part of management plan update

Comment period ends Monday for assessment of forest — but will plan’s direction change under Trump?

The Craig Tribal Association visits the Tongass National Forest to harvest a cultural tree in April of 2024. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee chambers are seen on April 22, 2022. (Photo by Rashah McChesney)

With bipartisan support, Alaska Senate panel again proposes new ‘75/25’ PFD formula

Proposal directing money mostly to state spending would mean about $1,420 per recipient this year.

The Alaska Senate Finance Committee chambers are seen on April 22, 2022. (Photo by Rashah McChesney)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski team at the 2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Nordic Ski State Championships at Fairbanks Birch Hill Recreation Area. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski team)

Lamb gives JDHS cross-country ski team historic finish at state tournament

Senior is first Crimson Bear to place during Nordic tournament; JDHS girls win Academic Award.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski team at the 2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Nordic Ski State Championships at Fairbanks Birch Hill Recreation Area. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski team)
A state-run fish hatchery in Anchorage. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)

Dunleavy’s bill to legalize fish farms seen as flaky by many lawmakers, interest groups

Governor responds to widespread opposition with video emphasizing salmon not among species allowed.

A state-run fish hatchery in Anchorage. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)
Elon Musk on stage with a chainsaw gifted to him by President Javier Milei of Argentina, left, during the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in National Harbor, Md., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Update: Trump administration, breaking with Musk’s directive, says replying to his email is voluntary

Federal workers told Saturday by Musk failure to reply by Monday would be treated as a resignation.

Elon Musk on stage with a chainsaw gifted to him by President Javier Milei of Argentina, left, during the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in National Harbor, Md., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Jude Humphrey, a Student Conservation Association intern for the U.S. Forest Service, reads a story about snowflakes to kids during a Mendenhall Minis event at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Firing on: Remaining Forest Service staff fill in to keep Mendenhall Glacier activities flowing

As visitor center continues lectures and kids’ events, fired employees get a show of community support.

Jude Humphrey, a Student Conservation Association intern for the U.S. Forest Service, reads a story about snowflakes to kids during a Mendenhall Minis event at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tourists walk along Juneau’s harbor on April 26, 2024, next to the docked Carnival Spirit, a ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Cruise ship visitation to Alaska has increased in recent years, and so have measured violations of wastewater standards. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

More cruise traffic in Alaska is followed by more wastewater violations, officials say

Violations roughly triple after elimination of ocean ranger program by Dunleavy in 2019.

Tourists walk along Juneau’s harbor on April 26, 2024, next to the docked Carnival Spirit, a ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Cruise ship visitation to Alaska has increased in recent years, and so have measured violations of wastewater standards. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2) attempts a steal as Monroe senior Jett McCullough (4) dribbles behind his back during the Crimson Bears’ 71-55 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears battle, but are butted by Rams

JDHS falls to Monroe Catholic for the second night in a row

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2) attempts a steal as Monroe senior Jett McCullough (4) dribbles behind his back during the Crimson Bears’ 71-55 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Addison Wilson (10) is defended by Monroe sophomore Leila Church as Monroe coach Travis Cortez gives directions during the Crimson Bears’ 40-33 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls fall to Monroe 40-33 on Saturday

Crimson Bears lose in physical contest to visiting Rams.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Addison Wilson (10) is defended by Monroe sophomore Leila Church as Monroe coach Travis Cortez gives directions during the Crimson Bears’ 40-33 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Immigrants and refugees in Alaska feel uncertainty under Trump administration

Policy changes spur preparation outreach from immigration advocates.

Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)